In this class, we will study the basics of linguistics with a focus on the Japanese language.

The goal of this class is to give you a basic understanding of how the Japanese language functions from a linguistic perspective. Topics include the origin and affiliation of the Japanese language, its phonology, grammar and syntax, writing system, word formation processes, dialects and much more.

linguistics, Japanese linguistics, history of the Japanese language

This class provides a basic introduction to both Japanese linguistics and general linguistics.

Each week, students will read about various topics related to Japanese linguistics in the textbook (typically around 10 pages per week) and then we will discuss those topics in further detail in class.

Weekly schedule
04/11: Introduction to Japanese and general linguistics
04/18: Origins and typology of the Japanese language (units 1.1–1.2)
04/25: Phonetics and phonology I – vowels, consonants, timing, phonotactics (2.1–2.5)
05/02: Tuesday schedule – No class!
05/9: Phonetics and phonology II – historical overview of phonology (unit 2.9)
05/16: Grammar and syntax I – overview of parts of speech, verbal morphology (units 3.1, 3.3, 3.7–3.8)
05/23: Grammar and syntax II – historical overview of grammar (unit 3.14)
05/30: Writing and orthography I: kanji (units 4.1–4.5)
06/06: Writing and orthography II: hiragana, katakana and Latin alphabet (units 4.6–4.7)
06/13: Lexicon and word formation I: lexical strata, mimetics (units 5.1–5.2)
06/20: Lexicon and word formation I: word formation processes (units 5.3–5.6)
06/27: Language and society I: honorifics and anti-honorifics (units 6.3–6.4)
07/04: Language and society II: registers, role language, language in subculture (units 6.1–6.2, 6.5)
07/11: Language contact and dialects: Sino-Japanese and Western loanwords (units 7.1–7.3)
07/18: Language contact and dialects: major Japanese dialects (units 7.7–7.11)
07.25: Final presentations
*Note: Adjustments may be made to the above schedule to accommodate students’ interests. Please let me know if there is a specific topic that you are interested in.

Students are expected to read the assigned units of the textbook and show up to class prepared to engage in discussions about the topics of the day.

Students are to read the assigned units from the textbook and answer practice questions provided by the instructor each week for homework. You must submit the answers to the questions by 8:00pm the night before class via Google Classroom. In addition to asking your own questions, I also encourage you to comment on other students’ questions. I will spend 15–20 minutes at the beginning of each class responding to your answers and taking any additional questions that you may have.

Students will be evaluated based on their participation in class, their weekly homework assignments and a final presentation, in which students will present about one of the topics covered in class.

Grades will be calculated as follows:
Class participation: 30%
Homework assignments: 30%
Final presentation: 40%

Irwin, Mark & Zisk, Matthew. 2019. Japanese Linguistics. Tokyo: Asakura Publishing.
https://www.asakura.co.jp/detail.php?book_code=51681

When studying Japanese as a second language (or even your first language!), students often struggle to understand the rules or the reasons behind different phenomena of the language. I hope that through this class you will gain a deeper understanding of how the Japanese language works by analyzing the language from a linguistic perspective.
Japanese students are also welcome to take this class! Don't worry if your English is not too strong. I will do my best to explain everything in simple terms and you can submit your assignments in Japanese too!
日本人学生も大歓迎です！できるだけシンプルな単語で説明しますので、英語が得意でなくても大丈夫です。課題も日本語で出せます！

Since I am not a full-time faculty of Yamagata University (my main position is at Tohoku University), I do not hold office hours in Yamagata. However, you can meet with me before or after class, or over Zoom, if you have any questions or concerns about the class.