Linguistics (LING)

LING 405 - Introduction to Linguistics

Credits: 4

Overview of the study of language: universal properties of human language, Chomsky's innateness hypothesis, language acquisition in children, dialects and language variation, language change. Includes an introduction to modern grammar (phonology, syntax, and semantics) and to scientific linguistic methodology. (Also offered as ENGL 405.)

Attributes: Social Science (Discovery); Inquiry (Discovery)

Equivalent(s): ENGL 505, ENGL 505H, LING 405H, LING 505, LING 505H

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

LING 605 - Intermediate Linguistic Analysis

Credits: 4

Analysis and problem solving in phonology, morphology, and syntax using data from many languages. Emphasis is both practical (learning how to describe grammar and sound system of a language) and theoretical (understanding languages' behavior). Prereq: LING/ENGL 405, or permission. (Also offered as ENGL 605.)

Equivalent(s): ENGL 605

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

LING 606 - Languages of the World

Credits: 4

A survey of the languages of the world from genetic, areal, and typological perspectives. Students learn about the geographic and demographic distribution of language families and language isolates, as well as about structural characteristics of languages, language families and language areas. Additional topics include language endangerment and the question of linguistic universals. Students work collaboratively on a project investigating a particular language family, giving in class presentations and writing up a final project report. Some prior knowledge of phonetics, phonology, morphology, and syntax is necessary. Prereq: ENGL 605/LING 605 or ENGL 405/LING 405 and permission of the instructor.

Equivalent(s): ENGL 606

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

LING 695 - Senior Honors

Credits: 4

Open to senior LING majors who, in the opinion of the department, have demonstrated the capacity to do superior work. Prereq: permission.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

LING 717 - Languages in Contact

Credits: 4

This course will explore topics related to languages in contact, including borrowing, code-switching, second language acquisition, bilingual mixed languages, language shift and maintenance, pidgins and creoles, and the linguistic and social factors which play a role in language contact. Prereq: ENGL 405 or LING 405 or permission of instructor.

Attributes: Writing Intensive Course

Equivalent(s): ENGL 717

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

LING 718 - Morphology

Credits: 4

Morphology is the study of word formation and the mental lexicon. This course explores processes of derivation, compounding and inflection that allow us to form new words. Students will become proficient in analyzing word formation processes in English and other languages, including deploying terminology used by morphologists. Students will learn and practice the conventions of "writing like a linguist". Prereq: ENGL 405 or LING 405.

Attributes: Writing Intensive Course

Equivalent(s): ENGL 718

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

LING 719 - Sociolinguistics Survey

Credits: 4

How language varies according to the characteristics of its speakers: age, sex, ethnicity, attitude, time, and class. Quantitative analysis methods; relationships to theoretical linguistics. Focus is on English, but some other languages are examined. Prereq; ENGL or LING 405 (previously numbered 505) or permission. (Also offered as ENGL 719.)

Equivalent(s): ENGL 719

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

LING 728 - Language and Gender

Credits: 4

This course will explore a variety of topics around the theme of language and gender, including the relationship between gender, language and power; the linguistic marking of gender; how people use language to construct and perform their gender; how gender intersects with other facets of identity, including sexuality and race and ethnicity. Prereq: ENGL 405/LING 405, or WS 401, or WS 405, or permission of instructor.

Attributes: Writing Intensive Course

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

LING 779 - Linguistic Field Methods

Credits: 4

Study of a non-Indo-European language by eliciting examples from an informant, rather than written descriptions of the language. Students learn how to work out the grammar of a language from raw data. Prereq: ENGL 405/LING 405. (Also offered as ENGL 779.) (Not offered every semester).

Attributes: Writing Intensive Course

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

LING 790 - Special Topics in Linguistics Theory

Credits: 4

Advanced course on a topic chosen by the instructor. Inquire at the English department office for a full course description each time the course is offered. Topics such as word formation, dialectology, linguistic theory, and language acquisition, history of linguistics, language and culture, cross-disciplinary studies relating to linguistics. Barring duplication of subject, may be repeated for credit. (Also offered as ENGL 790.) Writing intensive.

Attributes: Writing Intensive Course

Equivalent(s): ENGL 790

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

LING 793 - Phonetics and Phonology

Credits: 4

Sound system of English and of other languages viewed from the standpoint of modern linguistic theory, including the following topics: the acoustic and articulatory properties of speech sounds, the phonemic repertoires of particular languages, phonological derivations, and prosodic phenomena such as stress and intonation. (Also offered as ENGL 793). Prereq: a basic linguistics course or permission.

Equivalent(s): ENGL 793

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

LING 794 - Syntax

Credits: 4

Relationship of grammar and meaning viewed from the standpoint of modern linguistic theory. Emphasis on the syntax and semantics of English, with special attention to the construction of arguments for or against particular analyses. Prereq: a basic linguistics course or permission of the instructor. (Also offered as ENGL 794.) Writing intensive.

Attributes: Writing Intensive Course

Equivalent(s): ENGL 794

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

LING 795 - Independent Study

Credits: 1-4

A) Synchronic Linguistics, B) Diachronic Linguistics, C) Linguistic Theory. For students showing a special aptitude for linguistics who desire to pursue a line of inquiry for which no appropriate course is offered. All requests must be forwarded by the faculty sponsor to the director of the Inter-departmental Linguistics Committee.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading