LING 447/747: American Indian Languages

MW 3-4:15 PM, Blake 209

Instructor: Clifton Pye (pyersqr (at) ku (dot) edu)

with guest appearances by Robert L. Rankin

Office Hours M 1-3 pm or by appointment

This course provides students with an introduction to the Native American languages spoken in North and Meso America. We will present several topics during the semester, including:

•    Genetic classification, original and present-day geographical location of American Indian languages.

•    The history of the study of American Indian languages.

•    Overviews of major language families including phonology, morphology and syntax:

      - Algonquian

      - Muskogean

      - Siouan

      - Salish

      - Mixe-Zoquean

      - Mayan

      - Uto-Aztecan

•    Historical/Comparative studies of Native American language families

•    Areal/typological study of Native American languages

•    Language documentation and maintenance

Course textbook:

There is no satisfactory general textbook so readings will be assigned from a variety of different books and journals. We have assigned readings from one classic:

Boas, Franz. 1911. Introduction to Handbook of American Indian Languages and Powell J. W. 1891. Indian Linguistic Families of America North of Mexico. Lincoln, NB: University of Nebraska Press. 1966.

GRADES:

The course grade will be based on a term paper, class participation, occasional written assignments and attendance. Graduate students will be expected to do more than undergraduates. Term paper topics must be cleared with the instructor by the middle of October.

The term paper will be due in my office by 8 am, December 12th. I have posted some guidelines for the project at project guidelines.

Plagiarism is the presentation of someone else’s work as your own. Plagiarism of all or a portion of any assignment will not be accepted. Plagiarism will result in a failing grade for any assignment or report.

Any student who has a disability which may prevent his/her ability to participate fully in the course should contact the instructor as soon as possible so we can discuss the class assignments.