102. First Year Seminar
(Humanities). (3). (HU).
Section 001 – Languages of Asia. Linguistics 102 invites
freshmen and sophomores to explore the languages of Asia from
a variety of approaches. In the course we will consider the history
of Asian languages, how they are alike and how they differ, the
means devised for writing them, the role they play in the cultural
life of their speakers, and the ways in which they have contributed
to the creation and maintenance of Asian nation-states, religions, and cultures. We will consider how they have been affected by
contact with colonial and post-colonial languages from the West
and what place they may have in the future. Featured languages
include Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Indonesian, Sanskrit, Hindi-Urdu, Tamil, and Tibetan. Each participant will
have joint responsibility with the instructor for a language (or
country or topic) to be presented during two or three sessions.
There will be an exam and a number of short assignments. This
course may be of particular interest to those freshmen and sophomores
trying to decide on a two-year sequence in a foreign language.
(Hook)
Section 002 – Words and Their
Uses: Studying Vocabulary in Time, Space, and Social Life.
The general focus of this course is on the origin and history
of words in languages, with special reference to the vocabulary
of English. We look at the sources of our vocabulary in early
forms of English and in other languages (such as French and Latin)
and at the differences between American and British usage. We
also consider the relation of words in language to what they stand for in the real world (semantics), the range of meanings that
a single word may have, and the changes of meaning that lead up
to present day usage. We will then move on to study various aspects
of the use of words by speakers and 'jargon,' metaphor, poetic
usage, and the use of language by politicians and journalists.
Amongst other things we will consider the effects of feminism
and 'political correctness' on current usage. Later in the course
we will consider the activities of language 'mavens' and the effect
of notions of correctness on the use of words. [Students will
be expected to possess a good etymological dictionary and should
preferably have access to a thesaurus, such as a recent edition
of Roget's Thesaurus. ] (J. Milroy)
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103. First Year Seminar
(Social Science). (4). (SS).
Section 001 – Dialects in Language: The Question of Identity.
Why do people who speak the same language sound so different and have such different ways of talking to each other? Why do we change the way we speak based on who we are speaking to and where we
are? How does the way we speak reveal whom we identify with, consciously
and/or unconsciously? How do we express and convey our social
identity(ies)? In this class, we will explore these questions
with the goal of understanding what these differences mean to
individuals and to groups of people, and how they are created.
The reflection of identity, power, and solidarity in language
is a central part of everyday life in every society and culture
in the world. The general aim of this class, therefore, is to
provide you with not only a greater appreciation for, and understanding
of, linguistic and cultural differences, but also with a glimpse
into how one goes about empirically exploring and analyzing these
fascinating phenomena. (Lane)
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119. Conversation. (3). (SS).
At the core of contact between humans is face-to-face interaction.
In recent years there has been substantial scholarly interest
in conversation from scholars in anthropology, communication, education, linguistics, psychology, and sociology. This grows
out of the recognition that conversation is not merely a conduit
for information but the site for expression of institutional identities, gender, and power. This course introduces students to principles
for the study of conversation. Course members will be actively
engaged in the analysis of existing data as well as gathering
and studying data they collect. Course assignments will include the analysis of small problem sets based on audio and video taped
interaction, designing and gathering a sample of conversation, and a small paper growing out of the data collection. (Keller-Cohen)
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210. Introduction to Linguistic Analysis. (4). (SS).
Nothing is more distinctly human than our ability to use language.
Because of that, we expect that the study of language can provide
insight into "human nature." This course is an analytic
introduction to the methods linguists use for describing languages
(although general training in analytic thought is our ultimate
goal). Drawing on examples from a large number of the world's
languages, we will look at the sounds of language, how they are
produced and how they pattern into words; we will study the diverse
ways in which individual languages approach processes of word
and sentence formation, while we ask whether there are processes
universal to all languages. By focusing simultaneously on language
data and on the techniques used by linguists to make sense of these data, we will see that our understanding of the object of
inquiry (language) is influenced by our methods of inquiry. Requirements
include: problem-solving assignments, quiz(es), midterm and final
exams; no prerequisite except an interest in language and thinking.
