LIN376H5S

Introduction to Romance Linguistics

Winter Session 2017 - Department of Language Studies
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Instructor: Dr. Michelle Troberg

Weekly meeting time: Thursdays 13:00-16:00 in DH3055
Office hours: Wednesdays 1-2; Thursdays 10-11
E-mail: michelle.troberg@utoronto.ca
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Course Description and Goals

This course provides an introduction to the comparative study of some of the linguistic systems
that evolved from spoken Latin. Students are expected to have a solid background in formal
linguistics that will enable them to examine specific aspects of the phonological and
morphological systems of Latin, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, French, and Romanian (the
syntactic system is left for the follow up course, Advanced Topics in Romance linguistics). No
previous knowledge of Latin or any Romance language is necessary.
Our primary focus will be historical, considering the processes involved in the evolution of the
Latin phonological and morphological systems into the various Romance systems. In this sense,
the analytic skills associated with historical linguistic method will be underlined through
discussion, reflection, and a great deal of practical application. The notion of how language
changes and its relation to child language acquisition will provide the overarching theoretical
framework within which all practical work is approached.
The course is project-based. Students will complete a research project involving a lesser-known
variety of Romance. The project will be completed in pairs.
Students who successfully complete this course will acquire specific knowledge and a skill set
that will enable them to approach original articles and books in which current developments in
Romance linguistics are discussed. They will also be able to apply the analytic tools that are
emphasized in this course to other language families. Finally, students will be initiated to the
broader questions of what is language and what is language change. Successful students will be
able to approach such questions in a mature and theoretically informed way.

Prerequisite: LIN229
Recommended Preparation: At least one of LIN231, LIN232, LIN247, LIN256

Textbook: Alkire, Ti & Carol Rosen. 2010. Romance Languages: A Historical Introduction.
Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. (available at UTM Bookstore).
Academic Conduct:
We have the expectation that students will treat each other and all faculty, staff, and TAs with
respect and honesty. Students can expect the same from us.
UTM students are subject to policies regarding academic honesty as set out by the Code of
Behaviour on Academic Matters. Please read and become familiar with policies regarding
academic honesty set out in this code:
http://www.governingcouncil.utoronto.ca/policies/behaveac.htm

Academic Offence
Academic integrity is essential to the pursuit of learning and scholarship in a university, and to
ensuring that a degree from the University of Toronto is a strong signal of each students
individual academic achievement. As a result, the University treats cases of cheating and
plagiarism very seriously.
Potential offences include, but are not limited to:
In papers and assignments:
Using someone elses ideas or words without appropriate acknowledgement.
Submitting your own work in more than one course without the permission of the
instructor.
Making up sources or facts.
Obtaining or providing unauthorized assistance on any assignment.
On tests and exams:
Using or possessing unauthorized aids.
Looking at someone elses answers during an exam or test.
Misrepresenting your identity.
In academic work:
Falsifying institutional documents or grades.
Falsifying or altering any documentation required by the University, including (but not
limited to) doctors notes.
All suspected cases of academic dishonesty will be investigated following procedures outlined in
the Code of Behaviour on Academic Matters. If you have questions or concerns about what
constitutes appropriate academic behaviour or appropriate research and citation methods, you are
expected to seek out additional information on academic integrity from your instructor or from
other institutional resources:
http://www.artsci.utoronto.ca/osai/students/students

Accommodation
The University provides academic accommodations for students with disabilities in accordance
with the terms of the Ontario Human Rights Code. This occurs through a collaborative process
that acknowledges a collective obligation to develop an accessible learning environment that
both meets the needs of students and preserves the essential academic requirements of the
University's courses and programs.
For more information on services and resources available to instructors and students, please
contact Tanya Lewis, Director, Academic Skills and Accessibility Services at 416-978-
6786; tanya.lewis@utoronto.ca

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Equity
The University of Toronto is committed to equity and respect for diversity. All members of the
learning environment in this course should strive to create an atmosphere of mutual respect. As a
course instructor, I will neither condone nor tolerate behaviour that undermines the dignity or
self-esteem of any individual in this course and wish to be alerted to any attempt to create an
intimidating or hostile environment. It is our collective responsibility to create a space that is
inclusive and welcomes discussion. Discrimination, harassment and hate speech will not be
tolerated. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns you may contact the UTM Equity
and Diversity officer at edo.utm@utoronto.ca or the University of Toronto Mississauga Students
Union Vice President Equity at vpequity@utmsu.ca.

