Linguistics is the general study of language. It addresses features that all languages have in common, the ways in which languages may differ from one another, and the ways in which languages change over time. The undergraduate major in Linguistics introduces students to sounds and their patterns (phonetics and phonology), word structure (morphology), sentence structure (syntax), meaning (semantics), how languages evolve over time (comparative and historical linguistics), the relation of language and cognition (e.g. psycholinguistics), and how language is used in society (sociolinguistics).
Declaring the Major
To declare the Linguistics major, students must first complete Linguistics 100 with a grade of "C" or better and then submit the Petition to Declare a Major. Most students who petition for the Linguistics major do so in their junior year.
Honors Program
With the approval of the major advisor, a student with a grade point average (GPA) of 3.5 or higher, both overall and in the major, may apply for admission to the honors program. This consists of 2-4 units of LINGUIS H195A and LINGUIS H195B units per semester for at least two semesters. Under the direction of a faculty member, students carry out an approved program of independent study in which they attain a reasonable mastery of an appropriate linguistic topic. As evidence of this work, students must submit an acceptable thesis summarizing critically the material they have covered and are invited to give a brief synopsis of their research at the undergraduate honors colloquium held in early May each year.
Minor Program
Many students not majoring in Linguistics find it useful to take several courses in linguistics during their undergraduate careers to complement their major work. A minor in Linguistics gives students official recognition for having completed a Linguistics sub-specialization.
In addition to the University, campus, and college requirements, listed on the College Requirements tab, students must fulfill the below requirements specific to their major program.
General Guidelines
All courses taken to fulfill the major requirements below must be taken for letter graded credit.
Linguistics 100 must be completed with a grade of "C" or better to declare.
No more than one upper division course may be used to simultaneously fulfill requirements for a student's major and minor programs, with the exception of minors offered outside of the College of Letters & Science.
A minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 must be maintained in both upper and lower division courses used to fulfill the major requirements.
Effective Fall 2022, the new major requirements consist of the following four components:
1) 1 Lower Division linguistics course: Ling 3, Ling 5, Ling 55AC, or any other lower division linguistics course
Ling 55AC will be offered regularly and is the recommended course for students who have already taken Ling 100
Course must be 3 or more units; freshman seminars cannot be used as this course
Transfer students may seek transfer credit for linguistics courses taken at other institutions equivalent to lower division courses
2) Prerequisite: Linguistics 100 or Linguistics W100 (the online summer course offered by UCB summer sessions)
Students must earn a C or better in Linguistics 100 to declare the major
3) Upper Division Course Bins: 4 courses from 4 different upper division course bins (of the five bins below)
Bin 1. Language and Mind: 105 (Cognitive Linguistics), 108 (Psycholinguistics), 109 (Bilingualism), C142 (Language and Thought)
Bin 2. Sociolinguistics and Historical Linguistics: 130 (Comparative and Historical Linguistics), 150 (Sociolinguistics) or 150A (Concepts, Theories and Methodologies of Sociolinguistics)
Bin 3. Phonetics and Phonology: 110 (Phonetics), 111 (Phonology)
Bin 4. Morphosyntax: 115 (Morphology), 120 (Syntax)
Bin 5: Meaning: 106 (Metaphor), 121 (Formal Semantics), 123 (Pragmatics)
4) Upper Division Electives: 10-13 units of upper division electives
At most 5 units of electives can be taken outside of the linguistics department
Additional rules:
Upper division courses (Ling 100, 4 binned courses, upper division electives) must total at least 30 units.
Binned courses and Linguistics 100 must be taken at UC Berkeley
For information regarding residence requirements and unit requirements, please see the College Requirements tab.
Requirements
Course List
Code
Title
Units
Lower Division Course
Take 1 lower division linguistics course: Ling 3, Ling 5, Ling 55AC, or any other lower division linguistics course
Courses not on the preapproved list require the prior written consent of an undergraduate adviser to be counted in fulfillment of the major requirements.
Minor Requirements
Students who have a strong interest in an area of study outside their major often decide to complete a minor program. These programs have set requirements.
General Guidelines
All minors must be declared before the first day of classes in your Expected Graduation Term (EGT). For summer graduates, minors must be declared prior to the first day of Summer Session A.
All upper-division courses must be taken for a letter grade.
A minimum of three of the upper-division courses taken to fulfill the minor requirements must be completed at UC Berkeley.
A minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 is required in the upper-division courses to fulfill the minor requirements.
Courses used to fulfill the minor requirements may be applied toward the Seven-Course Breadth requirement, for Letters & Science students.
No more than one upper division course may be used to simultaneously fulfill requirements for a student's major and minor programs.
All minor requirements must be completed prior to the last day of finals during the semester in which the student plans to graduate. If students cannot finish all courses required for the minor by that time, they should see a College of Letters & Science adviser.
All minor requirements must be completed within the unit ceiling. (For further information regarding the unit ceiling, please see the College Requirements tab.)
Requirements
The Minor consists of 6 courses:
1) 1 lower division linguistics course: Ling 3, Ling 5, Ling 55AC, or any other lower division linguistics course
Ling 55AC will be offered regularly and is the recommended course for students who have already taken Ling 100
Course must be 3 or more units; freshman seminars cannot be used as this course
Transfer students may seek transfer credit for linguistics courses taken at other institutions equivalent to lower division courses
2) Prerequisite: Linguistics 100 or Linguistics W100 (the online summer course offered by UCB summer sessions)
Students must earn a C or better in Linguistics 100 to declare the major
3) Upper Division Course Bins: 2 courses from 5 different upper division course bins (of the five bins below)
Bin 1. Language and Mind: 105 (Cognitive Linguistics), 108 (Psycholinguistics), 109 (Bilingualism), C142 (Language and Thought)
Bin 2. Sociolinguistics and Historical Linguistics: 130 (Comparative and Historical Linguistics), 150 (Sociolinguistics) or 150A (Concepts, Theories and Methodologies of Sociolinguistic)
Bin 3. Phonetics and Phonology: 110 (Phonetics), 111 (Phonology)
Bin 4. Morphosyntax: 115 (Morphology), 120 (Syntax)
Bin 5: Meaning: 106 (Metaphor), 121 (Formal Semantics), 123 (Pragmatics)
Upper Division Electives: 2 courses (at least 1 course must be in Linguistics)
Courses not on the preapproved list require the prior written consent of an undergraduate adviser to be counted in fulfillment of the major requirements.
