Courses
Course Descriptions
LING
0080
Aspects of Language
Nothing characterizes human beings better than their ability
to use language. One aim of this course is to introduce you to what
languages are like, how they are used, and how they change. Another
aim is to show you some connections between linguistics and other fields: psychology, anthropology, sociology, and computer science. We will discuss
how children learn languages, how brain damage can impair the ability
to speak, how animal communication compares with human language, and
how programming languages are used to communicate with computers.
LING
0085
Machine Aids to Translation
This course is designed to give students familiarity with
a broad range of technological tools that can be of value in translation,
including various word-processing packages, formatting tools, grammar
and spelling checkers, file transfer protocols, online language services
and bulletin boards, and developments in machine translation. Instruction
will focus on applications of such resources in professional translation.
LING
0090
Language and Computation
An introduction to the science of linguistics and to symbol
computation. This course, which has no prerequisites, will develop programming
skills in Prolog, a programming language used in artificial intelligence,
and will introduce students to grammatical structures by developing
simple programs for natural language understanding. The course serves
as a general introduction to grammar as practiced by linguists, to the
problems of artificial intelligence, and to computation in non-numerical
domains.
LING
1000 (FORMERLY 1950)
Introduction to Linguistics
This course is a survey of general linguistics, emphasizing
the theory and methodology of the traditional central areas of the field—phonetics, phonology, morphology, and syntax—with special
concentration on phonological and syntactic theories and analytical
techniques. The remainder of the course will be devoted to phonetics,
morphology, historical linguistics, semantics and pragmatics, sociolinguistics,
and psycholinguistics.
LING
1142
Techniques and Procedures for Teaching English as a Second Language
This course is designed to train students to teach English
to speakers of other languages. The course is on practical classroom
procedures and techniques rather than the theoretical aspects of
language-teaching methodology. The course is taught by staff of the
English Language Institute and includes lectures as well as practical
classroom experience. The language learning and teaching experience
of course participants is drawn on for comparative purposes.
LING
1190
Operation of the Language Laboratory
An overview of language laboratory utilization, including
system design and installation, equipment operation and maintenance,
preparation and adaptation of audio and video language-teaching material,
and laboratory administration.
LING
1235
Language, Gender, and Society
The primary objective of this course is to sensitize students
to the impressions given through language and the degree to which these
are linked with gender. The course addresses a number of questions relevant
to gender-specific language variation, including these: Does language
influence the way we view our gender roles, or do our gender roles condition
our language? What do gender differences in languages have to do with
the maintenance of social boundaries?
LING
1240
Language and the Law
This course explores some of the ways in which linguistic
science can shed light on the use and misuse of language in the legal
system. After an introduction to the origins and special characteristics
of written English legal language ("legalese"), we will study
the layperson's (non-) understanding of technical legal language; the language
of persuasion (e.g. exploitation of such linguistic features of ambiguity,
implicit "rules of conversation," and socially stigmatized
dialect features); and arguments for and against the participation of
linguists as expert witnesses in the courtroom.
LING
1253
Pidgin and Creole Languages
This course surveys the new languages that have sprung
up in various parts of the world and under various historical circumstances
when people who speak different languages come into contact with each
other. These contact languages are called pidgins as long as they are
spoken only as second languages, and creoles if they become the main
language of a speech community. This course focuses on the major structural,
social, and historical features of pidgins and creoles.
LING
1263
Cross-cultural Communication
This course is designed for those planning to work or live
in a situation that serves as an interface between two or more cultural
groups, and also for those who are interested in matters of language
and culture. The curriculum deals with aspects of culture as they interact
with language, and specific topics (e.g. dialects, language in situations
of cultural contact, and the implications of cross-cultural communication
differences for education policy).
LING
1267
Aspects of Sociolinguistics
This course aims to provide insights into how social relationships
influence language and how language can play a role in shaping social
relationships, both in the individual and societal levels. Some of the
issues we will look at are attitudes toward languages, dialects, and
society; social differentiations of language; Black English; multilingualism;
bilingual education; and language planning.
LING
1330
Introduction to Computational Linguistics
In both linguistics and computer science, we need to study
languages and their grammar from a mathematical point of view. This
course is an introduction to the mathematical theory of languages and
its applications. The first half will deal mainly with elements of the
theory of automata and its relation to grammars. The second half will
survey ways in which this theory can be applied to English grammar and
to the design of programming languages. We will concentrate on syntax
but also will pay some attention to theories of meaning.
LING
1440
Language and Prehistory in Mesoamerica
Mesoamerica is well known linguistically, and its linguistic
prehistory is rather well understood. Archaeological research has achieved
knowledge in great detail for many key areas. Ethnohistorical sources
in native languages abound. The integration of linguistic archaeology
and ethnohistorical knowledge can yield a detailed picture of the area's
culture history. We will survey the ethnolinguistic history of Mesoamerica
from 5000 to 1500 C.E. Attention will be given to the ethnic association
of archaeological cultures and the cultural/ecological interpretation
of the reconstructed words.
LING
1442
Mayan Languages and Cultures
The 30 Mayan languages of southern Mexico, Guatemala, and
Belize are among the best-documented languages of Mesoamerica; they
are ergative, and have both passives and antipassives. The results
of comparative study of Mayan languages surpass those for any other
Mesoamerican family. Some Mayans had pre-Columbian writing, and this
writing system is being deciphered. Mayan society has been
well studied by ethnographers, and ethnohistorical sources are numerous
and valuable. Besides these topics, ethnographically meaningful texts
in two Mayan languages will be studied.
LING
1443
American Indian Languages
Of more than 1,000 different languages spoken by Native Americans
in 1492, about 600 survive, most spoken by small numbers, although many
populous Amerindian ethnic groups are found in Mesoamerica and the Andes.
