Linguistics (LING)

Head of Department: Professor Diane Lillo-Martin
Department Office: Room 332, Arjona Bldg.

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

101. Language and Mind

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.

102. Language and Environment

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.

103. The Diversity of Languages

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.

110Q. The Science of Linguistics 

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.

150. Introduction to Sociolinguistics of the Deaf Community

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.

193. Foreign Study

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.

195. Special Topics Lecture

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. 

202. Principles of Linguistics

Either semester. Three credits. Open to sophomores or higher.

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.

205Q. Phonology

First semester. Three credits. Prerequisite: LING 202.  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.

206Q. Syntax and Semantics

Second semester. Three credits. Prerequisite: LING 101 or 202. 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.

208. The Linguistic Basis of Reading and Writing

Semester by arrangement. Three credits. Prerequisite: LING 202.  Open to sophomores or higher.

The relationship between writing systems and linguistic structures; the psycholinguistic basis of reading

215C. Experimental Linguistics

Semester by arrangement. Three credits. Prerequisite: PSYC 132 and  LING 101 or 202. 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.

225. Second Language Acquisition

Either semester. Three credits. Prerequisite: LING 101, or 202. 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.

244W. Language and Culture

First semester. Three credits. Prerequisite: ENGL 105 or 110 or 111 or 250. Not open for credit to students who have passed ANTH 244 prior to Fall 1998. 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.

293. Foreign Study

Either or both semesters. Credits and hours by arrangement. 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.

295. Variable Topics

Either semester. Three credits. With a change in topic, may be repeated for credit. Prerequisites and recommended preparation vary.

298. Special Topics

Either semester. Credits and hours by arrangement. With a change in content, may be repeated for credit. Prerequisites and recommended preparation vary.

299. Independent Study

Either or both semesters. Credits and hours by arrangement. May be repeated for credit.