College Requirements
Undergraduate students must fulfill the following requirements in addition to those required by their major program.
For a detailed lists of L&S requirements, please see Overview tab to the right in this guide or visit the L&S Degree Requirements webpage. For College advising appointments, please visit the L&S Advising Pages.
All students who will enter the University of California as freshmen must demonstrate their command of the English language by fulfilling the Entry Level Writing requirement. Fulfillment of this requirement is also a prerequisite to enrollment in all reading and composition courses at UC Berkeley and must be taken for a letter grade.
The American History and American Institutions requirements are based on the principle that all U.S. residents who have graduated from an American university should have an understanding of the history and governmental institutions of the United States.
All undergraduate students at Cal need to take and pass this campus requirement course in order to graduate. The requirement offers an exciting intellectual environment centered on the study of race, ethnicity and culture of the United States. AC courses are plentiful and offer students opportunities to be part of research-led, highly accomplished teaching environments, grappling with the complexity of American Culture.
College of Letters & Science Essential Skills Requirements
The Quantitative Reasoning requirement is designed to ensure that students graduate with basic understanding and competency in math, statistics, or computer/data science. The requirement may be satisfied by exam or by taking an approved course taken for a letter grade.
The Foreign Language requirement may be satisfied by demonstrating proficiency in reading comprehension, writing, and conversation in a foreign language equivalent to the second semester college level, either by passing an exam or by completing approved course work taken for a letter grade.
In order to provide a solid foundation in reading, writing, and critical thinking the College of Letters and Science requires two semesters of lower division work in composition in sequence. Students must complete parts A & B reading and composition courses in sequential order by the end of their fourth semester for a letter grade.
College of Letters & Science 7 Course Breadth Requirements
The undergraduate breadth requirements provide Berkeley students with a rich and varied educational experience outside of their major program. As the foundation of a liberal arts education, breadth courses give students a view into the intellectual life of the University while introducing them to a multitude of perspectives and approaches to research and scholarship. Engaging students in new disciplines and with peers from other majors, the breadth experience strengthens interdisciplinary connections and context that prepares Berkeley graduates to understand and solve the complex issues of their day.
Unit Requirements
120 total units
Of the 120 units, 36 must be upper division units
Of the 36 upper division units, 6 must be taken in courses offered outside your major department
Residence Requirements
For units to be considered in "residence," you must be registered in courses on the Berkeley campus as a student in the College of Letters & Science. Most students automatically fulfill the residence requirement by attending classes at Cal for four years, or two years for transfer students. In general, there is no need to be concerned about this requirement, unless you graduate early, go abroad for a semester or year, or want to take courses at another institution or through UC Extension during your senior year. In these cases, you should make an appointment to meet an L&S College adviser to determine how you can meet the Senior Residence Requirement.
Note: Courses taken through UC Extension do not count toward residence.
Senior Residence Requirement
After you become a senior (with 90 semester units earned toward your B.A. degree), you must complete at least 24 of the remaining 30 units in residence in at least two semesters. To count as residence, a semester must consist of at least 6 passed units. Intercampus Visitor, EAP, and UC Berkeley-Washington Program (UCDC) units are excluded.
You may use a Berkeley Summer Session to satisfy one semester of the Senior Residence requirement, provided that you successfully complete 6 units of course work in the Summer Session and that you have been enrolled previously in the college.
Modified Senior Residence Requirement
Participants in the UC Education Abroad Program (EAP), Berkeley Summer Abroad, or the UC Berkeley Washington Program (UCDC) may meet a Modified Senior Residence requirement by completing 24 (excluding EAP) of their final 60 semester units in residence. At least 12 of these 24 units must be completed after you have completed 90 units.
Upper Division Residence Requirement
You must complete in residence a minimum of 18 units of upper division courses (excluding UCEAP units), 12 of which must satisfy the requirements for your major.
Student Learning Goals
Learning Goals of the Major
In addition to attaining a basic mastery of the field of linguistics, linguistics majors develop skills in critical thinking, communication, and the use of research methodologies. The array of courses offered by the department includes both the required core courses in phonetics and phonology, syntax and semantics, morphology and historical linguistics, and a broad range of electives. The core courses allow linguistics majors to master the basics of the discipline, such as the nature of sounds and sound systems, the nature of word structures and syntactic structures, the interaction of syntax and semantics, and the nature of linguistic change, while the elective courses allow students to investigate areas of particular interest. Students learn to apply problem-solving skills in each of these areas. Perhaps more importantly, a linguistics major develops critical thinking skills. By graduation, linguistics majors can employ both theory and empirical evidence in order to evaluate different linguistic arguments, analyze complex linguistic patterns, and understand the role played by assumptions in argumentation. Furthermore, linguistics majors develop advanced verbal skills: they are able to communicate effectively in oral and written form about specific linguistic issues, and they can produce well-organized oral presentations and original written reports supported by empirical evidence. These skills do not disappear at graduation. No matter what profession a linguistics major decides to pursue, throughout a lifetime s/he will possess a working knowledge of sources of reliable information about languages and linguistics and will be able to understand and evaluate current linguistic issues in the world at large. Below is a list of more specific skills.
Skills
Critical Thinking Skills
Apply linguistic analysis to evaluate specific theoretical proposals.
Compare two or more arguments that have different conclusions to a specific issue or problem.
Understand the role of assumptions in argumentation.
Be able to analyze complex linguistic patterns.
Research Methodologies
Obtain and collect relevant data using specific qualitative and/or quantitative research methods. These goals are broken down further, and the classes in which they are reinforced are listed, below:
Laboratory and experimental methods are introduced in Linguistics 110 and reinforced in several electives, including Linguistics 105, 113, 122 and 140.
Quantitative analysis of linguistic data is introduced in Linguistics 100 and reinforced in Linguistics 106, 110, 113, 120, 122, 124, 139, 150, 151, and 181. Linguistics 160 is dedicated specifically to this learning goal.
Fieldwork and linguistic data elicitation are introduced in Linguistics 110 and 115 and reinforced in electives Linguistics 113, 122, 170 and 181; Linguistics 140 is dedicated specifically to this learning goal.
Mastery of Linguistic Knowledge
Apply problem-solving skills to complex problems in a variety of subareas of linguistics.
Acquire knowledge of traditional linguistic analysis in the core areas of linguistics.
Acquire knowledge of language in its various contexts and interfaces.
Mastery of Communication Skills
Communicate knowledge effectively.
Communicate effectively in oral form about specific linguistics issues.