This course will survey the language families of the new world, and
study the grammar and ethnographic texts of two languages. The results
of historical and comparative research on Amerindian languages will
be studied, particularly as they relate to the cultural history of their
region. Also to be studied are pre-Columbian writing and literature
and efforts at cultural maintenance.
LING
1444
Gypsy Language and Culture
Romani is spoken by more than 10 million Gypsies living
in Europe and the Americas. They left their homeland in India more than 2,000
years ago. Entering Europe around 1200 C.E., their unfriendly reception
has made them shy and hard to know. Misunderstandings and misinformation
on Gypsies are abundant. This course will focus on reliable ethnographic
descriptions from Europe and North America, and the language and folklore
of one or more branches of the Romani nation. The history of the Gypsies
as discernible in their language and written records also will be studied.
LING
1446
Artificial Languages
Since the 17th century, various persons have invented new
languages for special purposes: to encode a theory of reality not readily
expressible in any natural language, to provide a means of international
communication without using the language of a specific ethnic group,
to provide color in tales of science fiction and fantasy, and to serve
as a universal intermediate stage in machine translation. Many of the
more successful of these languages, including esperato, will be studied,
as well as a survey of linguistic universals. Principles relating to
such endeavors will be derived.
LING
1447
Language, Culture, and Society
Certain cultural concerns are well labeled linguistically:
kinship, plant names, diseases, colors, etc. The study of how such semantic
fields are labeled and organized is ethnosemantics. Much of the way
language is used depends on the context of speaking. Different ways
of talking to different people is the subject matter of sociolinguistics.
Some thoughts that we habitually think seem illogical on reflection,
but it seems as though our language predisposes us to think this way. Such
phenomena are addressed by the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis.
LING
1448
Aztec Language and Culture
The Aztecs spoke Nahua, as did the Toltecs before them.
One million present-day Nahuas still speak the language and practice
an Amerindian culture. The Nahua language is the best documented of
all Native American languages, from the 16th century to the present.
The ethnohistorical sources in Nahua and on late pre-Columbian culture
are unsurpassed in scope. All the writings in Nahua make up a small
library. In this course we will study the grammar of Nahua and read ethnographic
texts from the Nahua-speaking peoples within Mesoamerica.
LING
1449
Mesoamerican Linguistics
Mesoamerica is noteworthy for its pre-Columbian cultural
achievements and also for the research accomplishments of ethnographers
and linguists working in the area. This course will examine this culture’s convergent linguistic features, as well as pre-Columbian
writing and calendar. The language families and isolates of the area
will be surveyed, as well as their classification and diachronic developments.
Selected languages from a variety of families will be studied descriptively,
and the recent phenomenon of training Indians as linguists and ethnographers
will be examined.
LING
1450
Structure of an Amerindian Language
This is a seminar for the investigation of anthropological
linguistic topics of interest to the professor and students. Topics
covered might include ethnobotany, ethnozoology, ethnomedicine, ethnopsychology,
kinship terminology, diffusion of artifacts/cultigens and their names,
and many others. Methodology will vary with topic.
LING
1452
History of the Indians of Brazil
This course studies the history of the indigenous population
of Brazil, from pre-Columbian times to the present, focusing on linguistic
diversity and comparison. It also will address past and current tensions
between Indigenous and European populations, and potential solutions
to the problems.
LING
1466
Topics in Anthropological Linguistics
This is a seminar for the investigation of anthropological
linguistics topics of interest to the professor and students. Topics
covered might include ethnobotany, ethnozoology, ethnomedicine, ethnopsychology,
kinship terminology, diffusion of artifacts/cultigens and their names,
and many others. Methodology will vary with topic.
LING
1486
Historical Linguistics and Prehistory
This seminar will investigate the principles by which inferences
about prehistory are made; how the reconstruction of linguistics form
is done; how semantic and cultural reconstruction is carried out; and
how historical, ethnohistorical, and archaeological knowledge is correlated
with historical linguistic knowledge to create models of the prehistory
of language families and cultural/ecological zones. Special attention
will be given to the linguistic prehistory of several peoples and language
families, which may include Indo-European, Uto-Aztecan, Otomangue, Mixezoque,
Mayan, et al.
LING
1578
Phonetics and Phonemics
This course provides an introduction to the production,
recognition, and transcription of speech sounds in various languages
of the world and to the patterning of these sounds in phonological
systems. Emphasis is on articulatory phonetics, although there is also
some discussion of acoustic and experimental phonetics.
LING
1579
Phonology
This course introduces the principles of phonological analysis
and theory. After a brief survey of the roots of modern phonology in
Prague school and American descriptivist ("classical phonemic")
theories, the main focus of the course will be on generative phonology.
Both in and out of class, students will be expected to solve phonological
problems and construct theoretical arguments.
LING
1580
Language and the Mind
This course introduces students to the study of language
as a cognitive science, focusing on the mental representations of the
sounds of speech. Throughout the course we will emphasize the scientific
methods used by researchers to investigate questions about the sounds
of language. Because this course is multidisciplinary in nature, drawing
primarily from the fields of linguistics and psychology, students will
be introduced to the different methods, techniques, and technologies
used by researchers in both fields.
LING
1670
Theory of Logic and Computation
This course is an advanced introduction to a symbolic logic and the theory
of computation. This course will develop the theory of propositional
and quantificational logic, including automated theorem-proving techniques.
There will be a brief introduction to the theory of computability and
complexity, with applications to logic-related problems. There will
be several lectures on applications of logic in computer science, especially
in artificial intelligence. Students will be exposed to several computer
programs illustrating points that are made in class.
LING
1672
Seminar in Logic
This seminar is an introduction to symbolic logic through completeness
of the first order predicate calculus. The course stresses computational
aspects and linguistics applications.
LING
1682
Introduction to Semantic Theory
This survey course is designed to introduce students who have
been exposed to linguistics and logic to contemporary work in the theory
of meaning.
LING
1720
Structure of Sign Languages
This course will focus on the linguistic structure of sign
languages, drawing examples principally, although not exclusively, from
American Sign Language. It also will highlight similarities and
differences between sign languages and spoken languages. In addition
to structural features, the course will cover mechanisms unique to visual/spatial
languages, the use of the face and body for grammatical signals, language
variation, and acquisition of sign languages.
LING
1721
Sociolinguistics of Sign Languages
There are various sociolinguistic topics that one must
consider with respect to signed languages of the deaf. Regarding language
contact, ambient languages, either signed or spoken, influence a signed
language. Less than 10 percent of deaf people are exposed to signed language
from birth, which results in unique phenomena. Additionally, signed
languages exhibit variation based on a myriad of social and geographical
factors. These topics, in addition to language planning and language
policy, will be addressed in this course.
LING
1722
Deaf Culture
Many deaf people in the United States are united by a language (American Sign Language)
that differs from English and a culture with characteristics that differ
from those of a larger hearing society. This culture is known as "deaf
culture," and students in this class will be introduced to various facets
of American deaf culture through readings, videos, and discussions.
Students also will explore other deaf cultures throughout the world.
Among the foci are issues of accessibility, perspectives of deaf versus
hearing individuals, and various examples of deaf literature.
LING
1738
Linguistic Structures of English
This course is a nuts-and-bolts description
of the lexical and syntactic structures of English. An attempt will
be made to provide students with a thorough grounding in traditional
grammar while at the same time presenting insights and explanations
from a transformational-generative perspective. The class is designed
for English language teachers—either those who are teaching it
in the American school systems or who wish to teach English as a foreign language. This course follows a lecture
format with class discussion.
LING
1773
Morphology
Morphology, the study of words, is interrelated with the
syntax, the phonology, the lexicon, and semantics. The purpose of this
course is to develop operational competence, through problem solving
and discussion, in the major aspects of morphological theory. Theoretical
issues to be addressed will include lexical phonology, prosodic morphology,
morphology and logical form, and morphology and valency alternations.
LING
1776
Morphosyntax
This course is designed to introduce undergraduates to
the in-depth study of morphology and syntax. We will focus on a limited
number of morphosyntactical features, such as word order, case, and animacy.
By analyzing data from a wide variety of languages, we will identify
some of the differences in these properties cross-linguistically. The
course integrates morphosyntactic analysis with readings on linguistic
universals, so as to better our understanding of typological traits
that appear across languages.
LING
1777
Syntactic Theory
This course is an introduction, stressing understanding
of theoretical concepts, to the transformational-generative approach
to English sentence structure. This approach uses formal rules to produce
sentences and to explain how they are composed of phrases. The first
part of the course concentrates on mechanical manipulation of systems
of rules, aiming to acquaint the student with how the rules work. The
second part concentrates on how syntacticians use evidence about a language
to support or disconfirm their theories.
LING
1860
Introduction to Historical Linguistics
This course is a survey of the principles and methods of historical linguistics and
practice in the basic techniques of historical linguistics research.
The major topics to be studied are the analysis of sound change, analogic
change, contact-induced language change, the relationship between variation
(regional and social) and language change, the comparative method, and
internal reconstruction.
LING
1901
Independent Study
This course provides students an opportunity to formally
pursue work on an individual basis.
LING
1930
Introduction to Applied Linguistics
LING
1951
Languages of the World
This course is a survey of language classification, language
structures, and language contact. It concentrates on two main questions:
first, how do languages resemble, and differ from, each other in sounds,
forms, and syntax? And second, what are some linguistic and sociopolitical
results of situations in which two or more languages come into contact?
The context for these investigations will be a study of selected language
families, both in class and in individual student projects (including
some elicitation of data from native speakers of various languages).
LING
1952
Languages of Europe
The purpose of this course is to familiarize students with
some of the ethnic, linguistic, geographic, and historical complexities
of Europe from a somewhat oblique angle, through a course dealing with
the languages of Europe in their structure and social dimensions, and
providing ample exposure to the historical background as well as frequent
hands-on experience with maps.
LING
2000
Theses Research for the MA Degree
This course provides for individual work under the guidance
of a faculty member.
LING
2105
Language Learning and Teaching
This course addresses current issues in the learning and
teaching of foreign languages.
LING
2136
Foreign and Second Language Testing
This course is designed to be more practical than theoretical,
but essential testing theory and statistics will be covered. Topics
dealt with will include purpose of language tests (diagnostic, predictive,
achievement, etc.); reliability; validity; test standardization; holistic
and discrete point tests; norm-referenced and criterion-referenced
tests; testing the four language skills; and the different components
of language. Students will write tests and test items covering all
four language skills. Some of the tests will be tried in actual use
and will be revised as necessary.
LING
2139
Approaches and Methods for Second Language Teaching
This course is intended to introduce language teachers
and prospective language teachers to the various approaches and methods
employed in the teaching of English as a foreign or second
language and, by extension, to other foreign language teaching as well.
This course is paired with LING 2142, which presents the more
practical aspects of Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) teaching methods and classroom techniques.
LING
2140
Contrastive Analysis and Alternative Approaches
An analysis of the types of errors made by second language
learners with special emphasis on both first-language (traditionally
known as contrastive analysis) and second-language interference, but
with a discussion of other sources of error as well. This course will
emphasize the theoretical implications of these for a theory of second
language learning. Readings will be selected from the current literature,
and students will be asked to conduct a project dealing with some aspect
of error analysis.
LING
2142
Techniques and Procedures for Teaching English as a Second Language
This course is designed for teachers or teacher-trainees
who will teach English to speakers of other languages. The course is
also relevant to teaching any foreign language. The focus is on practical
classroom procedures and techniques rather than on the theoretical aspects
of language teaching methodology. The course is team-taught by the staff
of the English Language Institute. The institute's curricula and classes are used
to exemplify various techniques and procedures. The language learning
and teaching experience of the course participants is drawn on for comparative
purposes.
LING
2143
Seminar: Materials Development for Second Language Teaching
This is a course designed to introduce students to the
design and development of materials and texts for the teaching of second
languages. The course is conducted as a seminar with student presentations
on the various aspects of materials designed to teach language skills.
Each student also presents a project prospectus that describes the purpose,
descriptive objectives, operational objectives, concepts, and procedures
for incorporating concepts into the materials. Students then prepare
the materials (or part of them) and present reports on their projects.
LING
2144
Research Methods in Applied Linguistics
This course will give a broad introduction to research
methods for the study of non-native language development. Both quantitative
and qualitative methods will be discussed for the study of as well as
informal learning and acquisition processes. But some emphasis will
be put on qualitative methods and classroom language development. Occasional
reference will be made to research strategies in sociolinguistics and
psycholinguistics.
LING
2146
Second Language Acquisition
This course will deal with second language development
from a linguistic and psychological point of view rather than from an educational
one. Both the influence of linguistic theory on second language
research and the importance of second language data for linguistic theory
will be discussed. Second language development in children as well as
adults will be described, and frequent comparisons will be made with
data from first-language acquisitions.
LING
2147
Current Issues in Second Language Learning
This course will cover four or five topics that have received
a lot of attention in the applied linguistics literature of the past
few years. Topics discussed in the past include learning versus acquisition,
accuracy versus fluency, classroom interaction, individual differences,
and computer-assisted instruction.
LING
2148
Introduction to Computer-Assisted Language Learning
Both the practical and theoretical aspects of using computer-assisted language learning (CALL) will be explored. Topics will include
software evaluation; the role of word processing and other common
applications; text reconstruction programs; resources for language
learning on the Internet; classroom and self-access modes of CALL;
roles of the computer in second language learning; creating CALL materials
with authoring programs; use of audio, video, and graphics in CALL;
role of hypermedia and hypertext in CALL; Web-based classroom activities;
Web page creation; concordance programs; integration of CALL into
the curriculum; and research in CALL. The Internet will be used extensively.
LING
2149
Special Topics in Applied Linguistics
This course aims to cover a number of topics that are
under discussion in the field of applied linguistics.
LING
2190
Seminar: ESL Teacher Supervision
This course combines seminar discussion, supervision of
teachers, and co-observation with English Language Institute supervision.
Topics covered include objectives and techniques of supervision, classroom
supervision, postobservational feedback to instructors, and overall
teaching effectiveness.
LING
2191
Seminar: ESL Demonstration Lessons
Participants in the seminar observe English as a second language or foreign language
teaching demonstrations and videotapes of peer teaching and then discuss
what has been observed. Participants take turns in being responsible
for presentations related to the demonstration teaching or discussion.
Related readings are required for some sessions.
LING
2192
Seminar: ESL Recent Publications
Recently published articles and books on methods and techniques
of teaching English as a second language and foreign languages are reviewed and discussed. Selections
are made to cover as wide a range of issues as possible and according
to the interests of seminar participants.
LING
2195
Practicum: ESL Teaching
The requirements of the practicum may be fulfilled by supervised
teaching either in the English Language Institute or in its informal
English as a second language course (for at least 15 contact hours). Teachers are required to
attend orientation and training meetings, be observed in class, attend
postobservation discussions, and provide an evaluation of the curriculum.
LING
2196
Practicum: Second Language Curriculum
Experienced teachers in the English Language Institute
become section leaders and work with the English Language Institute
staff in coordinating various curricular areas, training newer teachers,
or developing curriculum materials.
LING
2197
Teaching of Linguistics
This course is designed to provide supervision and consultation
to graduate student TAs and TFs in undergraduate linguistics
courses.
LING
2234
Language Planning
This course concerns planning language at the national
level; selection of national languages; standardization, modernization,
and elaboration of a language; educational practices; etc. We will begin
by considering language planning theories and then move on to a variety
of case studies that will provide a viewpoint from which we can then re-examine the theories.
LING
2235
Language, Gender, and Society
The primary objective of this course is to sensitize students
to the impressions given through language and the degree to which these
are linked with gender. The course addresses a number of questions relevant
to gender-specific language variation, including these: Does language
influence the way we view our gender roles, or do our gender roles condition
our language? What do gender differences in languages have to do with
the maintenance of social boundaries?
LING
2250
Language Policies and the Education of Linguistic Minorities
This course examines the basic problems and principles
of language policies in general as well as language planning and implementation
specifically in the education of linguistic minorities. This course
will explore the nature of bilingual education and its effectiveness
in various social settings. The approach will be at the macro level
of types of bilingual education and the societal needs that give cause
to its various forms of institutionalization.
LING
2267
Sociolinguistics
This is an introductory course in the social aspects of
language. The course is divided into three parts: (1) linguistic competence,
(2) communicative competence, and (3) language policy, which deals with
implications of earlier topics when applied to society.
LING
2268
Research in Sociolinguistics
This course is required for any graduate student who wishes
to write a thesis in sociolinguistics, psycholinguistics, or language
acquisition. The course will deal with approaches to research typical
of the social sciences; crucial problems of research design and implementation;
and study and evaluation of research methodology, for which both quantitative
and qualitative approaches will be considered.
LING
2269
Current Issues in Sociolinguistics
This course aims to cover a number of topics that are
under discussion in the field of sociolinguistics.
