For information on when Linguistics courses and seminars will be offered, please see Course Offerings.

Courses

LING 001. Introduction to Language and Linguistics

Introduction to the study and analysis of human language, including sound systems, lexical systems, the formation of phrases and sentences, and meaning, both in modern and ancient languages and with respect to how languages change over time. Other topics that may be covered include first-language acquisition, sign languages, poetic metrics, the relation between language and the brain, and sociological effects on language.

Writing course, 1 credit.

LING 004. First-Year Seminar: American Indian Languages

At least 300 languages were spoken in North America before the first contact occurred with Europeans. Most of the surviving languages are on the verge of extinction. Students will learn about language patterns and characteristics of language families, including grammatical classification systems, animacy effects on sentence structure, verbs that incorporte other words, and evidentials. Topics include how languages in contact affect each other, issues of sociolinguistic identity, language endangerment and revitalization efforts, and matters of secrecy and cultural theft.

1 credit.

LING 005. Linguistic Underpinnings of Racism and Bias

This freshman seminar addresses our ongoing struggle, as a society of thoughtful individuals, to identify the origins of attitudes and stereotypes that give rise to bias based on race, ethnicity, sex or other factors. Language lies at the foundation of both societal attitudes and power structures, and can serve as an agent of oppression and liberation. Linguistics as a social and cognitive science takes an objective, scientific approach that can help us to expose, identify and understand usage that may—whether consciously or not—serve to perpetuate bias. Beyond a mere metric of political correctness or taboo speech, linguistics allows us to reframe the debate in terms of social praxis and individual identity, and to build a better society.

1 credit

LING 006. First-Year Seminar: Language and Deafness

This course will look at many issues connected to language and people with hearing loss in the United States, with some comparisons to other countries. We will consider linguistic matters in the structure of American Sign Language (ASL) as well as societal matters affecting users of ASL, including literacy and civil rights. A one-hour language drill outside of class is required.

All students are welcome to do a community service credit in LING 095.

1 credit.

LING 007. Hebrew for Text Study I

(See RELG 057)

This course counts for distribution in humanities under the religion rubric and in social sciences under the linguistics rubric.

1 credit.

LING 008A. Russian Phonetics

(See RUSS 008A)

0.5 credit.

LING 010. Hebrew for Text Study II

(See RELG 059)

1 credit.

LING 014. Old English/History of the Language

(See ENGL 014)

This course counts for distribution in humanities under the English rubric and in social sciences under the linguistics rubric.

1 credit.

LING 015. Introduction to the Lenape Language

This course is part of a language revitalization effort based in Lenape communities. Students will have the opportunity to participate in transcription, archiving, and other projects that contribute to that effort. No prerequisites.

1 credit.

LING 016. History of the Russian Language

(See RUSS 016)

This course counts for distribution in humanities under the Russian rubric and in social sciences under the linguistics rubric.

1 credit.

LING 019. Lenape Language Study

This course is part of a language revitalization effort based in Lenape communities. Students will gain a working knowledge of the structure of Lenape and will develop conversational skills. In addition, they will have the opportunity to participate in transcription, archiving, and other projects that contribute to that effort. No prerequisites.

1 credit.

LING 020. Computational Linguistics: Natural Language Processing

(See CPSC 065: Natural Language Processing)

This course will survey various areas of computer processing of natural language. Topics will include speech synthesis and recognition, text parsing and generation, and machine translation.

Prerequisites: CPSC 035 (or the equivalent).

1 credit.

LING 021. Language, Race, and Identities in the USA.

(Cross-listed as SOAN 020K)

What has been—and is presently—the role of language and race in the (trans)formation of identities in the US? This course introduces students to the diversity of experiences with English and native or immigrant languages that has shaped individual and group identities and had a significant impact on the cultural, educational, and political fabric of the nation. We focus on the principal ethnic and racialized groups in the U.S., with attention to intra-group differences and inter-group comparisons, to understand how particular languages, dialects, and ways of speaking are involved in the construction of privileged or stigmatized identities. Specifically, we address the assumption that “the language problem” is at the root of many of our nation’s ethnic tensions, and we discuss the repercussions of contemporary responses to the increasing linguistic and ethnic heterogeneity. Important themes include the implications of linguistic discrimination for the survival of minority languages and cultures, the educational success of children, equity in the workplace, and inter-racial/ethnic conflict.

1 credit.

LING 022 U.S. Latino Languages and Dialects in Contact in Families, Schools, and Communities.

(Cross-listed as EDUC 055 and SOAN 020L)

The varieties of English and Spanish spoken by members of three or more generations with roots in over a dozen Latin American nations reveal realignments of features, ideologies, and practices that are often maligned. We investigate whether the diverse linguistic practices and attitudes of Latinos reaffirm or interrupt the reproduction of inequality. Of particular importance are the hows and whys of “Spanglish”, how Latino parents socialize their children to and through language(s), how Mexi-Ricans, Afro Latin@s, and other ‘mixed’ youth express alternate identities; how Sureña and Norteña gang girls manipulate fashion and vowels to distinguish themselves; how border youth challenge and/or reproduce the commodification of bilingualism, and how the second generation of NYC’s leading Latino communities is forging a new New York Spanish. We view these issues thru the lens of ‘anthro-political linguistics’, which highlights the fundamentally political nature of language in society.

