2022_fall_graduate_courses | Department of Linguistics

Graduate Courses Schedule (Fall 2022)

For Ph.D./M.A. in Linguistics, M.A. in Computational Linguistics

LIN 521 Syntax I, TUTH 11:30AM-12:50PM, John Bailyn

A study of formal grammar as one aspect of our knowledge of language. Concepts and elements of modern syntactic analysis are introduced and motivated using a variety of grammatical phenomena and processes, across a wide range of languages. Prerequisite: Enrollment in LIN program or permission of instructor.

LIN 522 Phonetics, TUTH 08:15PM-09:35PM, Tatiana Luchkina

A study of articulatory phonetics and the international phonetic alphabet, with intensive practice in phonetic transcription from a wide variety of languages. Acoustic phonetics, speech perception, and the applications of phonetics to foreign language teaching.

LIN 523 Phonology I, MW 08:30AM-09:50AM, Lori Repetti

An introduction to the formal study of sound patterns. Problems from various languages serve as the basis for developing a theory of the representation of sound structure. Prerequisite: Enrollment in LIN program or permission of instructor.

LIN535 Historical Linguistics, MW 04:25PM-05:45PM, Thomas McFadden

Studying syntactic change

The goal of this seminar is to provide the necessary background and
hands-on experience to begin doing original research on syntactic change.
We will begin with delineating exactly what syntactic change is and
considering the considerable special challenges it presents to the
researcher. We will then get an overview of different types of syntactic
change and empirical generalizations that have been proposed to
characterize it, followed by a consideration of major theoretical
approaches to understanding and explaining changes. We will devote the last
portion of the course to learning and applying the modern methodologies
that have been developed to meet the challenges of studying syntactic
change, in particular the use of electronic corpora and associated
quantitative tools. Auditors are welcome.

LIN 537 Computational Linguistics I, TUTH 01:15PM-02:35PM, Jiwon Yun

A hands-on introduction to practical aspects of computational linguistics. Students learn how to perform common tasks such as tagging and tokenization with a state-of-the-art programming language. Topics include basic data structures and algorithms, n-gram models, regular expressions, and corpus linguistics.

LIN 539 Mathematical Methods in Linguistics, TUTH 09:45AM-11:05AM, Thomas Graf

An overview of the mathematical foundations of theoretical and computational linguistics. Topics covered include set theory, morphisms, logic and model theory, algebra, lattices, lambda calculus, probability theory, information theory, and basics of formal language theory. A strong emphasis is put on the linguistic application of the mathematical concepts in the student and analysis of natural language data.

LIN 629 Learnability, TUTH 03:00PM-04:20PM, Jeffrey Heinz

An introduction to learnability theory and its implications for language typology and language acquisition. The selection of topics varies and may include identification in the limit from positive text, PAC learning, lattice-based learners, Boolean function learning, neural networks, and learning algorithms for linguistic formalisms. Students will develop familiarity with the primary literature and learn important proof techniques of the field.

LIN 651 Seminar in Syntax, MWF 10:30AM-11:25AM, Sandhya Sundaresan

Topics in A syntax: syntactic locality and the status of A-dependencies

Within the generative framework, structural positions are traditionally distinguished as being A(rgument) vs. A-bar. The former are positions that can be occupied by arguments, thus can be assigned a theta-role; the latter form an Elsewhere or negative category, denoting positions that are not A positions. This binary division has major implications for operations in syntax and the rules that apply to them: e.g. movement (A movement is typically bounded within finite clauses, while A-bar movement is not), Case assignment (only available for A positions), argument structure, agreement, and binding, among others. This course will focus on the syntax of A positions. What empirical diagnostics distinguish A- from A-bar phenomena? How is the A- vs. A-bar distinction theoretically modelled? How do we deal with hybrid A/A-bar effects in languages like Dinka and Korean? How does the A vs. A-bar distinction shape our understanding of syntactic locality? We will investigate these and related issues by examining a series of dependencies that affect and involve A positions, such as: phi-agreement, case, argument-structure, control, (hyper-)raising, EPP, object shift, passivization, binding, & certain types of scrambling.

LIN 653 Seminar in Phonology, MF 01:00PM-02:20PM, Marie Huffman

Experimental Phonetics

This first level course for graduate students has two broad goals. The
first is to increase “phonetic literacy ”, meaning that students will have
a solid foundation of knowledge they can use to read and extract value from
papers with phonetic data in them. The second goal is to give each student
new skills they can bring to enriching their own research with phonetic
data. In addition to reading and discussion, we will do some hands-on
acoustic analysis together. Seeing is believing afterall and as with
everything, we have to actually do it to get better at it. Depending on
student interest, we will also discuss other types of data and how they can
best inform studies of the “sound” aspects of speech.

For M.A. in TESOL

LIN 522 Phonetics, TUTH 08:15PM-09:35PM, Tatiana Luchkina

LIN 524 TESOL Pedagogy: Methods I, W 06:05PM-09:10PM or M 06:05PM-09:10PM, Dorit Kaufman

Theory and practical methodology of language and literacy instruction and assessment to children and adolescents for whom English is not their first language, in alignment with current state, national, and professional standards. Inquiry into instructional approaches, standard-based and data-driven lesson planning, and reflective practices in the teaching and assessment of speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Review and evaluation of resources and technologies. 3 credits, letter graded (A, A-, B+, etc)

LIN527 Structure of English, MW 04:25PM-05:45PM, Francisco Ordonez

A description of the major sentence elements, subsystems, and productive grammatical processes of English. The justification of grammatical categories, interaction between systems and processes, and notions of standard and correctness are discussed with a view to their application in the ESL classroom.

LIN 530 Introduction to General Linguistics, TUTH 06:30PM-07:50PM, Richard Larson

An introduction to modern theoretical and applied linguistics, including phonology, morphology, syntax, language acquisition, historical linguistics, and sociolinguistics.

LIN 541 Bilingualism, TUTH 04:45PM-06:05PM, Tatiana Luchkina

Study of the social, linguistic, educational, and psychological aspects of bilingualism.

LIN542 Sociolinguistics, TUTH 01:15PM-02:35PM, Joy Janzen

An introduction to major topics in sociolinguistics, including variation theory, language attitudes, language planning, language change, and pidgins and creoles.

LIN 544 Language Acquisition and Literacy Development, M 06:05PM-08:55PM, Joy Janzen

In-depth exploration of the theories of literacy and language development of native English speakers and students who are English language learners pre-school through grade 12. The development and assessment of literacy skills among children at various stages of learning development and across disciplines will be examined. Attention will also be given to children with special needs and the integration of technology in the development of literacy skills.