LING
2270
Advanced Sociolinguistics
This course is a continuation of LING 2267 Sociolinguistics.
This course will focus on topics selected based on students’ particular
interests, and these topics will be covered in depth.
LING
2271
Language, Nationalism, and Ethnicity
This course will consist of a review of present knowledge
of the intersection of language and ethnicity, followed by explorations
of new ways of conceptualization. We will deal with a variety of case
studies.
LING
2272
Sociology of Language
This course is constituted of topics that can
be the subject of study by researchers without linguistic training,
where the focus, rather than on the description of linguistic structure,
is on the explanation of language use and behavior by social groups.
This seminar will consider such topics as language and ethnicity; language
maintenance; languages of wider communication; language royalties; language
rights; language policies and planning; speech communities and social
networks; language, religion, and sacred languages; and language and educational
issues.
LING
2302
Natural Grammar Writing
Parsers are computer programs that analyze the structure
of sentences based on a set of grammar rules. In this course you will
learn to write grammar rules for parsers. No prior knowledge of computers
or programming is necessary.
LING
2330
Introduction to Computational Linguistics
In both linguistics and computer science, we need to study
languages and their grammar from a mathematical point of view. This
course is an introduction to the mathematical theory of language and
its applications. The first half will deal mainly with the elements
of the theory of automata and its relation to grammars. The second half
will survey ways in which this theory can be applied to English grammar
and to the design of programming languages. We will concentrate on syntax
but also will pay some attention to theories of meaning.
LING
2341
Software Design for Computer-Assisted Instruction
This course covers three main topics: (1) principles of
materials preparation with specific reference to computer-assisted
instruction (CAI), (2) evaluation of existing software, and (3) hands-on
experience to learn some of the techniques, problems, advantages, and
limitations of CAI, using a microcomputer. No prior knowledge of programming
is required. Some of the fundamentals of programming will be practiced
intensively, and each student will design and write one complete lesson
in Basic.
LING
2350
Logic Programming and CMPTL Morphology
This course introduces basic concepts of logic programming in prolog, with special attention to recursion, lists, and natural language
programming. It also will cover theory of finite state networks and finite state transducers,
and applications to natural language morphology. This introduction will
not aim at programming expertise, but at concepts and basic techniques
that will be valuable to professional users of natural language software.
LING
2384
Introduction to Natural Language Processing
The course will survey the issues involved in building
computer systems that use a natural language (such as English) as a
means of communication. It will cover the basic techniques used in handling
syntax, semantics, and pragmatics and also will include case studies
of existing natural language systems.
LING 2390
Syntax of Spanish
This course addresses Spanish syntactic constructions and structures from the point of view of current linguistic theory. Topics to be dealt with include constituent structure of nominal, verbal, and adjectival projections; functional categories; word order; main and embedded clauses; and case assignment. Special attention will be paid to the relationship between syntax and the lexicon as it manifests itself in phenomena such as passive voice, dativization, light verb constructions, and argument alternations.
LING 2391
Phonology of Spanish
This course provides a description of Spanish sounds (vowels, diphthongs, and consonants in all their allophonic realizations) and prosodic features (stress and intonation) in light of current phonological theories. Special attention will be paid to syllable structure, as well as different phonological processes such as assimilation, dissimilation, and epenthesis. The relationship between phonology and other components of the grammar (in particular morphology and syntax) also will be dealt with.
LING 2392
History of Spanish
This course deals with the evolution of the Spanish language from Latin. Language change at all levels will be taken into account: phonological, morphological, syntactic, lexical, and semantic. Both internal and external factors of change will be considered. Special topics to be covered include grammaticalization, language contact, and the evolution of Latin American Spanish. Authentic texts from different periods will be analyzed.
LING 2394
Spanish Dialectology
This course looks at varieties of Spanish from different perspectives: regional, social, and stylistic. Phonological, morphological, syntactic, and lexical variation will be taken into account. Special attention will be paid to Heritage Spanish, creoles, and language contact, as well as the diachronic sources of regional differentiation.
LING
2440
Language and Prehistory in Mesoamerica
Mesoamerica is well known linguistically, and its linguistic
prehistory is rather well understood. Archaeological research has achieved
knowledge in great detail for many key areas. Ethnohistorical sources
in native languages abound. The integration of linguistic archaeology
and ethnohistorical knowledge can yield a detailed picture of the area’s
culture history. We will survey the ethnolinguistic history of Mesoamerica
from 5000 to 1500 C.E. Attention will be given to the ethnic association
of archaeological cultures and the cultural/ecological interpreting
of reconstructed words.
LING
2441
Field Methods in Linguistics
This course is meant to simulate the experience of linguistic
field work and raise awareness about the effectiveness of specific
interview techniques for acquiring linguistic data. The course will
give instruction and experience in eliciting data from a speaker of
a non-(Indo)European language. Students will undertake the investigation
of the phonology, some aspect of grammar, and the ethnosemantic study
of a taxonomically structured semantic field such as plants or animals.
Students will make detailed elicitation plans in advance of their administration.
LING
2442
Mayan Languages and Cultures
The 30 Mayan languages of Southern Mexico, Guatemala,
and Belize are among the best documented languages of Mesoamerica;
they are ergative and have both passives and antipassives. The
results of comparative study of Mayan languages surpass those for any
other Mesoamerican family. Some Mayans had pre-Columbian writing, and
this writing system is being deciphered. Mayan society has
been well studied by ethnographers, and ethnohistorical sources are
numerous and valuable. Besides these topics, ethnographically
meaningful texts in two Mayan languages will be studied.