(Satterfield)
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211. Introduction to Language. (3). (SS).
From time immemorial human beings have been curious about language
– about its structure, its diversity, its use, and its effects
on others. In this course, we will explore the human capacity
for language, beginning with the ways language differs from animal
communication and with how children acquire language. We will then review major aspects of language structure (sounds, words, sentences) and apply them to discussions of current dialects of
English such as Black English. After a brief investigation of the relationship between language and thought, we will consider
social attitudes toward language. Here we will debate questions
such as: Is sign language a real language or just pantomime? What
is "Standard English" and is it better than "dialects"
of English? Is there any linguistic evidence supporting the notion
of English as a racist and sexist language or is this notion purely
an imaginary construct devised to create controversy? The course
concludes with an examination of American Sign Language and its
role in Deaf culture. Course work includes eight short homework
assignments, one midterm, and a final exam. (van Hoek, Tortora)
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305/Comm. 305/Poli. Sci. 305. Political and Advertising Discourse. Junior standing. (3). (Excl).
Magazine ads and political speeches are monologues, but work
best by simulating dialogue at key points. They require a powerful
"message" that cuts through media clutter, but analysis
reveals underlying tensions that are inherent in the cultural
domains referred to. Ads and speeches always involve time reference, but the categories are double-edged (the past is heroic but quaint, the future combines utopian vision with apocalyptic danger). Space, change, morality, sexuality, emotion, age, nature, and gender
have similar ambiguities. This course puts great emphasis on the
expressive functions of specific components: rhythms, color, poetry, typography, photography, metalanguage, visual/linguistic incongruities, pronominal shifts, subliminals, and humor. Political debates are
studied as a hybrid between speeches and conversations. Assignments
are mainly analytical ("Analyze this ad and that speech!"), but students will also have creative opportunities based on their
interests – conceiving and sketching magazine ads, or planning
and performing in "party conventions" and "presidential
debates." Sorry, no quantitative business analysis (marketing, demographics) and no serious art-studio work. (Heath)
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313. Sound Patterns. Ling. 210 or 211. (3). (SS).
This course explores two fundamental aspects of the sounds
of human languages: speech sounds as physical entities (phonetics)
and speech sounds as linguistic units (phonology). In viewing
sounds as physical elements, the focus is articulatory descriptions:
How are speech sounds made? What types of articulatory movements
and configurations are used to differentiate sounds in the world's
languages? In this part of the course, the goal is to learn to
produce, transcribe, and describe in articulatory terms many of the sounds known to occur in human languages. In the next part
of the course, the focus is on sounds as members of a particular
linguistic system. Phonological data from a wide range of languages
are analyzed – that is, regularities or patterns in sound distribution
are extracted from the data set and then stated within a formal
phonological framework. We will also construct arguments to support the proposed analyses, and will find that phonetic factors play
a crucial role in validating phonological analyses. Throughout the course, a major emphasis is that speech sounds are simultaneously
physical and linguistic elements, and that these two aspects of
sound structure are interdependent. Class sessions will consist
of lectures, phonetic practice, and discussion of phonological
data sets. Course grades will be based on weekly assignments, midterm, and take-home final exam. Linguistics 210, 211, 411, or permission of instructor is required to take the course. (Benki)
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314. Text, Context, and Meaning. Ling. 210 or 211. (3). (Excl).
What speakers say and what they mean often do not amount to the same thing. For example, if I say, "Can you pass the
salt?" I do not expect the reply, "Yes, I can."
Yet, such a response would be unremarkable to a query later in the same conversation such as "Can you swim half a mile?"
What is involved in explaining these different expectations is
a particular aspect of speaker meaning, whereby utterances are
interpreted with attention to their context of use and a good
deal of inferencing about the speaker's intention which supplements
hearers' knowledge of the literal meanings of words and sentences.