Communicate effectively in written form about specific linguistic issues.
Produce a well-organized oral presentation supported by evidence.
Produce an original written assignment (term paper or shorter squib) supported by evidence.
Lifetime Learning Skills
Acquire knowledge and analytical abilities that can transfer from the classroom to broader life during and after the university career.
Possess a working knowledge of sources of reliable information about languages and linguistics.
Understand and evaluate current linguistic issues in the world at large (social, political, educational, prescriptive).
Major Map
Major maps are experience maps that help undergraduates plan their Berkeley journey based on intended major or field of interest. Featuring student opportunities and resources from your college and department as well as across campus, each map includes curated suggestions for planning your studies, engaging outside the classroom, and pursuing your career goals in a timeline format.
Use the major map below to explore potential paths and design your own unique undergraduate experience:
Linguistics Research Apprenticeship Practicum (LRAP)
The Linguistics Research Apprenticeship Practicum (LRAP) matches Linguistics graduate mentors with undergraduate research apprentices to work closely on a research project headed by the mentor. LRAP provides graduate students with research advising and mentoring experience and gives undergraduates the opportunity to participate in original linguistic research.
Courses
Linguistics
Terms offered: Fall 2024, Fall 2023, Fall 2022
Introduction of the fundamentals of American Sign Language: comprehension skills, grammatical structures, practice in the production aspects of the language, and exposure to Deaf culture. American Sign Language I: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Not open to native signers
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 4 hours of lecture and 1 hour of laboratory per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 10 hours of lecture and 2.5 hours of laboratory per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Linguistics/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Spring 2025, Spring 2024, Spring 2023
Continuation of the study of the fundamentals of American Sign Language: comprehension skills, grammatical structures, practice in the production aspects of the language, and exposure to Deaf culture. American Sign Language II: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Linguistics 1A; not open to native signers
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 4 hours of lecture and 1 hour of laboratory per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Linguistics/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Spring 2024, Fall 2023, Spring 2023
This course is designed to hone students' reading, writing, and research skills, through investigations in the study of language. Specific linguistic topics investigated may vary by semester. The course satisfies the second half of the reading and composition requirement. Topics in Linguistic Science: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Previously passed an R_A course with a letter grade of C- or better. Previously passed an articulated R_A course with a letter grade of C- or better. Score a 4 on the Advanced Placement Exam in English Literature and Composition. Score a 4 or 5 on the Advanced Placement Exam in English Language and Composition. Score of 5, 6, or 7 on the International Baccalaureate Higher Level Examination in English
Requirements this course satisfies: Satisfies the second half of the Reading and Composition requirement
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 8 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Linguistics/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Final exam not required.
Terms offered: Fall 2014, Fall 2008, Fall 2007
Continuation of the study of the fundamentals of American Sign Language; comprehension skills, grammatical structures, practice in the production aspects (expressive and receptive) aspects of the language, and increased exposure to Deaf Culture. American Sign Language 3: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Linguistics 1B. Not open to native signers
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 4 hours of lecture and 1 hour of laboratory per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Linguistics/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Summer 2016 Second 6 Week Session
If representatives from an alien species appeared on earth from outer space, how would we communicate with them?What if they were not organic creatures, but were instead machines?What would an alien species sound like?What kinds of changes will happen to languages over the next several centuries?The genre of science fiction raises many such linguistic questions, but the science of linguistics has rarely been applied to science fiction texts. But key science fiction tropes like aliens,robots,and time travel richly reward linguistic investigation.In this class, we will apply current linguistic theory to various works of science fiction, asking first and foremost: How linguistically plausible are the scenarios, tropes, and narratives depicted? Language and Linguistics in Science Fiction: Read More [+]
Objectives & Outcomes
Course Objectives: The main purpose of this class, from the university's perspective, is for you to get better at rereading and rewriting, with the overall goal being to get better at research writing. The ostensible subject of the class – linguistics in science fiction– is in many ways not important to the university's purposes, and is part of the class only to provide a topic about which to reread, rewrite, and research.
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Previously passed an R_A course with a letter grade of C- or better. Previously passed an articulated R_A course with a letter grade of C- or better. Score a 4 on the Advanced Placement Exam in English Literature and Composition. Score a 4 or 5 on the Advanced Placement Exam in English Language and Composition. Score of 5, 6, or 7 on the International Baccalaureate Higher Level Examination in English
Requirements this course satisfies: Satisfies the second half of the Reading and Composition requirement
Hours & Format
Summer: 6 weeks - 8 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Linguistics/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Final exam not required.
Terms offered: Spring 2022, Summer 2017 Second 6 Week Session, Fall 2013
Students will explore the common structures and enormous variability observed in human languages. We will introduce elements of basic linguistic description at the level of phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, and semantics, and use them to compare, contrast, and classify the languages of the world. Students enrolled in the course will benefit from critically examining preconceptions about language in its many forms. Linguistic Diversity: Read More [+]
Objectives & Outcomes
Student Learning Outcomes: Gain introductory familiarity with Phonetics and phonology (sounds and sound systems), Morphology (word structure), and Historical linguistics (language change) to gain a foundation for the mastery of linguistic knowledge.
Possess a working knowledge of sources of reliable information about languages and linguistics (typological databases), understand and evaluate current linguistic issues in the world at large (language diversity and endangerment, language politics) to acquire Lifetime Learning Skills.
