Linguistics (LING)

Introduction to fresh perspectives on linguistic theory and applications. The course focuses on such diverse topics as animal communication, child language acquisition, human speech, language variation and change, and language as human interaction.

An introduction to the major writing systems of the world, exploring the linguistic structure, history, and social context of various writing systems, including Chinese, Japanese, cuneiform hieroglyphic, semitic languages, English, the Greek and Roman alphabets, and more. In addition, students will learn about the decipherment of the rosetta Stone, Linear B, and Mayan.

Significant topics in linguistics. Specific topics vary.

Prerequisite: LING 101B. The course examines the relationship between language and society. At the micro level, the emphasis is on social interaction and the ways language reflects and shapes class, culture, gender, ideology, and conversational style. At the macro level, topics include language maintenance and shift; multilingualism; language variation; language, racism and ethnicity; and language and education.

Prerequisite: LING 101B. This course focuses on research that investigates the relationship between gender and language use in a variety of contexts from talk at work and in the classroom, to talk at home. It explores how speakers (or writers) create and reflect images of masculinities and femininities in their discourse and the forces shaping these identities.

Prerequisite: LING 101B. This course examines linguistic practices and language ideologies of various ethnoracial groups in the U.S. as well as exploring the influence of historical events and sociocultural forces on sociolinguistic phenomena.

Prerequisite: LING 101B. An introduction to phonology - the sound patterns of language - with emphasis on both English and a variety of languages. Topics include the relation between phonetics and phonology, the role of distinctive features (the atoms of sound), types of common sound alternations and sound changes, and prosodic phenomena such as stress, rhythm, and intonation. Students will learn to describe patterns, and argue for an analysis. In addition, the course will relate theoretical findings to practical applications.

Prerequisite: LING 101B. A history of the English language, with a focus on both the linguistic changes and the sociohistorical influences related to those changes. From Indo-European times and characteristics of Germanic languages, through Old and Middle English, up to modern dialects and current developments of American, British, and World Englishes, students will learn about and anaylze the changes and cultures of each period.

Prerequisite: LING 101B or permission of instructor. An introduction to work formation. The course will examine in detail how English and a fascinating variety of languages build existing words from simpler parts, and how they coin new words. Topics include affixation, analogy, compounding, reduplication, and use of templates, and other types of word formation. Questions to be examined include the definition of "word," the relation of morphology to other aspects of language, the role of psychological factors in a linguistic analysis and the role of morphology in language change, dialect variation, and language acquisition.

Prerequisite: LING 101B or permission of instructor. Studies of significant topics in linguistics. Consult Schedule of Courses for specific topic.

Prerequisites: LING 101B and a 300-level linguistics course or permission of the instructor. Advanced work in selected topics in linguistics.

Individual study under the guidance of a member of the staff. By permission of the department. Only three credits may be counted toward the English major.

Individual study under the guidance of a member of the staff. By permission of the department. Only three credits may be counted toward the English major.

Supervised off-campus experience, developed in consultation with the department. Up to three credits may be counted toward the English major or toward the Linguistics minor.