LING
2443
American Indian Languages
Of more than 1,000 languages spoken by Native
Americans in 1492, about 600 survive, most spoken by small numbers,
although many populous Amerindian ethnic groups are found in
Mesoamerica and the Andes. This course will survey the language
families of the new world, and study the grammar and ethnographic
texts of two languages. The results of historical and comparative
research on Amerindian languages will be studied, particularly as they
relate to the cultural history of their region. Also to be studied are
pre-Columbian writing and literature and efforts at cultural
maintenance.
LING
2444
Gypsy Language and Culture
Romani is spoken by more than 10 million Gypsies living
in Europe and the Americas. They left their homeland in India more than 2,000
years ago, entering Europe around 1200 C.E. Their unfriendly reception
has made them shy and hard to know. Misunderstandings and misinformation
on Gypsies are abundant. This course will focus on reliable ethnographic
descriptions from Europe and North America, and the language and folklore
of one or more branches of the Romani nation. The history of the Gypsies
as discernible in their language and written records also will be studied.
LING
2445
Coptic Grammar and Readings
Coptic is the name we give to the latest stage of the Egyptian
language, from CA 200 C.E. to CA 1400 C.E. Coptic is written using primarily
the Greek alphabet. Coptic is known in five dialects; this course will
focus on the Sa’Idic, in which the majority of Orthodox and some
Gnostic writings were composed. The main work in this course will be
to learn the grammar, but some text will be read. The grammar of Coptic
is relatively uncomplicated, and the pronunciation presents only moderate
difficulty.
LING
2448
Aztec Language and Culture
The Aztecs spoke Nahuas, as did the Toltecs before them.
One million present-day Nahuas still speak the language and practice
an Amerindian culture. The Nahua language is the best documented of
all Native American languages, from the 16th century to the present. The ethnohistorical
sources in Nahua and on late pre-Columbian culture are unsurpassed
in scope. All the writings in Nahua make up a small library. In this
course we will study the grammar of Nahua, read ethnographic texts from
the 20th and 16th centuries, and trace the cultural history of the
Nahua-speaking peoples within Mesoamerica.
LING
2449
Mesoamerican Linguistics
Mesoamerica is noteworthy for its pre-Columbian cultural
achievements and the research accomplishments of ethnographers
and linguists working in the area. This course will examine this culture’s convergent linguistic features, as well as pre-Columbian
writing and calendar. The language families and isolates of the area
will be surveyed as well as their classification and diachronic developments.
Selected languages from a variety of families will be studied descriptively,
and the recent phenomenon of training Indians as linguists and ethnographers
will be examined.
LING
2450
Structure of an Amerindian Language
This is a seminar for the investigation of anthropological
linguistic topics of interest to the professor and students. Topics
covered might include ethnobotany, ethnozoology, ethnomedicine, ethnopsychology,
kinship terminology, diffusion of artifacts/cultigens and their names,
and many others. Methodology will vary with topic.
LING
2451
An Amerindian Language Family
This course will introduce the student to the basic typological
and diachronic facts of a selected Amerindian language family. Several
grammars will be read, and a synthetic structural overview will be developed.
Text material from several languages will be examined, and the historical-comparative
literature will be read. Areas of needed future research will be identified.
Family covered will depend on the professor, and may include Salishan,
Uto-Aztecan, Hokan, Otomangue, Mixezoque, Mayan, Chibchan, and Tupi-Guarani.
LING
2452
History of the Indians of Brazil
This course studies the history of the indigenous population
of Brazil, from pre-Columbian times to the present, focusing on linguistic
diversity and comparison. It also will address past and current tensions
between the indigenous and European populations, and potential solutions
to the problems.
LING
2453
Contributions to South America Language/Linguistics Theory
Linguistics, whether conceived of as a taxonomic or theoretical
enterprise, must give attention to the study of particular grammars,
rather than relying exclusively on broad generalizations from a narrow
empirical base. This course surveys various phonological and syntactic
aspects of South American (especially Amazonian) languages, discussing
major contributions of these languages to linguistic theory, and emphasizing
the importance of data-gathering theory.
LING
2465
Lexicography
The information needed in a dictionary made by and for
linguists bears no straightforward relation to what is found in the
Oxford English Dictionary. There is more than one kind of dictionary; monolingual and bilingual
are just two types. What goes in the dictionary determines what goes
in the grammar and vice versa. After study of the issues, students
will perform some of the tasks in preparing data for lexical entries.
They may use data they have collected or data being processed by the
professor for bilingual dictionaries of Nahua, Huastec, Mocho, Xinca,
or Low Dutch.
LING
2466
Topics in Anthropological Linguistics
This is a seminar for the investigation of anthropological
linguistic topics of interest to the professor and students. Topics
covered might include ethnobotany, ethnozoology, ethnomedicine, ethnopsychology,
kinship terminology, diffusion of artifacts/cultigens and their names,
and many others. Methodology will vary with topic.
LING
2468
Regional Dialectology
The geographically variable intralinguistic phenomena that
mark communities and sets thereof are the subject matter of
dialectology. To study dialects it is necessary to have detailed
knowledge of several points on the continuum, know what the variable
features are, do a thorough and relevant survey of the area, and know how
to display the data and how to interpret it synchronically
and diachronically. These topics will be covered by the analysis of
the work of others and/or by doing dialectological survey work.
Special focus will be given to English, Dutch, Huasteco, and K’iche’.
LING
2486
Historical Linguistics and Prehistory
This seminar will investigate the principles by which inferences
about prehistory are made; how the reconstruction of linguistic form
is done; how semantic and cultural reconstruction is carried out; and
how historical, ethnohistorical, and archaeological knowledge is correlated
with historical linguistic knowledge to create models of the prehistory
of language families and cultural/ecological zones. Special attention
will be given to the linguistic prehistory of several peoples and language
families, which may include Indo-European, Uto-Aztecan, Otomangue, Mixezoque,
Mayan, et al.