Understand Sociolinguistics (language variation within and across speech communities, social relations and language shift), Language and the natural sciences (animal communication, evolution of language) to know how language interfaces with other fields.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 8 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Linguistics/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Fall 2023, Spring 2023, Fall 2022
A general survey of the field of linguistics. Students are introduced to a wide range of data from diverse languages to basic principles of linguistic analysis. Language and Linguistics: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture and 1 hour of discussion per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 8 hours of lecture and 2 hours of discussion per week 8 weeks - 6 hours of lecture and 2 hours of discussion per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Linguistics/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Not yet offered
This course introduces foundational knowledge of language and linguistics to explore global and local perspectives on bi-/multilingualism. Bilingualism is examined at the level of the individual through phenomena like language acquisition, language and cognition, the construction of social identity. Topics relevant to multilingual communities and societies will also be discussed including language ideologies, language maintenance and shift, issues in language policy and planning Introduction to Bilingual Individuals and Societies: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Summer: 6 weeks - 6 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Linguistics/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Spring 2025, Fall 2022, Fall 2019
In this course, students will learn the fundamentals of speech production and perception with special emphasis on the sounds of English. Students who take this course will learn the basics of vocal tract anatomy and speech production. Using English as a case study, they will gain a deeper knowledge of a language they already speak. They will also gain tools to study other languages inventories and phonological processes. The course focuses on practical skills, such as ear and production training. Students will have practice in distinguishing and producing sounds of various dialects of English. This course also lays a foundation for further study in phonetics and phonology. The Sounds of English: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 8 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Linguistics/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Spring 2016, Fall 2014, Fall 2010
Examines different writing systems in terms of their historical origin and their cognitive properties. Enrollment limited to 15 students. Writing Systems: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 8 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Linguistics/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Spring 2019, Fall 2014, Fall 2012
The sources and the resources of the English lexicon. The structures, meanings, formational principles, and pronunciation of complex words in English. Native and borrowed word-formational processes. The development of technical terminologies. Etymology and semantic change. The English Vocabulary: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 8 hours of lecture per week 8 weeks - 6 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Linguistics/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Fall 2021, Fall 2020
Introduction to the study of the fundamentals of Nahuatl; comprehension skills, grammatical structures, speaking practice; and exposure to Nahua culture, history and modern life.
Course Objectives: A)
Improve comprehension and speaking skills and learn vocabulary related to introductions, likes, dislikes, time, daily routines, and the process and symbolism of sowing maize.
B)
Learn present, past, and future verb tenses; the propositive in the past and future tense; reverential and diminutive modes.
C)
Learn basics of Nahua culture and history
Student Learning Outcomes:
A)
Develop beginner level language comprehension -speaking, reading, writing and listening- knowledge of the language structure, as well as cultural competence and sensibility, in order to facilitate students’ ability to communicate effectively, correctly, creatively and respectfully in and outside Nahua communities.
B) Learn about the historical and social cultural aspects of Nahuas of today.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 4 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Linguistics/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Fall 2021, Fall 2020
Continuation of the study of the fundamentals of Nahuatl; comprehension skills, grammatical structures, speaking practice; and continued exposure to Nahua culture, history and modern life. Nahuatl Intermediate I: Read More [+]
Objectives & Outcomes
Course Objectives: A)
Improve comprehension and speaking skills and learn vocabulary related to common illnesses, emotions, games, daily life, ceremonies, and Nahua religion.
B)
Deepen understanding and familiarity with present, past, and future verb tenses.
C)
Increase knowledge about Nahua culture and history.
Student Learning Outcomes: A)
Develop intermediate level language comprehension -speaking, reading, writing and listening- knowledge of the language structure, as well as cultural competence and sensibility, in order to facilitate students’ ability to communicate effectively, correctly, creatively and respectfully in and outside Nahua villages.
B)
Learn about the Nahua historical and social cultural aspects of Nahuas of today.
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Students must have completed a Beginning Nahuatl course. Exceptions may be made, with an interview with the Instructor. Knowledge of Spanish is not required in this course
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 4 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Linguistics/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Prior to 2007
Continuation of the study of Nahuatl; advanced level language comprehension (speaking, reading, writing and listening), knowledge of the language structure, as well as cultural competence and sensibility, in order to facilitate students’ ability to communicate effectively, correctly, creatively and respectfully in and outside Nahua villages. Nahuatl Advanced I: Read More [+]
Objectives & Outcomes
Course Objectives: A)
Improve comprehension and speaking skills and learn vocabulary related to Nahua religion, Nahua people of today, bilingualism, and Nahua education.
B)
Read, understand, and analyze texts and plays related to Nahua culture.
C)
Continue learning and practicing the present, past and future verbal tenses. Build off of the grammar learned in the previous levels.
Student Learning Outcomes: A)
Develop intermediate level language comprehension -speaking, reading, writing and listening- knowledge of the language structure, as well as cultural competence and sensibility, in order to facilitate students’ ability to communicate effectively, correctly, creatively and respectfully in and outside Nahua villages.
B)
Learn about the Nahua historical and social cultural aspects of Nahuas of today
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites:SPANISH 25, or approval of the instructor Students must have completed an Intermediate Nahuatl course. Exceptions may be made, with an interview with the Instructor
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 4 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Linguistics/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Spring 2022, Spring 2021
Second semester of the beginning level Nahuatl course: introduction to the study of the fundamentals of Nahuatl; comprehension skills, grammatical structures, speaking practice; and exposure to Nahua culture, history and modern life. Nahuatl for Beginners II: Read More [+]
Objectives & Outcomes
Course Objectives: A)
Improve comprehension and speaking skills and learn vocabulary related to introductions, likes, dislikes, time, daily routines, and the process and symbolism of sowing maize.
B)
Learn present, past, and future verb tenses; the propositive in the past and future tense; reverential and diminutive modes.
C)
Learn basics of Nahua culture and history.
Student Learning Outcomes: A)
Develop beginner level language comprehension -speaking, reading, writing and listening- knowledge of the language structure, as well as cultural competence and sensibility, in order to facilitate students’ ability to communicate effectively, correctly, creatively and respectfully in and outside Nahua communities.
B) Learn about the historical and social cultural aspects of Nahuas of today.
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Linguistics 20A
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 4 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Linguistics/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Spring 2022, Spring 2021
Second semester of the beginning level Nahuatl course: introduction to the study of the fundamentals of Nahuatl; comprehension skills, grammatical structures, speaking practice; and exposure to Nahua culture, history and modern life.
Course Objectives: A)
Develop intermediate level language comprehension -speaking, reading, writing and listening- knowledge of the language structure, as well as cultural competence and sensibility, in order to facilitate students’ ability to communicate effectively, correctly, creatively and respectfully in and outside Nahua villages
B)
Learn basics of Nahua culture and history.
Student Learning Outcomes: A)
Learn and practice verbal tenses such as present, past and future tense, focusing largely on the past tense because it is the most complex.
B)
Learn vocabulary related to migration, rural vs. urban, poetry, art, and childhood.
C)
Practice and develop grammar learned at the beginner’s level
D)
Be able to use Nahuatl in daily situations, and read texts about stories of Nahuas of today.
E)
Learn about the historical and social cultural aspects of Nahuas of today.