Academic Rights
You, as a student at UTM, have the right to:
receive a syllabus by the first day of class.
rely upon a syllabus once a course is started. An instructor may only change marks
assignments by following the University Assessment and Grading Practices Policy
provision 1.3.
have access to your instructor for consultation during a course or follow up with the
department chair if the instructor is unavailable.
ask the person who marked your term work for a re-evaluation if you feel it was not fairly
graded. You have up to one month from the date of return of the item to inquire about
the mark. If you are not satisfied with a re-evaluation, you may appeal to the instructor in
charge of the course if the instructor did not mark the work. If your work is remarked,
you must accept the resulting mark. You may only appeal a mark beyond the instructor if
the term work was worth at least 20% of the course mark.
receive at least one significant mark (15% for H courses, 25% for Y courses) before the
last day you can drop a course for H courses, and the last day of classes in the first week
of January for Y courses taught in the Fall/Winter terms.
submit handwritten essays so long as they are neatly written.
not have a term test worth 25% or more in the last two weeks of class.
retain intellectual property rights to your research.
receive all your assignments once graded.
view your final exams. To see a final exam, you must submit an online Exam -
Reproduction Request within 6 months of the exam. There is a small non-refundable fee.
privacy of your final grades.
arrange for representation from Downtown Legal Services (DLS), a representative from
the UTM Students Union (UTMSU), and/or other forms of support if you are charged
with an academic offence.

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How this course works:

Blackboard: You will be able to access all course content through your LIN376H5 lecture shell
within Blackboard. You will find information about what we will cover each week, what the
readings are, links to video-clips Id like you to watch, reminders about upcoming quizzes,
deadlines, etc.

Thursday class: A large part of your success in the course depends on your engagement in our
Thursday class, which is run much like a seminar. I expect you to have completed exercises that
apply the previous weeks material along with a brief reflection. I also expect that you are
familiar with the topic for the seminar before coming to class. During our seminar, we will
discuss and apply the concepts introduced in the reading as a class and in small groups. Most
classes will end with a short quiz on basic concepts covered that day (your best 8 quizzes will
count towards your final mark).

Evaluation:
Quizzes (8) 10%
Participation 10%
Midterm Test 15% Feb.16
Project assignments (3 pair work) 30% Jan.19, Feb.9, Mar.9
Project presentation (in pairs) 10%
Final Paper (pair work) 25% April 6

Quizzes: The quizzes are designed to be low-stakes learning tools (worth a little more than 1%
each). They will take 10-15 minutes and will assess your understanding of the basic concepts
introduced in the seminar that day. Your BEST 8 quizzes will count toward your final grade.

Participation: The bulk of the participation mark comes from the completion and quality of the
weekly problem sets and the accompanying reflection. A portion of the participation mark is
based on the quality of feedback that you offer to your peers during the project presentations, and
there will be two opportunities to earn bonus participation marks by attending and reflecting on
the linguistics talks held in January and February.

Midterm Test: This test will be delivered in the 7th week of class (February 16th). It is
cumulative and will be representative of all material discussed and reviewed in the course to that
point. I will last 2 hours and will take place in class.

Project assignments: The three project assignments are associated with your research project on
a lesser-known Romance language. These assignments examine three components of the variety
and will form a good portion of the core content of your final paper.

Project Presentation: You will prepare a 10-minute oral presentation of your research project
supported by a power point presentation or handout. It will situate the variety geographically and
linguistically within the Romance language family, offering specific examples from the varietys
phonological and morphological systems. It will also point out other interesting issues
(grammatical or sociolinguistic) associated with the variety. There will be 5 minutes reserved for
questions at the end of the presentation.

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Final Paper: The final paper is a summative demonstration of your ability to conduct informed
research about a lesser-known variety of Romance and to write about it in a discipline-
appropriate way. A good portion of the paper is based on the work you will have completed in
your Project Assignments, but it will also draw on your understanding of course material
presented during the second half of the course, and it will respond to some of the questions and
comments received during your project presentation.

Deadlines: Deadlines for the assignments and final paper are firm and the dates set out for the
quizzes and midterm test are not likely to change. If any changes arise, they will be announced
by the instructor in class and on Blackboard.
The penalty for a late assignment is 10% per day, up to 6 days, at which point we will no longer
accept it. Assignments are due at the beginning of class. Assignments submitted later in class or
that day will be subject to this penalty. If you know you will be absent when an assignment is
due, please submit it in advance of the class.
If you miss a quiz, assignment deadline, or the midterm test for reasons genuinely beyond your
control, you may ask for special consideration. In order to ask for special consideration, you
must 1) contact your instructor via email immediately upon missing the deadline: within 48
hours, and 2) provide documentation indicating that the assessment was missed for reasons
genuinely beyond your control (e.g. UofT Medical Certificate, death certificate, etc.).

2017 WINTER SCHEDULE (SUBJECT TO MINOR CHANGES)

January 1-7 Seminar 1: What is Romance Linguistics?