LING
2578
Phonetics and Phonemics
This course provides an introduction to the production,
recognition, and transcription of speech sounds in various languages
of the world and to the patterning of these sounds in phonological
systems. Emphasis is on articulatory phonetics, although there is also
some discussion of acoustic and experimental phonetics.
LING
2579
Phonology
This course introduces the principles of phonological analysis
and theory. After a brief survey of the roots of modern phonology in
Prague school and American descriptivist ("classical phonemic")
theories, the main focus of the course will be on generative phonology.
Both in and out of class, students will be expected to solve phonological
problems and construct theoretical arguments.
LING
2580
Topics in Phonological Theory
This course provides an opportunity for students to explore
in depth one or more topics in phonological theory. The subject matter
of the course varies according to the particular interests of students
and instructor in a given year. Topics that are likely to be covered
are phonetic phonological interface, articulatory phonology, and phonological
acquisition.
LING
2661
Dynamics of Meaning
The nature of context and its representation and management
has been recognized as a crucial issue in all the cognitive disciplines
dealing with language and reasoning. This course will seek to find materials
for general theory of context in recent research areas such as discourse,
and the semantics of “dynamic” phenomena in natural languages
and programming languages, and to relate this theoretical material to
research problems in natural language processing. In doing this we will
read materials from philosophy, linguistics, and computer science.
LING
2665
Derivation and the Lexicon
For many linguists the lexicon has recently become the
repository of most morphological phenomena. When compared to phonology
and morphosyntax, the study of derivation (the makeup of lexicon items)
is a large and burgeoning area of linguistics study. Derivation involves
a difficult and complicated set of phenomena. In this seminar students
and professor will review the literature that relates to derivation
and try to evaluate and synthesize what has been accomplished and identify
unfinished tasks.
LING
2670
Theory of Logic and Computation
This course is an advanced introduction to a symbolic logic and the theory
of computation. The course will develop the theory of prepositional
and quantificational logic, including automated theorem-proving techniques.
There will be a brief introduction to the theory of computability and
complexity, with applications to logic-related problems. There will
be several lectures on applications of logic in computer science, especially
artificial intelligence. Students will be exposed to several computer
programs illustrating points that are made in class.
LING
2672
Seminar in Logic
This course is an introduction to symbolic logic through completeness
of the first order predicate calculus. The course stresses computational
aspects and linguistics applications.
LING
2675
Art of Logic and Computation
This course provides an introduction to the use of logic
as a representation language. Logic notation, techniques of axiomatization,
and semantics of first-order logic will be taught using The Language
of Logic, by J. Barwise and J. Etchemendy, and the accompanying
tutorial program, Tarski’s World. At the end of
the course, there will be a brief introduction to the theory of computation,
concepts of logic programming, and programming in prolog.
LING
2681
Pragmatics
This course covers theories of how context of utterance affects the relationships
between language and human action and communication. Topics include
presupposition, conversational implicature, nondeclarative sentences,
deixis and anaphora, and discourse analysis of units larger than sentences.
LING
2682
Introduction to Semantic Theory
This is a survey course designed to introduce students who have
been exposed to linguistics and logic to contemporary work in the theory
of meaning.
LING
2683
Aspects of Lexical Meaning
The course begins with a discussion of an approach to linguistics
within which lexical meaning can be explained, and it continues with the
assignment of lexical meaning to linguistic units and an exploration
of the implications of lexical spectrum intersection theory.
LING
2720
Structure of Sign Languages
This course will focus on the linguistic structure of sign
languages, drawing examples principally, although not exclusively, from
American Sign Language. It also will highlight similarities and
differences between sign languages and spoken languages. In additional
features, the course will cover mechanisms unique to visual/spatial
languages, the use of the face and body for grammatical signals, language
variation, and acquisition of sign languages.
LING
2738
Linguistic Structures of English
This course is a nuts-and-bolts description
of the lexical and syntactic structures of English. An attempt will
be made to provide students with a thorough grounding in traditional
grammar while at the same time presenting insights and explanations
from a transformational-generative perspective. The class is designed
for English language teachers—either those who are teaching it
in American school systems or who wish to teach English as a foreign language. The course follows a lecture format
with class discussion.
LING
2741
Writing Descriptive Grammars
It is essential for the linguist to be able to express
empirical generalizations clearly and present data in a simple, useful
form. This course prepares the advanced student to write technical reference
grammars. Each student will be required to write various aspects
of the grammar and phonology of one or more languages.
LING 2751
Descriptive Typology
For any linguistic category there is empirically a limited
number of ways it can be expressed. Sometimes observed limitations can
be explained through the lore of typology and linguistic universals.
Sometimes they seem accidental. Typologists have been fairly successful
in categorizing whole languages. This course will examine a selection of
linguistic traits where subsystem typology has been successfully carried
out, as well as doing structural surveys of a few languages of very
different overall structural type.
LING
2761
Discourse Analysis
Many aspects of language cannot be handled adequately in
sentence grammars. Although these aspects arguably pertain to a separate
area of study, the field worker or student of language in context must
not avoid them. This course studies discourse in a number of languages,
from formal and functional perspectives. Discourse will be shown to
provide rich insights into language and culture.
LING
2770
Seminar: Structural Approach to Language
The seminar provides an opportunity for investigation into
and discussion of the attitude toward language study that has come to
be known as the structural approach. While the structures of Thai, Spanish,
and English will be employed to exemplify the point of view, students
will be encouraged to do individualized research on the languages of
their choice.
LING
2773
Morphology
Morphology, the study of words, is interrelated with the
syntax, the phonology, the lexicon, and semantics. The purpose of this
course is to develop operational competence, through problem solving
and discussion, in the major aspects of morphological theory. Theoretical
issues to be addressed will include lexical phonology, prosodic morphology,
morphology and logical form, and morphology and valency alternations.
