Linguistics

Linguistics | Courses | Faculty

226 South College

Degree: Bachelor of Arts

Contact: Kyle Johnson

Director of Undergraduate Studies

Office: 122 South College

Phone: 545-0889/545-6840

E-mail: kbj@linguist.umass.edu

Professors Frazier, Kratzer, McCarthy, Partee, Roeper, Selkirk, Speas, Woolford; Associate Professors Higgins, Johnson, Kingston; Assistant Professor Pater.

The Field

Linguistics is the study of human language: its formal structure, its use in communication, and its role as part of human psychology. It has undergone rapid change and development in the last 30 years, and our faculty is at the forefront of that change. Undergraduates thus have an excellent opportunity to find out what linguistics is, how linguistics has advanced our understanding of the nature of human language, and how the results of linguistic research may relate to such fields as communication studies, computer science and artificial intelligence, philosophy, psychology and human development, and speech therapy. Linguistics is nearly unique in relating to all three of the broad areas of research at the University: humanities, the natural sciences and mathematics, and the social and behavioral sciences. It therefore may appeal especially to those who have broad interests spanning these domains. Linguists do not necessarily have to know a large number of languages, but a background in foreign languages can certainly be an asset, since concentrated investigation of one language or a few related ones is a typical mode of inquiry. In addition, a grounding in mathematics can be very helpful for the formal side of linguistic theory.

The Majors

The department offers a Linguistics major, and seven interdisciplinary majors combining Linguistics with one of the following: Anthropology, Chinese, German, Japanese, Philosophy, Psychology, or Russian.

Common requirements for all majors: A grade of C or better must be earned in any course used to satisfy major requirements. All majors must complete the Junior Year Writing requirement in the department. A specific course is designated each year. Contact the department for details.

Linguistics

Twelve courses (37 credits minimum), including Junior Year Writing.

Required core (17 credits):

201 Introduction to Linguistic Theory

401 Introduction to Syntax

402 Speech Sounds and Structure

414 Introductory Phonetics for Linguists

510 Introduction to Semantics

Language requirement (6-7 credits):

Two courses, from any combination of the following:

404 Field Methods

Courses on a language other than English at the 300-400 level

Courses on the structure of a language other than English

Departmental electives (at least 12 credits):

Four additional courses are required from the following list. No course that is applied to any other requirement can be applied to this one.

113 Language and Diversity in the U.S.A.

397 Special Topics

404 Field Methods

409 Formal Foundations of Linguistic Theory

411 Introduction to Psycholinguistics

412 Language Processing and the Brain

413 Sociolinguistics

503 Intermediate Syntax

505 Introduction to Historical Linguistics

Students may apply up to two courses from certain related departments (e.g., Anthropology, Computer Science, Communication Disorders, Legal Studies, Philosophy, Psychology) to this requirement, but must receive prior approval from the undergraduate adviser. Prior approval must also be obtained to apply any Linguistics course not listed above to any major requirement.

Linguistics and Anthropology

Two years (or equivalent) of a foreign language, to be completed before the junior year. A minimum of 44 credits in Linguistics and Anthropology including all of the following:

ANTH 102 Archaeology and Prehistory or ANTH 103 Human Origins and Variation

ANTH 104 Culture, Society and People

ANTH 105 Language, Culture and Communication

ANTH 233 Kinship and Social Organization

LING 201 Introduction to Linguistic Theory

LING 401 Introduction to Syntax

LING 402 Speech Sounds and Structure

LING 404 Field Methods

LING 414 Introductory Phonetics for Linguists

One of the following:

ANTH 363 Linguistic Anthropology: Comparative Dimensions

LING 505 Historical Linguistics

One of the following:

ANTH 360 Language in Culture and Society

LING 413 Sociolinguistics

One of the following:

ANTH 317 Primate Behavior

ANTH 368 Old World Prehistory

ANTH 369 North American Archaeology

Two additional three-credit courses in Linguistics or Anthropology numbered 200 and above.

Linguistics and Chinese

The successful completion of four courses in Mandarin Chinese (24 credits): CHINSE 125, 246, 326, and 327, or the equivalent. At least 38 credits distributed between Linguistics and Chinese, as follows:

Linguistics courses (19-21 credits):

201 Introduction to Linguistic Theory

401 Introduction to Syntax

402 Speech Sounds and Structure

Three of the following:

404 Field Methods

411 Psycholinguistics

414 Introductory Phonetics for Linguists

503 Intermediate Syntax

505 Introduction to Historical Linguistics

510 Introduction to Semantics

Chinese courses (19 credits):

375 Introduction to Chinese Linguistics

450 Elementary Classical Chinese

Three courses from the following group, at least one of which must be CHINSE 575, 576, or 577:

575 Syntactic Structures of Chinese

576 History of the Chinese Language

577 Chinese Dialectology

426 Advanced Modern Chinese I

427 Advanced Modern Chinese II

432 Media Chinese

433 Business Chinese

451 Intermediate Classical Chinese

570 Research in Chinese Source Materials

One of the following:

138 Religion in Chinese Culture

153 Literature: Poetry

154 Literature: Tales, Short Stories, Novels

241 Contemporary Chinese Literature

HIST 114 Chinese Civilization: Ancient Origins to the End of the Mongol Era

HIST 115 Chinese Civilization: Early Modern to the Present

Linguistics and German

Successful completion of four courses in German (12 credits): 110, 120, 230 and 240 (or equivalent). Thirty-one credits distributed between Linguistics and German, as follows.

