The University of Texas at Arlington

Undergraduate Catalog 1999-2001

Undergraduate Catalog Archive

Linguistics

403 Hammond Hall • Box 19559 • 817-272-3133

Linguistics is the discipline that studies the structures, acquisition, and histories of human languages around the world. Linguists are not, then, principally people who know many languages, but rather people who investigate how a language is organized and what features all languages exhibit.

The program in linguistics at U.T. Arlington is especially concerned with the study of minority, often endangered, languages. The curriculum offers students enriching insight into the cultural diversity represented in the more than 6,000 living languages currently known on the planet. The program also presents current approaches to the teaching of English to speakers of other languages.

The study of linguistics prepares students for a variety of careers, among them teaching English to speakers of other languages, literacy work in the United States and abroad, translation, and speech pathology. Above all, students in the linguistics program are made especially aware of the complex world in which we live by studying a universal and most definitive human experience: language.

The faculty of linguistics offers a minor in linguistics.

Interested students should initiate a request for the preparation of their program through the Linguistics undergraduate advisor.

Linguistics Faculty

Professor

Associate Professors

Assistant Professors

Adjunct Professors

Adjunct Associate Professors

Adjunct Assistant Professors

Linguistics (LING)

2301. INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY OF HUMAN LANGUAGES (3-0) 3 hours credit. A variety of languages presented as a basis for discussion of topics such as: how languages are alike, and how different; how new languages arise; how human languages are reflections of human beings; how infants and adults acquire languages; how computers relate to human languages.

3311. INTRODUCTION TO LINGUISTIC SCIENCE: DESCRIPTIVE LINGUISTICS (3-0) 3 hours credit. The nature of natural language analysis, the diversity of language features, variation in speech, and related topics, including historical and comparative linguistics. Prerequisite: LING 2301, or a grade of B or better in a 2000-level foreign language course.

3324. PHONETICS (3-0) 3 hours credit. The principles of the production of the various sounds of which the human vocal apparatus is capable. Extensive drill in producing and recognizing those sounds and recording them with phonetic symbols.

3325. PHONOLOGY (3-0) 3 hours credit. Principles in the analysis of sound systems with practice in phonological analysis of material from a variety of languages. Prerequisite: LING 3324, or concurrent enrollment.

3330. PHONETICS AND PHONOLOGY (3-0) 3 hours credit. Human speech sounds from both physiological and cognitive perspectives; the range of speech sounds in language and the patterning of such sounds within particular language systems. Prerequisite: LING 3311 or permission of instructor.

3335. GRAMMATICAL ANALYSIS (3-0) 3 hours credit. Principles and techniques for describing and analyzing the grammatical form and function of sentences and their parts in linguistic and social context. Prerequisite: concurrent enrollment in LING 3336.

3336. PROBLEMS IN GRAMMATICAL ANALYSIS (3-0) 3 hours credit. Application of the principles and techniques of LING 3335 to language data. Prerequisite: concurrent enrollment in LING 3335.

3340. GRAMMAR AND MORPHOLOGY (3-0) 3 hours credit. Grammatical patterns found in languages of the world, including the structure and distribution of words, phrases, clauses, sentences, and larger units. Prerequisite: LING 3311 or permission of instructor.

4301. PHONOLOGICAL THEORY I (3-0) 3 hours credit (Also taught as LING 5301). Principles governing sound systems in human languages. Prerequisite: LING 3325 or LING 3330.

4303. GRAMMATICAL THEORY I (3-0) 3 hours credit (Also taught as LING 5303). Grammatical systems in human languages. May be repeated for credit when the topic changes. Prerequisite: LING 3336 or LING 3340.

4317. SOCIOLINGUISTICS (3-0) 3 hours credit (Also taught as LING 5317). Language in its social context, including linguistic variation, address and reference, speech levels, bilingualism, code switching, speech acts, conversation analysis, and language and gender. Prerequisite: LING 3311 or permission of instructor.

4318. LANGUAGE AND GENDER (3-0) 3 hours credit. The role of language in the expression and creation of gender identities. Gender differences in language structure and use, women's and men's language in other cultures, the acquisition of gendered ways of speaking, and sexism in language. Also listed as WOMS 4318; formerly offered as LING 4392/WOMS 4392; credit will be granted only once.