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: LINGUISTICS 20B, or approval of the instructor
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 4 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Linguistics/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Spring 2014, Fall 2011
An introduction to the major ways in which the English language has changed over the past 1,200 years. Students will be expected to learn and be able to apply a few basic linguistic concepts in order to understand better the developments we observe. We will investigate data from both literary and non-literary texts. Introduction to the History of the English Language: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Linguistics/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Summer 2017 Second 6 Week Session, Summer 2013 10 Week Session, Summer 2013 Second 6 Week Session
Introduction to linguistic principles through analysis of sexual terminology and collocations. Exploration of sociolinguistic issues related to sex, gender, and sexuality. Examination of how societal attitudes about sexuality are reflected in language, and how different languages express sexual concepts differently. Language and Sex: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 7.5-8 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Linguistics/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Spring 2025, Fall 2024, Spring 2023
The Freshman Seminar Program has been designed to provide new students with the opportunity to explore an intellectual topic with a faculty member in a small seminar setting. Freshman seminars are offered in all campus departments, and topics vary from department to department and semester to semester. Enrollment limited to 15 freshmen. Freshman Seminar: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit without restriction.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 1 hour of seminar per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Linguistics/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: The grading option will be decided by the instructor when the class is offered. Final Exam To be decided by the instructor when the class is offered.
Terms offered: Spring 2021, Fall 2017, Spring 2015
The ways in which language is used in advertising. An introduction to basic linguistic principles of how speech acts work, the semantic effects of framing, and the contribution of language to multimodal print and video advertising: the division of labor between images and words, and different strategies in integrating them into a single message. Cultural differences both in advertising "message strategies" (what content is presented) and in "formal strategies" (how is it presented?). Language of Advertising: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Linguistics/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Spring 2025, Spring 2023, Spring 2022
An overview of major communication disorders, and an introduction to career options in speech/language pathology and related career paths. The characteristics of all major types of adult aphasia and several other common adult-onset communication disorders, including dysarthria, apraxia of speech, and communication disorders accompanying right-hemisphere disorders. Principal differences and similarities between symptoms of aphasia and the effects of aging in neuro-typical speakers, and between symptoms of aphasia and effects of dementia on language processing. Career paths related to language disorders, such as speech language pathology, and how to prepare for them. Resources for people living with aphasia in the Bay Area and U.S. Language and Communication Disorders: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Linguistics/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Spring 2025, Spring 2024, Fall 2023
A linguistic view of the history, society, and culture of the United States. The diversity of languages spoken in this country and the issues surrounding them: language and ethnicity; politics of linguistic pluralism vs. societal monolingualism; language shift, maintenance, and revitalization; language and education. The course will pay particular attention to the history and diversification of American English dialects, the historical and current situation of Native American language communities, and the development and structure of African-American English, examining its origins and its role in American society today. The American Languages: Read More [+]
Objectives & Outcomes
Course Objectives: By successfully completing the course, students will
– develop an understanding and appreciation of the diversity of language varieties
and styles in the United States;
– use linguistics as a tool to engage in informed, critical discussions about society and
challenge the main myths about languages; and
– interpret how language ideologies shape attitudes, practices, and policies in the
United States, including our own individual language identities.
In addition, students will gain experience researching, reflecting on, and writing about
American history and culture from a social scientific perspective. These are skills which
are useful in linguistics but also transferable to many other disciplines.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 8 hours of lecture per week 8 weeks - 6 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Linguistics/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Summer 2012 Second 6 Week Session
This course investigates the musical characteristics of human language. Major questions include: the relationship between musical and linguistic structures, such as tone, stress, and rhythm; the role of ethnomusicology in language study; how music and language are perceived and processed in the brain differently; and the acoustic properties of speech and music. Music and Language: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 7.5-8 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Linguistics/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Fall 2018, Fall 2017
This course is for people who want to learn a Native American language, understood to include any of the hundreds of indigenous languages of North, Central, and South America. Since most of these languages are not taught in the usual formal educational settings, a major emphasis of the course is helping students develop strategies for self-directed language learning and effective teaching methods to help others learn as well. The course will also provide a basic introduction to principles of linguistic analysis that will make materials developed by specialists more accessible and useful to learners.
Terms offered: Spring 2014, Fall 2013, Spring 2011
Group study of a topic not included in the regular department curriculum. Directed Group Study: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit without restriction.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 1-4 hours of directed group study per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 2.5-10 hours of directed group study per week 8 weeks - 2-7.5 hours of directed group study per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Linguistics/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Offered for pass/not pass grade only. Final exam not required.
Terms offered: Spring 2025, Fall 2024, Summer 2024 8 Week Session
An intensive introduction of linguistic analysis, including core areas such as phonetics and phonology, morphology, and syntax and semantics, with data from a range of languages. Argumentation and writing skills are developed through substantial weekly homework assignments. Introduction to Linguistic Science: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture and 1 hour of discussion per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 8 hours of lecture and 2 hours of discussion per week 8 weeks - 6 hours of lecture and 2 hours of discussion per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Linguistics/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Summer 2021 8 Week Session
Introduction to linguistics, the study of language. The course includes sections on the study of speech sounds (phonetics),how those sounds are structured to form words (phonology), the structure of complex words (morphology),the structure of sentences (syntax),and the study of word meaning and how words combine to form propositions (semantics).We will also address common misperceptions about what language is and what it isn’t, including notions of linguistic “correctness” and how different individuals use language (sociolinguistics),how languages are related to each other and change over time (historical linguistics), and how children learn languages (language acquisition).This course draws on data from languages all around the world. Introduction to Linguistic Science: Read More [+]
Objectives & Outcomes
Course Objectives: After successfully completing this course, you will be able to:
1.
Transcribe language using the International Phonetics Alphabet
2.
Describe phonological alternations using phonological rules
3.
Analyze complex morphology and identify cases of allomorphy
4.
Describe the structure of sentences using syntactic trees
5.
Understand compositional semantics and pragmatics
6.
Identify sound changes and reconstruct proto-languages
7.
Describe the social functions of language and the way it is used to resist and perpetuate existing power structures
Hours & Format
Summer: 8 weeks - 8 hours of web-based lecture and 2 hours of web-based discussion per week
Online: This is an online course.
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Linguistics/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Spring 2021, Summer 2019 8 Week Session, Spring 2019
Conceptual systems and language from the perspective of cognitive science. How language gives insight into conceptual structure, reasoning, category-formation, metaphorical understanding, and the framing of experience. Cognitive versus formal linguistics. Implications from and for philosophy, anthropology, literature, artificial intelligence, and politics. Cognitive Linguistics: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture and 1 hour of discussion per week
Summer: 8 weeks - 6 hours of lecture and 1.5 hours of discussion per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Linguistics/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam not required.