Linguistics courses (17 credits):

201 Introduction to Linguistics Theory

401 Introduction to Syntax

402 Speech Sounds and Structure

411 Introduction to Psycholinguistics

414 Introductory Phonetics for Linguists

German courses (14 credits):

310 Advanced German I

320 Advanced German II

425 Advanced Composition

584 The German Language or 585 The Structure of German

Students are encouraged also to take graduate courses in the older Germanic languages for undergraduate credit (e.g., German 701, 702, 703, 704, 705, 810, 811, 812). They may also opt to take courses in German literature or civilization, and courses, including language instruction, in Danish, Dutch, or Swedish.

Linguistics and Japanese

The successful completion of four courses in Japanese (24 credits): JAPAN 126, 246, 326 and 327 (or the equivalent). At least 37 credits distributed between Japanese and Linguistics courses, as follows:

Linguistics courses (19-20 credits):

201 Introduction to Linguistic Theory

401 Introduction to Syntax

402 Speech Sounds and Structure

Three of the following:

404 Field Methods

411 Introduction to Psycholinguistics

414 Introductory Phonetics for Linguists

503 Intermediate Syntax

505 Introduction to Historical Linguistics

510 Introduction to Semantics

Japanese courses (18 credits):

Three of the following:

375 Introduction to Japanese Linguistics

556 Introduction to Classical Japanese

575 Syntactic Structures of Japanese

580 Teaching Japanese as a Foreign Language

Six credits chosen from the following:

426 Readings in Modern Japanese I

427 Readings in Modern Japanese II

430 Scientific and Technical Japanese

498Y Practicum (1-3 credits)

532 Media Japanese I

533 Media Japanese II

536 Advanced Japanese I

537 Advanced Japanese II

One of the following:

135 Japanese Art and Culture

143 Literature: Classical and Medieval

144 Literature: Modern

560 Seminar in Japanese Literature

Linguistics and Philosophy

Two years (or equivalent) of a foreign language, to be completed before the junior year. At least 42 credits in courses distributed between Philosophy and Linguistics, including those listed below.

Required Linguistics courses (20 credits):

201 Introduction to Linguistics Theory

401 Introduction to Syntax

402 Speech Sounds and Structure

409 Formal Foundations of Linguistic Theory

411 Introduction to Psycholinguistics

510 Introduction to Semantics

Required Philosophy courses (12 credits):

310 Intermediate Logic

550 Epistemology or 551 Metaphysics

One of the following:

511 Modal Logic

512 Philosophy and Logic

513 Mathematical Logic I

514 Mathematical Logic II

One of the following:

335 Contemporary Analytic Philosophy

382 Philosophical Approaches to Science

582 Philosophy of Science

584 Philosophy of Language

At the discretion of the directors of undergraduate studies in each department, other senior-level courses in Linguistics and Philosophy may be substituted for those listed.

Linguistics and Psychology

The courses listed below (36 credits), plus an additional 18 credits in courses numbered 300 and above in Linguistics and Psychology. A senior thesis may contribute up to six credits toward this requirement.

LING 201 Introduction to Linguistic Theory

LING 401 Introduction to Syntax

LING 402 Speech Sounds and Structure

LING 409 Formal Foundations of Linguistic Theory

LING 411 Introduction to Psycholinguistics

PSYCH 100 Elementary Psychology

PSYCH 240 Statistics in Psychology

PSYCH 241 Methods of Inquiry in Psychology

Two of the following:

PSYCH 315 Cognitive Psychology

PSYCH 330 Physiological Psychology

PSYCH 350 Child Behavior and Development

One of the following:

LING 412 Language Processing and the Brain

PSYCH 318 Psychology of Language

Linguistics and Russian

Successful completion of four courses in Russian: RUSS 110, 120, 230 and 240 (or equivalent). Thirty-two credits distributed between Linguistics and Russian, as follows:

Linguistics courses (17 credits):

201 Introduction to Linguistic Theory

401 Introduction to Syntax

402 Speech Sounds and Structure

411 Introduction to Psycholinguistics

414 Introductory Phonetics for Linguists

Russian courses (15 credits):

301 Advanced Russian I

302 Advanced Russian II

560 Russian Phonetics

561 Structure of Russian

563 Contrastive Structures of Russian and English

Additional courses may be selected from the offerings of the Slavic languages departments in the Five Colleges.

Career Opportunities

The primary job market in pure linguistics is academic, for those with Ph.D.s, and is rather limited. However, training in linguistics can be valuable for those specializing in any field in which language is at the center of attention, such as communications, communication disorders and speech and reading therapy, information retrieval, natural language processing, foreign language teaching, law, philosophy, pre-school and elementary education, psychology, and teaching English and other languages. Notions from linguistics have been influential in a number of other fields in recent years, especially in the study of literature, and in the social and behavioral sciences. There are considerable opportunities currently in the development of computer processing of text, both spoken and written. In general, the field provides an excellent opportunity for training both theoretical and observational powers, by practice in the development of techniques of analysis, and hypothesis formation and testing, all applied to data which can be collected readily by the student.

The Minor

Two of the following courses must be chosen as "cores":

201 Introduction to Linguistic Theory

401 Introduction to Syntax

402 Speech Sounds and Structure

Three of the following courses must be chosen:

401 Introduction to Syntax (if not chosen as a "core")

402 Speech Sounds and Structure (if not chosen as a"core")

404 Field Methods

411 Introduction to Psycholinguistics

412 Language Processing and the Brain

413 Sociolinguistics

496 Independent Study

505 Introduction to Historical Linguistics

510 Introduction to Semantics

Notes: See "Interdisciplinary Programs" under Linguistics for details of prerequisites.

LING 201 is prerequisite to 401, 404, 409, 412, 505, 510.

Up to 6 transfer credits may be accepted.

One non-"core" course may be taken Pass/Fail. ("Core" courses are 201, 401, 402.)

Linguistics | Courses | Faculty