4320. HISTORICAL AND COMPARATIVE LINGUISTICS (3-0) 3 hours credit (Also taught as LING 5320). Language development and change; the comparative method and its use in linguistic reconstruction; laws of language change. Prerequisites: LING 3311 and either LING 3325 or LING 3330.

4327. LANGUAGE ACQUISITION (3-0) 3 hours credit (Also taught as LING 5327). Processes of first and second language acquisition, their similarities and differences, language disorders, language perception and production, and implications of language acquisition research for linguistic theory and language teaching. Prerequisite: LING 3311.

4330. THE COMPUTER AND NATURAL LANGUAGE (3-0) 3 hours credit (Also taught as LING 5330). Applications of computers to linguistic analysis, and applications of linguistic analysis to computing. Natural language processing, speech recognition and synthesis, language prostheses, statistical analysis, text processing, and corpus analysis.

4336. PRINCIPLES OF LITERACY (3-0) 3 hours credit (Also taught as LING 5336). Principles involved in the introduction of literacy to pre-literate societies. Motivational factors, stimulation of indigenous authorship, orthography design, elements of reading methodology, and alternative strategies for literacy programs. Prerequisites: LING 3311 and either LING 3325 or LING 3330.

4353. TEACHING ENGLISH AS A SECOND OR FOREIGN LANGUAGE (3-0) 3 hours credit (Also taught as LING 5353). Presentation and critique of methodologies of teaching English to speakers of other languages, with emphasis on teaching techniques of aural comprehension; speaking, reading, and writing skills; testing, language laboratory, and linguistic-cultural differences. Prerequisite: LING 3311 or permission of instructor.

4354. METHODS AND MATERIALS TO TEACH ENGLISH AS A SECOND OR FOREIGN LANGUAGE (3-0) 3 hours credit (Also taught as LING 5354). Application of linguistic theory and findings; emphasis on pedagogical strategies, materials, and tests; attention to current and past research and practices. Prerequisite: LING 4353.

4389. TOPICS IN LINGUISTICS (3-0) 3 hours credit. Current topics in linguistics research. May be repeated if topic changes.

4391. CONFERENCE COURSE IN LINGUISTICS (3-0) 3 hours credit. Independent study in the preparation of a paper on a research topic; consultation with instructor on a regular basis. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisites: consent of the program and completion of or concurrent enrollment in a 3000-level linguistics course.

English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)

Prefix and number in parentheses following the U.T. Arlington course number and title is the Common Course Number designation.

1341. ENGLISH FOR SPEAKERS OF OTHER LANGUAGES (3-0) 3 hours credit (ENGL 1306). For students who do not have a native speaker's command of the English language. Composition and grammar (sentence and paragraph structure). May be substituted for ENGL 1301 only with approval of major department chair.

1342. ENGLISH FOR SPEAKERS OF OTHER LANGUAGES (3-0) 3 hours credit (ENGL 1307). Continuation of ESOL 1341. May be substituted for ENGL 1302 only with approval of major department chair. Prerequisite: ESOL 1341 or ENGL 1301.

ESL Endorsement

Students interested in Texas Teacher Endorsement in English as a Second Language must include in their programs of work: LING 3311, 4327, 4353, 4354. For further information the student should consult the School of Education.

English Language Institute

The English Language Institute (ELI) is a center for instruction of English for Speakers of Other Languages.

The ELI offers an intensive English program to international students desiring to prepare themselves for university study. The intensive English program also serves as an ESOL research and teaching laboratory for faculty and students. As an extension of its concerns with ESOL instruction, the ELI provides developmental instruction in English for Speakers of Other Languages to international students enrolled at U.T. Arlington and to area businesses that employ internationals in their work force. Director: Steve Lewis, Room 405, Hammond Hall, 817-272-2730.

The International Linguistics Center (The Summer Institute of Linguistics)

The International Linguistic Center in Dallas (near Duncanville) and The University of Texas at Arlington offer cooperatively a program in linguistic training and research. This program leads to the MA and the Ph.D. degree at U.T. Arlington. Participants must apply for admission to U.T. Arlington.

Persons who wish to pursue the program at ILC but who are not eligible for admission to U.T. Arlington may make arrangements with ILC.

Registration is administered by U.T. Arlington on campus. Students may take the courses on either or both campuses. Refer to the semester Schedule of Classes for location of courses.