LING
2774
Seminar: Current Issues in Syntax
This course will deal in depth with one or two topics (to
be announced each term) in syntactic theory.
LING
2775
Universal Grammar
This course covers those laws that pertain to all human languages, representing
the universal properties of language, and constitute a universal grammar.
LING
2776
Montague Grammar
This course covers an approach to the syntax and semantics of natural languages
that was developed in the 1960s by Richard Montague. It uses
techniques from contemporary logical theories.
LING
2777
Syntactic Theory
This course is an introduction, stressing understanding
of theoretical concepts, to the transformational-generative approach
to English sentence structure. This approach uses formal rules to produce
sentences and explain how they are composed of phrases. The first
part of the course concentrates on mechanical manipulation of system
of rules, aiming to acquaint the student with how the rules work. The
second part concentrates on how syntacticians use evidence about a language
to support or disconfirm their theories.
LING
2778
Readings in Syntax
This course will extend the student's knowledge to
the fundamental concepts of the principles and parameters approach to
syntax (governmental and binding theory). Its goals are to enable students
to manipulate the theory with confidence and to enable students to read primary literature.
Furthermore, it aims to provide students with exposure to analyses of
a range of languages in order to achieve an understanding of the value
of cross-linguistic analysis in theory construction. Finally, we shall
consider the motivation for the recent developments in syntactic theory
proposed by Chomsky.
LING
2787
Alternative Syntactic Theories
Certain formal linguistic models dominate theoretical linguistic
thinking and practice—government and binding, lexical functional
grammar, and Montague grammar. But other theories are being honed and
practiced—some formal, such as categorical grammar, arc-pair grammar,
and role and reference grammar; and some informal, such as functional
grammar. This seminar will survey these marginal and/or unorthodox
theories as match the current interests of the professor and students.
LING
2860
Introduction to Historical Linguistics
This course is a survey of the principles and methods of historical linguistics
and practice in the basic techniques of historical linguistic research.
The major topics to be studied are the analysis of sound change, contact-induced language change, the relationship between variation (regional
and social) and language change, the comparative method, and internal
reconstruction.
LING
2861
Topics in Historical Linguistics
This course provides an opportunity for students with some
background in historical linguistics to investigate one or more areas
of the field in depth. The content of the course varies according to
the particular interests of students and instructor in a given year.
Topics that have been covered include theory and methodology of linguistic
reconstruction, contact-induced language change, and a general
survey of the theoretical writings on language change.
LING
2862
History of English Dialects
The regional dialects of British English are known mainly
from the Middle English period (1150–1450) when no standardized literary
form of English was in use, and in the post-Revolutionary period (1800–present)
as a result of the rise of folk studies and English dialectology.
We will study British English dialects from these two periods. The techniques
of dialect geography, especially mapping and the devising of diasystems,
will be applied to the data, and the history of the English language
from the Old English period down to Shakespeare will be surveyed.
LING
2871
Art of Logic and Computation
This course is a quick introduction to the art of using logic as a representation
language. The presentation will be aimed at linguistics and computer
scientists who want to become acquainted with the idea of logical form.
The course will use parts of a textbook by Jon Barwise and John Etchemendy,
and will rely on accompanying tutorial software for Macintosh computers.
There will be an opportunity at the end of the course for students to
learn about either logic programming or relating logical forms
to natural language, whichever they prefer.
LING
2802
Directed Study for MA Students
This course provides for individual work under the guidance
of a faculty member.
LING
2945
Psycholinguistics
This course is a general introduction to psycholinguistics,
which will focus on a specific topic such as speech, perception, language
processing, language production, and/or language acquisition. Throughout
the course, we will consider the relationship between theoretical linguistics
concepts and constructs, and psycholinguistic data. We also will touch
on related areas, such as processes of reading, language and the brain,
and language and thought.
LING
2949
Seminar in Neurolinguistics
This course explores language and language use from a biological
perspective.
LING
2950
History of Linguistics
This course surveys the history of linguistics from ancient
times to today, with emphasis on the 19th and 20th centuries.
A major topic is the birth of structural linguistics and the development
of various schools of linguistics during the 20th
century.
LING
2959
Departmental Seminar
This seminar is a forum for the exchange of ideas among faculty members
and advanced graduate students. Topics to be presented and discussed
will include areas of linguistic endeavor that are under exploration
by any of the program participants, i.e. faculty projects, doctoral
dissertation work, and MA long paper research.
LING
2990
Independent Study for MA Students
This course provides an opportunity for students to
pursue work formally on an individual basis.
LING
3000
Dissertation Research for PhD
This course provides for individual work under the guidance
of a faculty member.
LING
3099
Independent Study for PhD Students
This course provides the opportunity for students to
pursue work formally on an individual basis.
LING
3101
PhD Comprehensive Paper One
This course provides students with guidance in proposing,
researching, writing, and orally presenting the final draft of part
one of the PhD comprehensive requirement, normally no later than their
fourth year. Depending on the time spent on the comprehensive, the course
can be worth one to nine credits. If nine credits are chosen, the comprehensive
paper must be completed by the end of the semester.
LING
3102
PhD Comprehensive Paper Two
This course provides guidance to students in proposing,
researching, writing, and orally presenting the final draft of part
two of the PhD comprehensive requirement, normally no later than their
fourth year. Depending on the time spent on the comprehensive, the course
can be worth one to nine credits. If nine credits are chosen, the comprehensive
paper must be completed by the end of the semester.
LING
3902
Directed Study for PhD Students
This course provides for individual work under the guidance
of a faculty member.
LING
3990
Independent Study for PhD Students
This course provides the opportunity for students to
pursue work formally on an individual basis.