Terms offered: Spring 2025, Fall 2021, Fall 2019
The role of metaphor in structuring our everyday language, conceptual system, and world view. Topics include cross-cultural differences, literary metaphor, sound symbolism, and related theoretical issues in philosophy, linguistics, psychology and anthropology. Metaphor: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Lower division students must have instructor approval
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture and 1 hour of discussion per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Linguistics/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam not required.
Terms offered: Summer 2018 First 6 Week Session, Fall 2017, Spring 2017
Psycholinguistics is the study of the mechanisms underlying the human ability to talk and to
understand language. The goal of this course is to provide an introduction to questions, methods, and key findings in
Psycholinguistics for undergraduate students.
Terms offered: Fall 2019, Spring 2018
This course is an introduction to key psycholinguistic, sociocultural, and individual factors shaping bilingualism and bilingual education, examining research in Psycholinguistics with implications for education and pedagogy, and, conversely, research on education with implications for Psycholinguistics. Bilingualism: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Linguistics 100 or instructor approval
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 8 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Linguistics/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Fall 2024, Fall 2023, Fall 2022
Introduction to (1) phonetic transcription of speech using the International Phonetic Alphabet, (2) acoustic analysis of speech, (3) physiological and cognitive aspects of speech production and perception, and (4) phonological analysis of language sound systems. Phonetics: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Linguistics 100 or consent of instructor or graduate status
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture and 1 hour of discussion per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Linguistics/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Spring 2025, Spring 2024, Spring 2023
Introduction to cross-linguistic phenomena and methods of analysis in phonology, including phonological categories, features, alternations, and phonological models for capturing related generalizations; as well as syllable structure, tone and stress, and morphologically conditioned phonology. Phonology: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Linguistics 100 Linguistics 100
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture and 1 hour of discussion per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Linguistics/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Spring 2024, Spring 2023, Spring 2022
Practical training in experimental phonetics; acoustic, physiological, and perceptual analysis of speech. Experimental Phonetics: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: 110
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Linguistics/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam not required.
Terms offered: Spring 2025, Fall 2022, Spring 2022
Introduction to important cross-linguistic morphological phenomena as well as standard methods of description and analysis. Morphology: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Linguistics 100
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture and 1 hour of discussion per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 8 hours of lecture and 2 hours of discussion per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Linguistics/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Fall 2024, Summer 2024 First 6 Week Session, Spring 2024
An introduction to the study of the structural properties of sentences and the connections between sentence structure and sentence meaning. Syntax: Read More [+]
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture and 1 hour of discussion per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 8 hours of lecture and 2 hours of discussion per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Linguistics/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Alternate method of final assessment during regularly scheduled final exam group (e.g., presentation, final project, etc.).
Terms offered: Fall 2024, Spring 2024, Fall 2022
This course provides an introduction to the study of linguistic meaning. It focuses
on the application of formal tools drawn from set theory and logic (including the lambda
calculus) to make explicit claims about the meaning of words and sentences. Formal Semantics: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Linguistics 100 or permission of the instructor
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture and 1 hour of discussion per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 8 hours of lecture and 2 hours of discussion per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Linguistics/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Summer 2020 Second 6 Week Session, Spring 2016, Fall 2014
Issues in language typology and linguistic universals. An examination of various linguistic subsystems in different languages. Topics will include interrogatives, pronominal systems, relative clause formation, case systems, etc. Linguistic Typology: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Linguistics 100
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 8 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Linguistics/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Spring 2022, Fall 2019, Fall 2017
The relation between language use and human actions. Some topics to be emphasized are conversational logic, speech act theory, politeness, social role, psychological perception of oneself and language, variation in language use. Pragmatics: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: 100
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Linguistics/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Fall 2011, Spring 2011, Spring 2010
This course explores how discourse within small group interaction is structured by sociocultural forces such as age, gender, race, ethnicity, and regional/political affiliation. It looks at various contexts of interaction, from weblogs to political debates to casual chat, in audio, video and text form, covering topics and methods in pragmatics, conversation and discourse analysis, and sociolinguistics. Discourse: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 7.5 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Linguistics/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Alternative to final exam.
Terms offered: Summer 2022 Second 6 Week Session, Summer 2015 First 6 Week Session, Summer 2014 First 6 Week Session
Everyone gestures – even when they might not realize it. This course seeks to uncover what we can learn about cognition and culture through the lens of this integral aspect of our communicative and cognitive selves. We will consider the relationship between language and gesture including its role in language acquisition and in signed languages, and study how gestures help us communicate and help us think. We will also look at cross-cultural differences in gesture, the role of gesture in child development, applications of gesture from education to politics, and unpack the possibility of the gestural origins of human language. Gesture, Cognition, and Culture: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Summer: 6 weeks - 8 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Linguistics/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Alternative to final exam.
Terms offered: Fall 2022, Fall 2021, Spring 2019
Literary texts provide unique material for linguists: good authors manage to use everyday grammatical forms in exceptional ways. In this course, students will read scholarly linguistic works on literary analysis, and also analyze literary texts using the tools they acquire. Linguistics readings will focus on narratology and cognitive linguistic approaches, including mental spaces theory, conceptual metaphor theory, and work on iconicity, viewpoint, and causal structure. Linguistic Analysis of Literature: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: 100 or consent of instructor
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Linguistics/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam not required.
Terms offered: Spring 2025, Fall 2023, Fall 2022
Methods of reconstruction. Types and explanations of language change. Dialectology. The establishment of language relationships and subgroupings. Comparative and Historical Linguistics: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: 100
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture and 1 hour of discussion per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Linguistics/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Spring 2023, Spring 2021, Fall 2015
An introduction to best practices in applying linguistic analysis to Slavic languages. Development of critical thinking and analytical skills. Introduction to Slavic Linguistics: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: A year or more of a Slavic language or consent of instructor
Credit Restrictions: Students will receive no credit for Slavic Languages and Literatures C137/Linguistics C137 after taking Slavic Languages and Literatures 137; a deficient grade in Slavic Languages and Literatures 137 may be removed by taking Slavic Languages and Literatures C137/Linguistics C137.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Linguistics/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: The grading option will be decided by the instructor when the class is offered. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Fall 2013, Spring 2010, Spring 2006
Linguistic background and the general principles of language spread. Mechanisms of language spread, including creolization-decreolization, language planning, and the role of bilingualism. Case studies in language spread, including Austronesian, Indo-European, Amerindian, Uralic, African, Sinitic, and Australian languages. Relationship of language spread to immigration and culture spreads. Language Spread: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Linguistics/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Spring 2023, Spring 2022, Fall 2021
Covers the methods and practice in collecting, processing, and analyzing data based on work with a native speaker of a particular language. Requires students to discriminate and transcribe sounds, collect texts, and to describe and analyze grammatical phenomena from their own data. The language varies each time the course is taught, at the choice on the instructor. Field Methods: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Linguistics 110 and 115
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Linguistics/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam not required.
