2022-3Q Wednesday 9.10(17:30-19:10) W932 Linguistics D (LAH.A411)
Tokyo Institute of Technology [Syllabus]

Linguistics D (LAH.A411)/ W932: Facts and Figures of Language

• Day 1 2022.10.05 Wittgenstein and Language Game / Is a subject necessary for language?
• Day 2 2022.10.12 Turing and Turing Machine / Is a word order really needed for language?
• Day 3 2022.10.19 Zipf and Zipf's Law / The criteria of language description
• Day 4 2022.10.26 Daniel Jones' 18 Cardinal Vowels / Is language static or dynamic?
• Day 5 2022.11.02 de Sussure and Semiotics / Is a thought first or a language first?
• Day 6 2022.11.09 Fillmore and Case grammar / Categorizing and naming objects
• Day 7 2022.11.16 Chomsky and Universal grammar / Conference / Examination

Day 1: 2022.10.05 Wittgenstein and Language game / Is a subject necessary for language?

• This class is one of the liberal arts courses in the 400 level of the master's program.
• Discussion is mandatory in this class.
• In addition to attendance, written exams and research presentations are required.
• If you wish to attend, please read the [Syllabus] carefully.
• Please prepare one of the following textbooks.
  • Linguistics For Dummies® Published by John Wiley & Sons Canada, Ltd. 6045 Freemont Blvd. Mississauga, Ontario, L5R 4J3
    [Amazon] [Cheat Sheet]
  • An Introduction to Language: Victoria Fromkin, Robert Rodman and Nina Hyams
    [Amazon] [PDF]
• Today's menu [Language game][Subject?]

Day 2: 2022.10.12 Turing and Turing Machine / Is a word order really needed for the language?

• Today's menu [Turing machine][Word order]

Day 3: 2022.10.19 Zipf and Zipf's Law / Set language description criteria to "understandable."

• Today's menu [Zipf's law][Criteria]
• Additional Resources [pdf] Frequency of words
• Discuss the following items if you can make sense with Zipf's law.
• The frequency of access to the web page
• The population in a city (rank-size distribution of the city)
• The top three percent of the people of income
• The frequency of use of the notes in music
• Expression level of the gene in cells
• Scale of earthquake
• The size of the fragments when the glass is broken
• Better Poster Template [OSF Site]

Day 4: 2022.10.26 Daniel Jones' 18 Cardinal Vowels / Is language static or dynamic?

• Today's menu: [Vowels] [pdf] [18 Cardinal vowels]
• Additional Images: [Cardinal vowels] A chain of small lead plates strung together
• Additional Resources: [pdf] Token and Markov Chain
• Conference poster format: A reference book such as APA, Chicago Manual Style, etc. A paper writing guideline in your academic field/society. Online version of Chicago Manual Style is available on the campus network.

Day 5: 2022.11.02 de Sussure and Semiotics / Is a thought first or a language first?

• The menu for the week [Semiotics][pdf]
• Additional Resources [pdf] Allocation of sentence elements
• Additional Resources [pdf] Sapir Worf Hypothesis
• A recommentation of semiotics: [Semiotics for beginners] [Amazon]

Day 6: 2022.11.09 Fillmore and Case grammar / Categorizing and naming objects

• The menu for the week [Case grammar][pdf]
• Poster Template [pptx][pdf]
• Term "meme"
  A meme (/miːm/ MEEM) is an idea, behavior, or style that spreads from person to person within a culture—often with the aim of conveying a particular phenomenon, theme, or meaning represented by the meme. A meme acts as a unit for carrying cultural ideas, symbols, or practices, that can be transmitted from one mind to another through writing, speech, gestures, rituals, or other imitable phenomena with a mimicked theme. Supporters of the concept regard memes as cultural analogues to genes in that they self-replicate, mutate, and respond to selective pressures.

  In society, not only through language but also many concepts are propagated through human beings.

• 2022.11.09 Homework [here] (deadline: today)
• 2022.11.14 Poster upload [Submission] [Confirmation] (deadline: 2022.11.14 23:59:59)
  The poster will be made from a vertical A4 sheet. Use the template above. The submitted poster will be cut into two halves, and each of them will be enlarged to A3 size and made to A2 size. Affix it to a A1 cardboard and give a presentation.

Day 7: 2021.11.16 Chomsky and Universal Grammar / Conference / Examination

• The menu for the week [Universal Grammar]
• Submit your comments and question from the following homework link:
  • Comments and questions [here] (deadline: tomorrow)
• [Booklet]
• Presentation order:
  • Group 1
    1. Nie Han
    2. Alhashmi AlThuraiya
    3. Baroto Wishnu Agung
  • Group 2
    1. Zhang Jinfu
    2. Yamamoto Kaoru
    3. KANG WOOSEOK
    4. YANG XIABIAO
  • Group 3
    1. Shishido Tomoyuki
    2. CHEN ZAIFENG
    3. Liu Yuxuan
  • Group 4
    1. Gao Tianlang
    2. Monobe Chiaki
    3. Tran Huu Binh Minh
    4. Chen Xudong
• And the end of Linguistics D