Applying . Ph.D Program BA Program Schedules Facilities

Selected Syllabi from Linguistics Courses

Course content is dynamic and subject to change and improvement. The course you take may vary in its details from one you find described below.

Linguistics 101. Introduction to the study of language. THE GENERAL COURSE.
This course ranges widely over the many roles that language plays in society, culture, and human psychology.
 §§ Linguistics 101 is aimed at general interests. It is not required for majors or minors.
    • Professor Schwarzschild's 101 Website for Spring 2006
    • Professor Grimshaw's 101 Website for Spring 2005
    • Professor Akinlabi's 101 Website for Fall 2004

Linguistics 201. Introduction to linguistic theory.
THE GATEWAY COURSE.
This course explores the basic methods and results of modern linguistics. It is intended for those who have specific interests in language structure. It provides the foundation for all higher-level linguistics courses.
§§ Linguistics 201 is required for majors and minors.
    • Professor Bittner’s syllabus for Fall 2005
    • Professor Prince’s syllabus for Honors 201 Spring 2003

Linguistics 305. Syntax
Structure of phrases and sentences in natural language. Universal Grammar and interlinguistic variation. X-bar theory. Case, NP- and Wh-movement, anaphora, binding, government. Lexical representation. Logical form.
    Prerequisite: Linguistics 201
    • Professor Sánchez’s syllabus for Spring 2006
    • Professor Safir’s syllabus

Linguistics 315.  Phonology
Sound structure of language. Phonetic underpinnings, phonological representation, rule-systems, constraint interaction. Syllable structure; feature geometry; vowel harmony; stress, accent, and tone. 
    Prerequisite: Linguistics 201
    • Professor de Lacy’s syllabus for Fall 2005

Linguistics 325. Semantics
Meaning in natural language. Different types of meaning, how the meaning of the whole emerges from the meaning of the parts.
    Prerequisite: Linguistics 201.
    • Professor Schwarzschild's syllabus for Fall 2005
    • Professor Bittner's syllabus for Fall 2003

Linguistics 350.  Language and Context
Linguistic structure above the sentence level, relating language to, context of use. Speech acts, conversational maxims, presupposition and implicature, deixis.
    • Professor Schweitzer 's syllabus for Spring 2006
    • Professor Bittner 's syllabus for Spring 2004

Linguistics 371.  Psychology of Language
Production, perception, and acquisition of language at the level of sound (phonology), words (morphology and the lexicon, and grammar (syntax).
    Prerequisite: Linguistics 201.
    • Professor Stromswold’s syllabus for Fall 2005

Linguistics 373.  Language Acquisition
Empirical and theoretical studies of the acquisition of syntax, morphology, and phonology; word learning, the neural bases of language acquisition, language disorders, and learnability theory. 
    Prerequisite: Linguistics 201.
    • Professor Stromswold’s syllabus for Spring 2006

Linguistics 411. Morphology
This course examines the internal structure of words in human languages, and the effects of word structure on syntax and phonology.
    Prerequisites: Linguistics 201 and at least one of Syntax (Linguistics 305), Phonology (Linguistics 315), and Semantics (Linguistics 325).
    • Professor Baker’s syllabus from Fall 2004

Linguistics 421. Language typology
This course investigates the similarities and differences between grammatical systems, with main focus on syntax.
    Prerequisites: Both Linguistics 201 and Linguistics 305 (Syntax).
    • Professor Baker's syllabus for Spring 2004

Linguistics 431. Investigations into an unfamiliar language
In this course, the entire class works with a native-speaker consultant to uncover the structure of a language. The ideas and techniques honed in earlier courses are put to work in a hands-on encounter with unfiltered, elicited linguistic data.
    Prerequisites: Linguistics 201 and at least one of Syntax (Linguistics 305), Phonology (Linguistics 315), and Semantics (Linguistics 325).
    • Professor Camacho's syllabus for Spring 2005

Linguistics 441. Linguistics and Cognitive Science
This course examines some of the many connections that exist between linguistics and cognitive science. Throughout the course, an emphasis will be placed on the ways in which ideas from different traditional disciplines interact and work together.
    Prerequisites: Linguistics 201, plus at least one of at least one of Syntax (Linguistics 305), Phonology           (Linguistics 315), and Semantics (Linguistics 325).
    • Professor Tesar's syllabus for Spring 2006

Linguistics 451. Phonetics
Articulatory mechanisms of speech. Physical characteristics of speech sounds. Description and transcription of the sounds of the world's languages.
    • Professor de Lacy’s syllabus for Fall 2005

Linguistics 471. Selected Topics in Linguistics
An advanced course given on an occasional basis, which treats a special topic chosen by the instructor.
    Prerequisites: Linguistics 201, plus at least one of at least one of Syntax (Linguistics 305), Phonology (Linguistics 315), and Semantics (Linguistics 325).
    • Professor Prince's syllabus for “Introduction to Optimality Theory” Spring 2000