Terms offered: Fall 2024, Fall 2023, Summer 2023 Second 6 Week Session, Spring 2022
This seminar explores the relation of language and thought. Is language uniquely human, and if so, what does this reveal about the human mind? Does the particular language you speak affect the way you think, or do human languages reflect a universal conceptual repertoire? The goal of this class is to familiarize you with a set of classic arguments on these themes, together with current research that evaluates these arguments, through weekly reading and discussion. Language and Thought: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of seminar per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 8 hours of seminar per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Linguistics/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Summer 2019 Second 6 Week Session, Summer 2018 Second 6 Week Session
An overview of topics and theories in language acquisition: early development of speech perception and production, word learning, generalizing linguistic structure, and differences between first language acquisition, second language acquisition, and bilingualism. We will also compare different theoretical approaches, and address the classic "nature vs. nurture" question by examining both traditional generativist approaches and more recent usage based models. Language Acquisition: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 7.5-8 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Linguistics/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Spring 2024, Spring 2023, Spring 2022
An overview of topics and theories in language acquisition: early development of speech perception and production, word learning, generalizing linguistic structure, and differences between first language acquisition, second language acquisition, and bilingualism. We will also compare different theoretical approaches, and address the classic "nature vs. nurture" question by examining both traditional generativist approaches and more recent usage based models. Language Acquisition: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 2 hours of lecture and 1 hour of discussion per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Linguistics/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Formerly known as: Linguistics C146/Psychology C143
Terms offered: Spring 2020, Fall 2016
This class will explore phonological development, focusing primarily on first language acquisition. How do young children acquire the phonological and phonetic patterns of the language surrounding them? It is well-established that children exhibit pronunciation patterns that differ from those of adult speakers. We will examine a range of factors that might contribute to this: perceptual, articulatory, speech-planning, grammatical. In the last part of the course we will briefly discuss phonological delays and second-language acquisition. Students will gain knowledge of phonological development, experience in reading, critiquing and presenting journal articles, and hands-on experience analyzing transcribed acquisition data. Phonological Development: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Linguistics 100 Required. Students should also have taken at least one of these three: Linguistics 110, 115, c146
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Linguistics/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam not required.
Terms offered: Fall 2021, Fall 2020, Fall 2019
The principles and methods of sociolinguistics. Topics to be covered include linguistic pragmatics, variation theory, social and regional dialectology, and oral styles. Sociolinguistics: Read More [+]
Terms offered: Fall 2024, Spring 2024, Spring 2023
Intro to core concepts, theories, and methodologies of sociolinguistics,
one of the major subfields of contemporary linguistics. We will
examine of how language reflects social characteristics and categories including age, gender,
socioeconomic status, regional affiliation, race and ethnicity, individual and group
identity, and style. Broad topics include multilingualism and language contact, regional
linguistic differentiation (dialectology), language variation, language change, and language
policy and planning. Concepts, Theories, and Methodologies of Sociolinguistics: Read More [+]
Terms offered: Summer 2024 Second 6 Week Session, Summer 2018 First 6 Week Session, Summer 2017 First 6 Week Session
An overview of research over the past 30 years on the relationship between language and gender: how women's use of language differs from men's, in U.S. and other cultures; how men and women are spoken of differently; how women and men have different amounts of access to power via public discourse; gender differences in nondominant groups (e.g., lesbians and gays; African Americans); the role of stereotyping in linguistic differences between the sexes; role of gender in discourse genres. Language and Gender: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 7.5-8 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Linguistics/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Fall 2011, Fall 2001, Fall 1998
This course will cover various pidgins and creoles of the world, examining their linguistic and sociohistorical significance, as well as their use in the modern world. Pidgin and Creole Languages: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: 5 or consent of instructor
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Linguistics/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Summer 2016 10 Week Session, Summer 2016 Second 6 Week Session
Even within a single language or dialect, speech can vary greatly. Variation occurs between groups, between individuals, and even within individuals in different contexts. The primary influence for such speech variation is social factors such as gender or class. While many differences can be found in word choice or sentence structure, most variability occurs in pronunciation. The study of social influences on pronunciation is known as 'sociophonetics', an interface of the two subfield, sociolinguistics and phonetics. In this course we will explore the development of the field, the linguistic features which vary, the social factors influencing these differences, questions of how children acquire knowledge of sociophonetic variation, as well Speech in Society: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Linguistics 100
Hours & Format
Summer: 6 weeks - 8 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Linguistics/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Alternative to final exam.
Terms offered: Fall 2023, Fall 2021, Fall 2017
This course will explore a range of theories and practices that undergird efforts by linguists and language activists to revitalize and revalorize endangered languages in communities around the world, with a focus on the Americas. Beginning with an exploration of how linguistic diversity, language vitality, and language politics interact, the course will narrow focus toward individual student projects that explore language revitalization issues in the context of a specific language or community, including the option to create usable revital- ization materials for that community. Language Revitalization: Theory and Practice: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: LING 100 or LING 5; or similar training in basic linguistics and prior consent of the instructor
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Linguistics/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Alternative to final exam.
Terms offered: Summer 2023 First 6 Week Session, Spring 2023, Summer 2022 First 6 Week Session
This course explores and analyzes the linguistic landscape of the United States throughout American history from the languages of the indigenous people of America to those of immigrants from all over the world. Because language and identity are inextricably intertwined, the story of languages in contact is also about the negotiation of identity, power, conflict, and politics. As we study language change and social movement since colonial times, matters of culture and identity, attitude, and racial discrimination will be highlighted. Language in the United States: a Capsule History: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture and 1 hour of discussion per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 8 hours of lecture and 2 hours of discussion per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Linguistics/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Spring 2025
The existence of linguistic variation is an easily observable fact about the way that humans speak. How can we quantify this type of variation in a way that is scientifically sound? In this course, you will learn how to observe, measure, and describe sociolinguistic variation that exists across all the ways speakers produce sounds. You will also learn about research ethics, time management, and professionalism in linguistics. Finally, you will see how to design, propose, and conduct a collaborative research project, as well as write and submit an abstract for an academic conference. Sociophonetics: Read More [+]
Objectives & Outcomes
Course Objectives: By successfully completing the course, students will
1.
understand social correlates of variation and change in language and how they manifest in speech sounds
2.
be familiar with best practices in sociolinguistics and phonetics
3.
collect, analyze, discuss and present phonetic data; and
4.
conduct a small scale, rigorous linguistic study with a group
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Linguistics 110
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 8 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Linguistics/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Alternative to final exam.