Prerequisite: Reading knowledge of Spanish required.

1 credit

LING 024. Discourse Analysis

(See SOAN 026B)

1 credit.

LING 025. Language, Culture, and Society

(Cross-listed as SOAN 040B)

This course is an introduction to sociolinguistics and the study of language variation and change, with a focus on variation in North American English. Topics to be examined include the following: How do social factors such as age, gender, ethnicity, and socioeconomic class influence the way people use language? How do individual speakers use language differently in different situations? How do regional dialects differ from each other, and why? How does language change spread within a community and between communities?  In learning the answers to these questions, students will carry out sociolinguistic field projects to collect and analyze data from real-life speech.

1 credit.

LING 026. Language and Meaning

(See PHIL 026)

This course counts for distribution in humanities under the philosophy rubric and in social sciences under the linguistics rubric.

1 credit.

LING 030. Languages of the World

This course covers the richness and variety of human languages. We consider languages from all over the world, focusing on cross-linguistic generalizations and variations to develop an appreciation of the intricate conceptual, logical, and physiological resources on which each language draws. Students will have the opportunity to work directly with speakers of other languages, applying techniques to elicit, organize, and describe the structures found in human speech.

1 credit.

LING 033. Introduction to Classical Chinese

(See CHIN 033)

This course counts for distribution in humanities or social sciences under either rubric.

1 credit.

LING 034. Psychology of Language

(See PSYC 034)

1 credit.

LING 040. Semantics

(Cross-listed as PHIL 040)

In this course, we look at a variety of ways in which linguists, philosophers, and psychologists have approached meaning in language. We address truth-functional semantics, lexical semantics, speech act theory, pragmatics, and discourse structure. What this adds up to is an examination of the meaning of words, phrases, and sentences in isolation and in context.

This course counts for distribution in humanities under the philosophy rubric and in social sciences under the linguistics rubric.

Writing course, 1 credit.

LING 043. Morphology and the Lexicon

This course looks at word formation and the meaningful ways in which different words in the lexicon are related to one another in the world's languages.

Prerequisite: LING 001, 030, or 045.

1 credit.

LING 045. Phonetics and Phonology

Phonetics explores the full range of sounds produced by humans for use in language and the gestural, acoustic, and auditory properties that characterize those sounds. Phonology investigates the abstract cognitive system humans use for representing, organizing, and combining the sounds of language as well as processes by which sounds can change into other sounds. This course covers a wide spectrum of data from languages around the world and focuses on developing analyses to account for the data. Argumentation skills are also developed to help determine the underlying cognitive mechanisms that are needed to support proposed analyses.

1 credit.

LING 050. Syntax

We study the principles that govern how words make phrases and sentences in natural language. Much time is spent on learning argumentation skills. The linguistic skills gained in this course are applicable to the study of any modern or ancient natural language. The argumentation skills gained in this course are applicable to law and business as well as academic fields.

Writing course, 1 credit.

LING 052. Historical and Comparative Linguistics

The central topic of this course is the comparative method, the procedure used by linguists to reconstruct unrecorded prehistoric languages. The course deals more broadly with the processes of language change. In spring 2006, there will be a particular focus on the early Germanic languages and the reconstruction of Proto-Germanic.

Prerequisite: LING 001, 030, or 045 or permission of the instructor.

1 credit.

LING 053. Language Minority Education in the US: Issues and Approaches

(see EDUC 053)

1 Credit

LING 054. Oral and Written Language

(Cross-listed as EDUC 054)

This course examines children's dialogue and its rendering in children's literature. Each student will pick an age group to study. There will be regular fiction-writing assignments as well as primary research assignments. This course is for linguists and writers of children's fiction and anyone else who is strongly interested in child development or reading skills. It is a course in which we learn through doing.

The course will focus strictly on preschool and elementary school children the next time it is offered.

All students are welcome to do a community-service credit in LING 096.

Prerequisite: LING 001, 043, or 045; and LING 040 or 050. Can be met concurrently.

Studio course, Writing course, 1 credit.

LING 055. Writing Systems and Decipherment

We will discuss the typology and history of the writing systems of the world. The modern decipherment of ancient writing systems such as Linear B and Egyptian hieroglyphic writing will be covered, as will some of the approaches and challenges in the modern electronic encoding of diverse writing systems. The course also includes an overview and history of cryptography and its role in warfare and on the modern Internet.

Prerequisite: LING 001 or permission of the instructor.

1 credit.

LING 061. Structure of Navajo

Navajo is an Athabaskan language spoken more commonly than any other Native American language in the United States. This course is an examination of the major phonological, morphological, syntactic, and semantic structures of Navajo. The morphology of this language is legendary. This course also considers the history of the language and its cultural context.

Prerequisites: LING 050; and 045 or 052 or permission of the instructor.

1 credit.