This course will deal with key topics organized around this major
distinction between speaker meaning (pragmatics) and linguistic
meaning (semantics). In considering linguistic meaning, we shall
comment on sense properties of words and the provision languages
make for relating expressions to items in the non-linguistic world.
Speaker meaning will deal with the principles which underlie the
inferencing work carried out by hearers and by readers of written
texts. We shall also look at the manner in which meanings gradually
unfold as interlocutors jointly construct ongoing interactions.
The second part of the course will be organized around group work, where students will work together on the key topics and on illustrative
data. Course requirements will include a final project arising
from this group work, a midterm examination, and a short paper.
Course texts: Hurford, J. and Heasley, B., Semantics: a coursebook.
(1982 Cambridge). Thomas, J., Meaning in Interaction:
An Introduction to Pragmatics. (1995 New York: Longman).
(Cresti)
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350. Perspectives on Second Language Learning and Second Language Instruction. Ling. 210 or 211. (3). (Excl).
The purpose of this course is to explore past and current directions
in both theoretical and practical aspects of second/foreign language
learning and teaching. The course will examine a number of language
learning/teaching paradigms and focus on the changing forms and functions of methodology, technique and approach as the emphasis
of language pedagogy has shifted from teacher directed, drill
and pattern practice to learner focused, task based instruction.
Students will have an opportunity to reflect upon and analyze their own language learning experiences and begin to critique
and understand the instructional needs of varying language learning
populations. (Morley)
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385. Experiential Practice. Permission of instructor. (1-6). (Excl). (EXPERIENTIAL). May be repeated for credit. Offered mandatory credit/no credit.
Students will participate in (and, if necessary, be trained
for) a service project, through the Program in Linguistics and/or the English Language Institute. Though projects will vary from
term to term, they may usually be expected to involve either one-on-one
tutoring (in literacy, English as a Second Language, or linguistics, for instance) or formal teaching outside the University, or some
mix of these. The course is designed for linguistics concentrators, and good academic preparation in core linguistic concepts is assumed.
Each project will have a faculty supervisor, whom students should
contact for specific information, and to determine eligibility
and any special requirements. Projects may extend over several
terms.
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395. Individual Research. Permission of instructor. (1-4). (Excl). (INDEPENDENT). May be repeated for a total of 6 credits.
Adequately prepared students can pursue individual research
with a member of the faculty. Individual students should consult
with faculty about ongoing projects in which they can participate.
Reading and reports appropriate to the individual topic are required.
A paper situating the research in the literature and describing the project and the student's role in it will normally be required.
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409/Anthro. 472. Language and Culture. (3). (HU).
See Anthropology 472. (Lemon)
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410/Anthro. 474. Language and Discrimination: Language as Social Statement. (3). (SS).
In this course we examine the interplay between language and ideological processes which function below the level of consciousness.
We are concerned with the suppression of linguistic variation; that is, with the development of a standard language ideology, which is understood to be a bias toward an abstracted, idealized, (but ultimately unattainable) homogeneous spoken language, modeled
on variants favored by the white, middle American mainstream.
This ideology is one of many social practices on which people
depend without close analysis of underlying assumptions. In this
class, we will look into those assumptions – linguistic and social.
We will examine the way in which these behaviors are institutionalized
by the media, the entertainment industry, school systems, business
community and the judicial system, all of which promote standard
language ideology and underwrite assimilatory – and often discriminatory
– practices, the goal of which is to suppress perfectly functional
language variation intimately linked to homeland, race, and ethnicity.
We will look at issues of language choice and accent as legal
issues in the courts. This course should be of interest to those
concerned with non-mainstream language varieties as a cultural
resource and asset, historical heritage and potential complication
in supra-cultural communication. An introductory linguistics course
would be helpful but is not essential. (Milroy)
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412. Phonetics. Ling. 313. (4). (Excl).
This is an introduction to phonetics (the study of the nature
of speech sounds). The course will focus on (1) the description
of speech sounds in terms of their articulatory, acoustic, and perceptual characteristics and (2) the production and translation
of sounds that occur in languages of the world. Class meetings
will comprise lectures on articulation, acoustics or perception
and drills in producing and transcribing particular classes of
speech sounds. Weekly labs will include computer analysis of speech.
