This course syllabus outlines an introductory linguistics course on the structure of English words. The course will examine the internal structure of words, including their phonology, morphology, semantics and history. Students will learn about word formation processes, morphemes, stress and phonotactics. Assessment includes active participation, homework, and three tests. The required textbook is English Words: A linguistic introduction by Heidi Harley.

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THE STRUCTURE OF ENGLISH WORDS – COURSE SYLLABUS
Instructor: Teresa O’Neill
Email: toneill@gc.cuny.edu
Office: KS-352
Office Hours: 12:30 - 1:30, W & F
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
What’s in a word? This course takes a linguistic (that is, scientific) approach to the study of English
words. What is a possible word? What isn’t? Is there any internal structure to words? What counts as
one word, and what as two? How do words come to mean what they do? What are words made of?
What rules constrain word formation and word use? How are English words different from words in
other languages? How can we use the scientific method to answer these questions?
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
By the end of the semester, students should be able to:
• Define the word word.
• Understand the difference between natural language systems and writing conventions.
• Treat language data as objects to be analyzed.
• Describe linguistic properties of words, including phonology, morphology, semantics, and
history.
• Explain some patterns in both synchronic and diachronic word-formation.
• Represent English words in the International Phonetic Alphabet;
• Predict the properties of new words, and determine the causes of death of old ones.
• Compare some properties of English words to those of words in other languages.
REQUIRED TEXTS:
Harley, Heidi. 2006. English Words: A linguistic introduction. Wiley-Blackwell.
(ISBN: 978-0-631-23032-8)
Additional handouts and reading assignments will be made available electronically on Blackboard.
ACTIVE PARTICIPATION:
Active participation will account for 20% of your grade in the course. It is
measured by regular attendance, participation in whole-class and group
activities, and completion of in-class exercises, which will be checked at the end
of class meetings. Attendance at every class meeting is strongly recommended.
Three absences are excused, regardless of the reason. Do not submit paperwork
or excuse notes; they are irrelevant. Each late arrival (more than ten minutes late)
will count as half an absence. To participate fully, you must bring the text to
class every day. In addition, it is your responsibility to print all handouts and
assignments.

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READING: To succeed in this course, you must read. You are expected to have read the
material by the beginning of the class indicated on the course calendar.
HOMEWORK: Homework assignments are opportunities for you to practice the material covered
in class. Homework assignments will generally be collected electronically (via
Blackboard) and reviewed during class. Some homework assignments will be
similar to open-book quizzes, to be completed outside of class. You may discuss
homework assignments with classmates, but all submissions must be individual.
Late assignments will not be accepted; however, you may choose two
assignments to skip without penalty.
TESTS: You will take three tests. Together, these tests account for 60% of your grade.
POLICIES: You are expected to adhere to the standards of academic honesty. No
collaboration is allowed on tests. Homework submissions may be discussed in
groups, but submissions must be individual. Electronic devices must be turned
off during the entire class period, unless you are using online materials associated
with the course. Make-up tests, offered at the instructor’s discretion, must be
requested at least three days in advance and may only be taken during the same
week as the test. Extra credit may be offered in the form of bonus questions on
tests. Do not request additional extra credit.
EVALUATION:
Active Participation 20%
Homework 20%
Test 1 20%
Test 2 20%
Test 3 20%
Total 100%
GRADING SCALE:
93 – 100 A 87 – 89 B+ 77 – 79 C+ 65-69 D
92 – 90 A- 83 – 86 B 73 – 76 C 0-64 F
80 – 82 B- 70 – 72 C-
CUNY POLICY ON ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
Academic dishonesty is prohibited in the City University of New York and is punishable by penalties,
including failing grades, suspension, and expulsion as provided here.
ADA STATEMENT
Students with disabilities needing academic accommodation should: (1) register with and provide

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documentation to the Special Services Office, Kiely 171; (2) bring a letter to the instructor indicating
what kind of accommodation is needed. This should be done during the first week of class. For more
information about services available to Queens College students, contact Pratik Patel, Special Services
Office: 171 Kiely Hall; 718-997-5870 (8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.); pratik_patel@qc.edu.
BLACKBOARD
This class has an online component, managed using CUNY’s Blackboard server. The Blackboard site
for this class will be used to distribute materials, important course-related announcements, homework
assignments, and student grades. To access the Blackboard server:
• If you already have a CUNY Portal ID, log in.
• If you don’t have a CUNY Portal ID, go to the CUNY Portal, and register.
• Check your Blackboard profile to ensure that the email address listed is one you check
regularly. If you need to update it, go here to make changes.
• If you have questions, you’ll probably find answers here.

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COURSE CALENDAR
The following course calendar is subject to change.
EW = English Words
WEEK &
DATE
TOPIC READING
1. 08/29
09/31
Introduction, Definitions
Linguistics as Science
Pinker 1994: Ch. 1, Ch. 12; Milroy
1998; EW: 9.11, 9.12
EW: Preface, Ch. 1
2. 09/05
09/07
Phonetics: Anatomy
Phonetics: International Phonetic Alphabet
EW: 2.1–2.2
3. 09/12
09/14
Phonetics: Consonants
Phonetics: Consonants; Vowels
EW: 2.3
EW: 2.4
4. 09/19
09/21
History: Grimm’s Law
TEST 1
EW: 2.5
5. 09/26
09/28
NO CLASS – YOM KIPPUR
Phonology: Allophony EW: 3.8
6. 10/03
10/05
Possible Phonological Words; Syllables
Syllables
EW: 3.1–3.2
EW: 3.3
7. 10/10
10/12
NO CLASS – MONDAY SCHEDULE
Phonotactics; Typology EW: 3.3
8. 10/17
10/19
Stress; Misparsing
New Word Formation
EW: 3.5, 3.7
EW: 4.1–4.10; Harlow 1998
9. 10/24
10/26
New Word Formation
Morphemes EW: Ch. 5.1-5.2
10. 10/31
11/02
Morpheme Structure
Morpheme Structure; Morphological Typology
EW: Ch. 5.3
11. 11/07
11/09
TEST 2
Allomorphy EW: Ch. 5.5
12. 11/14
11/16
Irregularities
Irregularities
EW: Ch. 6.1–6.4
EW: Ch. 6.5–6.10
13. 11/21
11/23
Irregularities
NO CLASS – THANKSGIVING RECESS
14. 11/28
11/30
Semantics: Function vs. Content, Entailment
Argument Structure
EW: Ch. 7.1–7.2
EW: Ch. 7.5–7.8
15. 12/05
12/07
Argument Structure
Flex Day
16. 12/12 Review
17. TBA TEST 3