Terms offered: Spring 2012, Fall 2002, Fall 2001
An introduction to computational methods for linguists. No prior programming experience required. Students will learn how to program, and will use that knowledge to manipulate and analyze linguistic datasets, including corpora. The course will also prepare students for further study in computational modeling. Computational Methods: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: 100 or consent of instructor
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Linguistics/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam not required.
Terms offered: Fall 2024, Fall 2022, Fall 2021
An introduction to quantitative methods for linguistic analysis and applications. Students will be introduced to statistical modeling techniques for linguistic datasets, as well as models that have applications in natural language processing. The class will make use of programming languages (R and/or Python) as necessary—e.g., for data visualization and modeling. Quantitative Methods in Linguistics: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: 100 or graduate student standing
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture and 1 hour of discussion per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 8 hours of lecture and 2 hours of discussion per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Linguistics/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Spring 2025, Fall 2024, Fall 2023
In this course, students explore with a faculty member the history, structure, and sociolinguistics of a particular language. Generally, this is a language that is a research interest of the professor. The language investigated changes with each offering of this course. History, Structure, and Sociolinguistics of a Particular Language: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Linguistics 100 (or equivalent preparation, with instructor's permission). Other prerequisites may be required by the particular instructor
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit without restriction.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Linguistics/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam not required.
Terms offered: Fall 2020, Spring 2016, Spring 2013
Lectures and exercises in the description of word meanings, the organization of lexical systems, the lexicalization of particular semantic domains (kinship, color, etc.), and contrastive lexicology: lexicalization pattern differences across languages. Lexical Semantics: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: 120
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Linguistics/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Summer 2017 First 6 Week Session
This is a college level introduction to language creation and language study. Language creation lies somewhere between the realms of art and science, drawing heavily on both. Students will acquire the fundamentals of the scientific study of language, and will be encouraged to take that information and employ it creatively in the field of conlanging (language creation). This course will feature in class lectures, group discussion, classroom activities, and at home study. The Linguistics of Game of Thrones and the Art of Language Invention: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Prerequisites: 1 of the following 3 is required: • Linguistics 5 • Linguistics 100 • Instructor Permission
Hours & Format
Summer: 6 weeks - 8 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Linguistics/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Fall 2022
This course approaches writing as a cognitive activity, an attempt to translate ideas into written form which readers will understand. Creativity in writing, then, is cognitive creativity – including creative construction of reception. This approach to writing foregrounds linguistic framing as the means to reduce infinitely rich experience or concepts to finite communicative objects. We will employ Frame Semantics and Cognitive Metaphor Theory in analyzing and creating written texts. The course examines a range of genres including popular media, academic writing, and poetry; student essays involve both creative text-building and self-reflection on their writing process. Writing as Framing: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of seminar per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 8 hours of seminar per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Linguistics/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Alternative to final exam.
Terms offered: Summer 2022 Second 6 Week Session, Summer 2021 Second 6 Week Session, Summer 2020 Second 6 Week Session
How can we use data science methods to understand human language? Linguistics involves
the study of language sounds, words, meanings, context, structure and change. This course
provides students with the computational skills necessary to analyze linguistic data from
these areas. We will draw on data from languages around the world and use computer
programming and data visualization techniques from Foundations of Data Science. LINGUISTIC DATA: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Summer: 6 weeks - 8 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Linguistics/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Alternate method of final assessment during regularly scheduled final exam group (e.g., presentation, final project, etc.).
Terms offered: Fall 2017, Fall 2016, Spring 2016
A two-semester course consisting of independent study of an advanced topic, supervised by a facutly member, and culminating with a senior honors thesis which will be evaluated by a faculty honors committee. Thesis is due on the Monday of the 13th week of the second semester, and honors students will be invited to present their research at an Undergraduate Colloquium. Linguistics Honors Course: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: 3.5 GPA or higher, overall and in the major
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 2-4 hours of independent study per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 5-10 hours of independent study per week 10 weeks - 3-6 hours of independent study per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Linguistics/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. This is part one of a year long series course. A provisional grade of IP (in progress) will be applied and later replaced with the final grade after completing part two of the series. Final exam not required.
Terms offered: Fall 2021, Spring 2018, Spring 2017
A two-semester course consisting of independent study of an advanced topic, supervised by a facutly member, and culminating with a senior honors thesis which will be evaluated by a faculty honors committee. Thesis is due on the Monday of the 13th week of the second semester, and honors students will be invited to present their research at an Undergraduate Colloquium. Linguistics Honors Course: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: 3.5 GPA or higher, overall and in the major
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 2-4 hours of independent study per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 5-10 hours of independent study per week 10 weeks - 3-6 hours of independent study per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Linguistics/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. This is part two of a year long series course. Upon completion, the final grade will be applied to both parts of the series. Final exam not required.
Terms offered: Fall 2022, Spring 2022, Fall 2021
Individual research on projects in the subfields of Linguistics, sponsored by a faculty member; written reports required. Research Practicum: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: completion of Linguistics 100
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit without restriction.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 2-8 hours of fieldwork per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 7.5-22.5 hours of fieldwork per week 8 weeks - 5.5-16.5 hours of fieldwork per week 10 weeks - 4.5-13.5 hours of fieldwork per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Linguistics/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Offered for pass/not pass grade only. Final exam not required.
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit without restriction.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 1-4 hours of independent study per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 2.5-10 hours of independent study per week 8 weeks - 2-7.5 hours of independent study per week 10 weeks - 1.5-6 hours of independent study per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Linguistics/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Offered for pass/not pass grade only. Final exam not required.
When you print this page, you are actually printing everything within the tabs on the page you are on: this may include all the Related Courses and Faculty, in addition to the Requirements or Overview. If you just want to print information on specific tabs, you're better off downloading a PDF of the page, opening it, and then selecting the pages you really want to print.