Course grades will be based on transcriptions, lab assignments, midterm and final exams (and a language project for graduate students).
No prerequisites, but an introductory linguistics course is strongly
recommended. (Beddor)
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415. Generative Syntax. (3). (Excl).
In the Generative (or Chomskyan) framework of syntax, sentence
structure is viewed as being generated by a formal mathematical
system of rules and constraints which are present in the mind
of the speaker. Some of these rules and constraints are innate
and universal across languages; others are learned or "parameterized."
In this class, we introduce this "Principles and Parameters"
approach to syntax, focusing on how the various modules of these
rule systems interact to generate the sentence structures and patterns of language. Course requirements may include weekly assignments, a midterm and a take-home final. Undergraduates should have taken
Linguistics 315 as a prerequisite. There is no prerequisite for
graduate students. Text: Introduction to Government &
Binding Theory, by L. Haegeman, Blackwell 2nd Edition.
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451/Psych. 451. Development of Language and Thought. Psych. 350. (3). (SS).
See Psychology 451. (Gelman)
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492. Topics in Linguistics.
(3). (Excl). May be elected for credit twice.
Section 001 – Sociolinguistics and Language Change. All languages
are constantly in the process of change, and this process is sometimes
rapid and sometimes slow. The development of sociolinguistics
(social dialectology) has added a new dimension to the study of
language change by systematically seeking socially based explanations
for change. This course is about social aspects of change. We
will start by distinguishing internal (linguistic) explanations
from external (socially-based) explanations. The main part of the course will review the sociolinguistic literature as it focuses
on language change in progress, starting with the principles laid
down by William Labov and colleagues in the 1960s and proceeding
to work still in progress at the present day. We will look in
detail at the methods used and the relation of method to the kind
of interpretations put on the findings of research projects. Students
will be encouraged to be constructively critical of methods, reported
findings, and interpretations offered by researchers. In the latter
part of the course we will consider: (1) the phenomenon of language
contact as a trigger for language change and (2) projecting the
principles of sociolinguistics on to past states of language ("the
use of the present to explain the past"). The course will
be conducted as a seminar with assigned readings for class presentation
and discussion. A knowledge of the general principles of historical
linguistics may be useful, but is not necessary. Some knowledge
of phonetics/phonology is highly desirable. (Milroy) Section
002 – Learnability Seminar. What is language acquisition, in principle? In order to answer the question, this course will
explore a branch of theoretical linguistics coupled with computer
and cognitive sciences, known as Learnability Theory. The course
will examine language acquisition in the human species, discussing
in detail the four principal components that define learning (the theory actually embraces all types of learning), and then using these definitions to analyze various language acquisition models.
(Satterfield)
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493. Undergraduate Reading. Permission of the concentration advisor. (1-3). (Excl). (INDEPENDENT). May be repeated for credit with permission of concentration advisor.
An independent study course for undergraduates.
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519(419). Discourse Analysis. Permission of instructor. (3). (Excl).
Text has become a recurrent metaphor for the way we make sense
of our world. This course explores how textuality has been interpreted
in various disciplines and how the analysis of texts can be useful
in answering different types of questions. Students can expect
to gain a basic knowledge of various ways of analyzing both spoken
and written texts. The course examines a variety of topics including
why the concept of text is a useful and necessary way to think
about human communication; how experience is encoded differently
in speaking versus writing; different methods of analyzing texts;
and how the analysis of texts enables us to understand such social
problems as communication in families, doctor-patient interaction, and courtroom testimony. This course is seminar in format. A high
level of student participation is expected. The course requirements
include regular writing in response to course readings, homework
assignments, and a final paper. Some background knowledge of linguistic
concepts is important. (Keller-Cohen)
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541/CS 595/EECS 595. Natural Language Processing. Senior standing. (3). (Excl). (BS).
See Computer Science 595.
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