Linguistics (LING)

Head of Department: Associate Professor William Snyder
Department Office: Room 332, Arjona Bldg.

For major requirements, see the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences section of this Catalog.

1010. Language and Mind

(101) Either semester. Three credits.

The special properties of human language and of the human mind that make verbal communication possible. Basic topics in the psychology of language. CA 1.

1020. Language and Environment

(102) Second semester. Three credits. Anderson

The birth, spread, and death of languages. A basic survey of the effects of geography, society, and politics on language families.  CA 2. CA 4-INT.

1030. The Diversity of Languages

(103) Either semester. Three credits. Calabrese, van der Hulst

An overview of the languages of the world. Language families. Typological classifications of linguistic properties: what can we expect in a structure of a language? Unity and diversity in language systems. Mechanisms of language change and variation. Language myths and realities. CA 2. CA 4.

1793. Foreign Study

(193) Either or both semesters. Credits and hours by arrangement. May be repeated for credit. Consent of Department Head or advisor may be required prior to the student's departure.

Special topics taken in a foreign study program.

1795. Special Topics Lecture

(195) Either semester. Credits, prerequisites, and hours as determined by the Senate Curricula and Courses Committee. May be  repeated for credit with a change in topic. 

2010Q. The Science of Linguistics 

(110Q) Either semester. Three credits. 

An introduction to linguistics as a science. Methods, findings and theory of linguistic research on the sound system and the structures of human language. The relation between structure and meaning. The basics of linguistic analysis. Applied linguistics. CA 3.

2020. Principles of Linguistics

(202) Either semester. Three credits.

A survey of theory, methods and findings of linguistic research: the relation between sound and meaning in human languages; social variation in language; language change over time; universals of language; the mental representation of linguistic knowledge.

2850. Introduction to Sociolinguistics of the Deaf Community

(150) Either semester. Three credits.

Sociolinguistics, demographics of the Deaf community; study of Deaf subgroups with different sociological, linguistic and cultural backgrounds; sociolinguistic integration of community members with the larger population in their cultural/ethnic community. Knowledge of American Sign Language not required. CA 2. CA 4.

3110C. Experimental Linguistics

(215C) Semester by arrangement. Three credits. Prerequisite: PSYC 1100 and  LING 1010 or 2020; open to juniors or higher. Lillo-Martin, Snyder

Research methods and laboratory techniques for the study of language acquisition and/or sentence processing. Students design and conduct a study using a computer database of child speech.

3120. Second Language Acquisition

(225) Either semester. Three credits. Prerequisite: LING 1010 or 2020; open to juniors or higher. Bar-Shalom.

The relationship between linguistic theory and second language acquisition. Effects of mother tongue and linguistic input. Pedagogical implications of second language acquisition research.

3310Q. Phonology

(205Q) First semester. Three credits. Prerequisite: LING 2020; open to juniors or higher.   Calabrese, van der Hulst

The analysis of sound patterns in language within a generative framework: distinctive features, segmental and prosodic analysis, word formation, the theory of markedness.

3510Q. Syntax and Semantics

(206Q) Second semester. Three credits. Prerequisite: LING 1010 or 2020; open to juniors or higher. Beck, Boskovic, Lasnik. Sharvit

The analysis of form and meaning in natural languages in a Chomskyan framework: surface structures, deep structures, transformational rules, and principles of semantic interpretation.

3610W. Language and Culture

(244W) First semester. Three credits. Prerequisite: ENGL 1010 or 1011 or 3800; open to juniors or higher. Anderson, Bar-Shalom

The study of language, culture, and their relationship. Topics include the evolution of the human language capacity; the principles of historical language change including reconstruction of Indo-European and Native American language families; writing systems; linguistic forms such as Pidgins and Creoles arising from languages in contact; the interaction between language and political systems, the struggle for human rights, gender, ethnicity, and ethnobiology. CA 2. CA 4-INT.

3793. Foreign Study

(293) Either or both semesters. Credits and hours by arrangement. Prerequisite: Open to juniors or higher. May be repeated for credit. Consent of Department Head required, normally to be granted prior to the student's departure. May count toward the major with the consent of the advisor.

Special topics taken in a foreign study program.

3795. Special Topics

(298) Either semester. Credits and hours by arrangement. Prerequisites and recommended preparation vary; open to juniors or higher. With a change in content, may be repeated for credit.

3798. Variable Topics

(295) Either semester. Three credits. Prerequisites and recommended preparation vary; open to juniors or higher. With a change in topic, may be repeated for credit.

3799. Independent Study

(299) Either or both semesters. Credits and hours by arrangement. Prerequisite: Open to juniors or higher. May be repeated for credit.

3850. Cultural and Linguistic Variation in the Deaf Community

(250) Second semester. Three credits. Prerequisite: LING 2850.

Language and cultural models used in the Deaf community. Critical examination of demographic subgroups of the Deaf community and their linguistic background.