Catalog Course Descriptions
The University Catalog is the authoritative source for information on courses. The Schedule of Classes is the authoritative source for information on classes scheduled for this semester. See the Schedule for the most up-to-date information and see Patriot web to register for classes.
Linguistics Courses
Undergraduate
300-Level Courses in LING
Overview of grammatical structure of English including world classes, phrases, and complex sentences. Analyzes English grammar using modern syntactic theory. Students engage in language description through problem solving. Limited to three attempts.
Overview of grammatical structure of English including word classes, phrases, and complex sentences. Analyzes English grammar using modern syntactic theory. Students engage in language description through problem solving. Equivalent to ENGH 307.
400-Level Courses in LING
Overview of the study of language variation and change. Topics to be covered include the interaction between language and social factors (age, sex, social class), dialects of English, speech communities, language contact, and language and gender. Limited to three attempts.
Examines first language acquisition from a linguistic perspective. Covers the development of a first phonology, syntax, and semantics. Emphasizes research methods in the study of child language. Limited to three attempts.
Developments in theoretical linguistics that explore how language form is related to meaning and context. Topics include reference, lexical semantics, logic, quantification, truth conditions and sentential meaning, presuppositions, and speech acts. Limited to three attempts.
Nature and form of syntactic theory, and examination and analysis of the properties of several major natural language syntactic structures. Limited to three attempts.
Sound systems of English and other languages from perspectives of phonological theory. Topics include articulatory phonetics, distinctive features, nature of phonological representations, rhythm and stress, and phonological universals and constraints. Limited to three attempts.
Intensive study of particular theoretical problem in linguistics conducted by student in close consultation with instructor. Student produces substantial piece of written work on research findings. Notes: May be repeated with permission of instructor. May be repeated within the degree for a maximum 6 credits.
Graduate
500-Level Courses in LING
Field work providing working experience in language-teaching program or educational research organization. Notes: Contact the department one semester prior to enrollment. May be repeated within the degree for a maximum 6 credits.
Introduces terminology and methodology of modern linguistic science, and detailed structural analysis of English phonology, morphology, and syntax. May not be repeated for credit.
Theories and basic principles of teaching a second language, especially as they relate to English language. Introduces students to methods of teaching English to speakers of other languages. May not be repeated for credit.
Overview of structure of modern English beginning with word classes and ending with analyses of complex sentences. Most topics introduced as problems of language description; in solving them, principles of syntactic argumentation are demonstrated. Students learn to tap intuitions about English to analyze grammatical structure. May not be repeated for credit.
In-depth description and analysis of sound system processes of modern English. Topics include segmental phonetics, syllable structure, connected speech, and prosodic phenomena. Also addresses implications for language instruction. May not be repeated for credit.
Involves preparation and presentation of lessons to adult English as second language (ESL) learners under guidance of mentor teacher and practicum professor. Field experience consists of observation and teaching in assigned ESL classroom. May not be repeated for credit.
Examines first language acquisition from a linguistic perspective. Covers the development of a first phonology, syntax, and semantics. Methodology in studying child language is discussed. May not be repeated for credit.
Study of mental and psychological aspects of human language, including aphasia, association, autism, language acquisition, verbal concept formation, and perception. May not be repeated for credit.
Examines second language (L2) acquisition from linguistic perspective. Compares first and second language acquisition. Explores factors contributing to L2 variation, including linguistic universals, transfer, age, input, and affective considerations. May not be repeated for credit.
600-Level Courses in LING
An overview of the study of language variation and change. Topics to be covered include the interaction between language and social factors (age, sex, social class), dialects of English, speech communities, language contact, and language and gender. May not be repeated for credit.
Detailed advanced study of selected area of linguistics. Notes: Content varies. May be repeated for credit with permission of department. May not be repeated for credit.
Sound systems of English and other languages from the perspective of phonological theory. Topics include articulatory phonetics, distinctive features, nature of phonological representations and processes, rule ordering, abstractness, role of external evidence, and nonlinear phonology. May not be repeated for credit.
Seminar in linguistic metatheory. Examines wide range of theories about language and linguistic theory, including those of Saussure, Bloomfield, Chomsky, and others. Readings from original sources. May not be repeated for credit.
Recent trends in phonological theory. Topics include stress assignment, tone spreading, and vowel harmony, from within nonlinear framework. Discusses segmental structure and underspecification. May not be repeated for credit.
700-Level Courses in LING
Conceptualizing and conducting second language research, including process of developing research questions, gathering data, obtaining permission from institutional review board, choosing data collection measures, and coding linguistic and nonlinguistic data. May not be repeated for credit.
Advanced course in second-language acquisition theory. Detailed analysis of internal and external constraints. Variation addressed from linguistic, psychological, and environmental perspectives. May not be repeated for credit.
Developments in theoretical linguistics that explore how language form relates to meaning and context. Topics include reference, lexical semantics, logic, quantification, truth conditions and sentential meaning, presuppositions, and speech acts. May not be repeated for credit.
Nature and form of syntactic theory. Examines and analyzes properties of several major natural language syntactic structures. May not be repeated for credit.
Theoretical treatment of syntactic phenomena that have emerged as standard problems for syntactic analysis. Problems include binding, extraction, and quantification. Extensive reading in primary theoretical literature. May not be repeated for credit.
Advanced course in semantic and pragmatic theory. Study of meaning under truth-conditional, model-theoretic framework explored and related to syntax and pragmatics. May not be repeated for credit.
Reading, research, and writing on specific project under direction of departmental member. Notes: Open only to students who have completed at least 18 credits of LING courses. Prior approval by faculty member required. Written report required. May be repeated with permission of director. May be repeated within the degree for a maximum 6 credits.
LING 799:
Thesis (1-6 Credits)
Students who take LING 798 to develop thesis topic and then elect thesis option receive 3 credits after completing thesis. Students who do not take LING 798, or who take it to work on project unrelated to thesis, receive up to 6 credits after completing thesis. May be repeated within the degree.
800-Level Courses in LING
Advanced topics seminar in current language acquisition theory. Notes: Topics vary. May be repeated within the term for a maximum 9 credits.
Advanced course in current syntactic theory. Notes: Topics vary. May be repeated within the term for a maximum 9 credits.
Advanced topics seminar in current phonological theory. Notes: Topics vary. May be repeated within the term for a maximum 9 credits.
Independent reading on a topic agreed on by student and faculty member. May be repeated within the degree for a maximum 12 credits.
Work on PhD qualifying paper. May be repeated within the term for a maximum 6 credits.
900-Level Courses in LING
Work on research proposal that forms basis for the doctoral dissertation. May be repeated within the degree.
Doctoral dissertation research and writing under direction of student's dissertation committee. May be repeated within the degree.