LING 062. Structure of American Sign Language

In this course, we look at the linguistic structures of ASL: phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, and history. We also discuss issues of culture, literacy, and politics pertinent to people with hearing loss.

All students are required to participate in a rudimentary introduction to ASL for an additional 0.5 credit. Sign up for LING 062A.

Prerequisites: LING 050; and 045 or 052 or permission of the instructor.

All students are welcome to do a community-service project in LING 095.

Writing course, 1 credit (plus 0.5 credit under 0062A).

LING 064. Structure of Tuvan

Tuvan belongs to the Turkic branch of the Altaic language family and is spoken in Siberia and Mongolia by nomadic herders. It has classically agglutinating morphology and curious phenomena such as vowel harmony, converbs, and switch reference. It has rich sound symbolism, a tradition of oral (unwritten) epic tales, riddles, and world-famous song genres ("throat singing"). We will investigate the sounds, structures, oral traditions, and ethnography of Tuvan, using both printed and digital media.

Prerequisites: LING 050; and 045 or 052 or permission of the instructor.

1 credit.

LING 070R. Translation Workshop

(See LITR 070R)

This course counts for distribution in humanities under the literature rubric and in social sciences under the linguistics rubric.

1 credit.

LING 075. Field Methods

This course affords a close encounter with a language, direct from the mouths of native speakers. Students develop inference techniques for eliciting, understanding, analyzing, and presenting complex linguistic data. They also gain practical experience using state-of-the-art digital video, annotation, and archiving for scientific purposes. A different (typically non-Indo-European) language will be investigated each time the course is taught.

Prerequisite: LING 001.

1 credit.

LING 094. Research Project

With permission, students may elect to pursue a research program.

1 credit.

LING 095. Community-Service Credit: Literacy and People With Hearing Loss

This course offers credit for community service work. You may work with children on literacy skills at the Oral Program for the Hearing Impaired at the Kids' Place in Swarthmore. You would be required to keep a daily or weekly journal of your experiences and to write a term paper (the essence of which would be determined by you and the linguistics faculty member who mentors you in this).

Prerequisites: LING 045; LING 006 or 062; permission of the directors of both the Linguistics and Education programs; and the agreement of a faculty member in linguistics to mentor you through the project.

1 credit.

LING 096. Community-Service Credit: Literacy

This course offers credit for community service work. You may work with children in Chester public schools on literacy skills. You will be required to keep a daily or weekly journal of your experiences and to write a term paper (the essence of which would be determined by you and the linguistics faculty mentor).

Prerequisites: LING 054 or EDUC 054; permission of the directors of both the Linguistics and Education programs; and the agreement of a faculty member in linguistics to mentor you through the project.

1 credit.

LING 097. Field Research

This course offers credit for field research on a language.

Prerequisites: permission of the chair of linguistics and the agreement of a faculty member in linguistics to mentor you through the project.

1 credit.

LING 100. Research Seminar

All course majors in LING and LL must write their senior paper in this seminar. Only seniors are admitted.

1 or 2 credits.

LING 195. Senior Honors Thesis

All honors majors in linguistics and honors minors who are also course majors must write their thesis for 2 credits in the seminar.

LING 199. Senior Honors Study

Honors majors may write their two research papers for 1 credit in this course. Honors minors may take this course for 0.5 credit.

Seminars

LING 105. Seminar in Phonology: Contact and Change

This seminar studies language contact and its results; the relation between internal and external linguistic change; dialects and koine formation; and pidgins and creoles.

Prerequisite: LING 001, 045, or 050, or permission of the instructor.

1 or 2 credits.

LING 106. Seminar in Morphology

This seminar will consider recent developments in the theory of morphology. Topics vary.

Prerequisite: LING 043.

1 or 2 credits.

LING 107. Seminar in Syntax

Topics in Germanic syntax.

Prerequisite: LING 040 or 050.

1 or 2 credits.

LING 108. Seminar in Semantics

This seminar will consider recent developments in the theory of semantics. Topics vary.

Prerequisite: LING 040.

1 or 2 credits.

LING 116. Language and Meaning

(See PHIL 116)

This seminar counts for distribution in HU under the philosophy rubric and in SS under the LING rubric.

2 credits.

LING 119. Evolution, Culture, and Creativity

(See SOAN 119.)

2 credits.

LING 120. Anthropological Linguistics: Endangered Languages

(Cross-listed as SOAN 080B)

In this seminar, we address some traditional issues of concern to both linguistics and anthropology, framed in the context of the ongoing, precipitous decline in human linguistic diversity. With the disappearance of languages, cultural knowledge (including entire technologies such as ethnopharmacology) is often lost, leading to a decrease in humans' ability to manage the natural environment. Language endangerment thus proves relevant to questions of the language/ecology interface, ethnoecology, and cultural survival. The seminar also addresses the ethics of fieldwork and dissemination of traditional knowledge in the Internet age.

Prerequisite: One course in linguistics or anthropology or permission of the instructor.

1 credit.

LING 134. Psycholinguistics Seminar

(See PSYC 134)

1 credit.