Preparation:
Purchase a copy of the textbook Romance Languages
Read the Introductory chapter to our textbook.
Thursday seminar
Introduction: Lay of the land; Emergence of the Romance vernaculars
Discussion of course organization and expectations
First steps for your research project

January 8-14 Seminar 2: Stressed Vowels (Ch.1)

Preparation:
Complete worksheet: Ch.1 preview
Determine the variety you will study in this course and some resources
Thursday 12-1pm: Linguistics talk: Helen Buckler on phonological acquisition
(Bonus participation marks for attendance and short reflection)
Thursday seminar:
Submit worksheet (ch.1) via Bb before the seminar
Discussion and application of concepts introduced in Chapter 1
Post-lecture quiz: Chapter 1

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January 15-21 Seminar 3: Syllable structure and consonants (Ch.2)
Preparation:
Complete worksheet: Ch.1 review and Ch.2 preview
Project Assignment#1
Thursday seminar:
Submit worksheet (ch.1&2) via Bb before the seminar
Submit Project Assignment#1 (hard copy)
Discussion and application of concepts introduced in Chapter 2
Post-lecture quiz: Chapter 2

January 22-28 Seminar 4: Consonant weakening and strengthening (Ch.3)

Preparation:
Complete worksheet: Ch.2 review and Ch.3 preview
Thursday seminar:
Submit worksheet (ch.2&3) via Bb before the seminar
Discussion and application of concepts introduced in Chapter 3
Post-lecture quiz: Chapter 3

January 29 Seminar 5: Palatal consonants (Ch.4)

February 4 Preparation:
Complete worksheet: Ch.3 review and Ch.4 preview
Thursday seminar:
Submit worksheet (ch.3&4) via Bb before the seminar
Discussion and application of concepts introduced in Chapter 4
Post-lecture quiz: Chapter 4
Assignment#1 returned
Assignment#2 discussed (due next week)

February 5-11 Seminar 6: More on vowels (Ch.5)

Preparation:
Complete worksheet: Ch.4 review and Ch.5 preview
Project Assignment#2
Thursday seminar:
Submit worksheet (ch.4&5) via Bb before the seminar
Submit Project Assignment#2 (hard copy)
Discussion and application of concepts introduced in Chapter 5
Post-lecture quiz: Chapter 5

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February 12-18 Preparation:
Complete worksheet: chapter 5 review
Study for midterm test
February 15, 12-1pm: Linguistics talk: Odilia Yim on language contact and
bilingualism (Bonus participation marks for attendance and short
reflection)
Thursday seminar (1 hour):
Submit worksheet (ch.5) via Bb before the seminar
Review of chapter 5 review and any other concepts
Sign up for project presentations
Midterm test (chapters 1-5)
February 19-25 Reading Break

February 26 Seminar 7: Verb morphology: Systemic reorganization (Ch.7)

March 4 Preparation:
Complete worksheet: Ch.7 preview
Project Assignment#3
Thursday seminar:
Submit worksheet (ch.7) via Bb before the seminar
Discussion and application of concepts introduced in Chapter 7
Post-lecture quiz: Chapter 7
Midterm returned: discussion

March 5-11 Seminar 8: Noun and adjective morphology - Case (Ch.8)

Preparation:
Complete worksheet: Ch.7 review and Ch.8 preview
Preparation of 10-minute presentation
Thursday seminar:
Submit worksheet (ch.7&8) via Bb before the seminar
Submit Project Assignment#3 (hard copy)
Discussion and application of concepts introduced in Chapter 8
(first half)
Post-lecture quiz: Chapter 8 (first half)
March 12-18 Seminar 9: Pronouns (Ch.8)
Preparation:
Complete worksheet: Ch.8 (first half) review and Ch.8 (second half)
preview
Preparation of 10-minute presentation
Thursday seminar:
Submit worksheet (ch.8) via Bb before the seminar
Discussion and application of concepts introduced in Chapter 8
Post-lecture quiz: Chapter 8 (second half)
Project presentations (7)

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March 19-25 Seminar 10: Formation of the Romance lexicon (Ch.11)
Preparation:
Complete worksheet: Ch.8 review and Ch.11 (11.1 and 11.5) preview
Preparation of 10-minute presentation
Thursday seminar:
Submit worksheet (ch.8&11) via Bb before the seminar
Discussion and application of concepts introduced in Chapter 11: 11.1
(lexical competition) and 11.5 (loan words)
Post-lecture quiz: Chapter 11
Project presentations (7)

March 26 Seminar 11: Formation of the Romance lexicon (Ch.11)

April 1 Preparation:
Complete worksheet: Ch.11 (11.1 and 11.5) review and Ch.11 (11.2.3,
11.2.9, 11.4) preview
Preparation of 10-minute presentation
Thursday seminar:
Submit worksheet (ch.11) via Bb before the seminar
Discussion and application of concepts introduced in Chapter 11:
11.2.3, 11.2.9, 11.4
Post-lecture quiz: Chapter 11
Project presentations (7)

April 6 Final papers are due: submit through Blackboard