| CAS LX 235 |
Language in the Contemporary World: Technology, Society, and the Law |
Exploration of the role of human language in a range of activities and endeavors, focusing on issues of technology, governmental policy, education, gender roles, legal language, language crimes, and the use of language in both media and politics to shape perceptions.
[No prerequisites.]
Not in current schedule.
|
| CAS LX 240 |
Great Linguists |
Introduction to linguistics through writings of important linguists, including Descartes, Saussure, Sapir, Jespersen, Bloomfield, and Chomsky. Students read original works and write short essays. Lectures and discussion place readings in the tradition of structural linguistics, within a broad humanistic context.
[No prerequisites.]
Offered:
Spring 2011
|
| CAS LX 245 |
Language and Mind |
Foundations of linguistics as a science, in relation to cognitive science, philosophy of language, and psychology, including a critical overview of the research program initiated by Noam Chomsky. Students read and discuss original works, and write short essays.
[No prerequisites.]
Offered:
Fall 2010
|
| CAS LX 250 |
Foundations of Language |
Introduction to linguistics. Study of the fundamental properties that all languages share, and of how languages differ, with respect to structure (sound system, word formation, syntax), expression of meaning, acquisition, variation, and change; cultural and artistic uses of languages; comparison of oral, written, and signed languages.
[No prerequisites.]
Offered:
Fall 2009
Spring 2010
Fall 2010
Spring 2011
(Offered every semester.)
|
| CAS LX 350 |
Varieties of English |
[New course] Yet to be proposed. Description TBA.
[CAS LX 250 Foundations of Language or consent of instructor.]
Offered:
Spring 2011
|
| CAS LX 400 |
Second Language Acquisition |
An overview of linguistic research on second language acquisition. Different theories of second language acquisition will be discussed; special attention will be paid to differences between first and second language acquisition, as well as implications of research for foreign language teaching.
[Prereq: CAS LX 250 or equivalent.]
Not in current schedule.
|
| CAS LX 500 |
Topics in Linguistics |
Topics vary by semester
[Prereq: CAS LX 250 Foundations of Language]
Offered:
Fall 2009
Spring 2010
Fall 2010
Spring 2011
[Spring 2008]
A1.
Number.
Number is sometimes defined as the category marking the opposition between singular and plural. This greatly underestimates its role in the grammar. This course examines number systems in a variety of languages from morphological, syntactic, semantic, and pragmatic perspectives.
[Prereq: CAS LX 250 or equivalent.]
[Fall 2008]
A1.
Language Acquisition.
A general
introduction to the study of first and second language acquisition within the framework of generative grammar, focused on the development of syntax. Topics include: the status and development of functional categories, verb-movement, finiteness, null subjects, binding, and questions.
[Prereq: CAS LX 522 Syntax I]
[Fall 2008]
B1.
Mood and Modality.
Modality expresses the possibility or necessity of a situation:
'John may/must be at home.' This course
investigates types of modality and ways in which modality is encoded in the grammar
in mood and modal systems across languages.
[Prereq: CAS LX 250.]
[Spring 2009]
A1.
Acquisition of Semantics and Pragmatics.
How does a child acquire an adult grammar, and the ability to interpret words and complex phrases? This course examines the acquisition of meaning, both the literal meaning of words and phrases
and their implied meaning in conversation.
[Prereq: CAS LX 250 or equivalent]
[Spring 2009]
B1.
Questions.
Exploration of a central issue in theoretical linguistics, the typology of question formation across languages, from several perspectives. Syntactic universals and variation, semantic interpretation and discourse effects, and intonational effects will be brought to bear in developing a theoretical understanding.
[Fall 2009]
A1.
Focus.
Exploration of linguistic focus from several perspectives.
Developing a theoretical understanding of how languages
signal focus through syntax and intonation, and how focus
interacts with semantics and pragmatics, we examine how
diverse aspects of language knowledge interact as a system.
[Spring 2010]
B1.
Negation.
An examination of the diverse strategies for expressing negation in natural languages (cf. not, no one, un- in English). Topics include: negation and scope, polarity items/concord, antynomy and reversal, and morphosyntactic variety in the expression of negation.
[Spring 2010]
A1.
Language Acquisition.
A general introduction to theoretical study of first and second
language acquisition, focusing mainly on the development
of syntax. Topics will include tense and agreement, word order,
and constraints on pronoun use, as well as lexical semantics
and discourse constraints.
[Fall 2010]
A1.
TBA.
TBA
[Spring 2011]
A1.
Prosody.
TBA
|
| CAS LX 501 |
Linguistic Field Methods |
An-depth investigation of the phonology, morphology, syntax, and discourse/pragmatics of an African or other non-Indo-European language. Weekly sessions with language consultant.
[Prereq: CAS LX 250 or equivalent.]
Offered:
Spring 2010
Spring 2011
|
| CAS LX 502 |
Semantics I |
Semantics is the study of linguistic meaning. In this course, we will examine meaning from a variety of perspectives, including: how it is encoded in words and sentences, how native speakers interpret language, and how truth and falsehood can emerge from the complexity of the grammar. We will also touch on various aspects of pragmatics - the function of meaning in a communicative setting.
[Prereq: CAS LX 250 or equivalent.]
Offered:
Fall 2009
Fall 2010
|
| CAS LX 503 |
Semantics II |
Introduction to the semantics of natural language at an intermediate level. Topics include (but are not limited to) predication and quantification, scope and anaphora, problems of discourse analysis, various issues at the interface of semantics and pragmatics, and crosslinguistic semantics.
[Prereq: CAS LX 502 Semantics I or equivalent.]
Offered:
Spring 2010
|
| CAS LX 504 |
Topics in Pragmatics |
Covers the main areas of linguistic pragmatics, the study of language use and the relation between meaning and context. We will study pragmatic phenomena such as presuppositions, implicatures, anaphora, and focus, from the perspective of linguistic semantics.
[Prereq: CAS LX 502 Semantics I or permission of the instructor]
Offered:
Spring 2011
|
| CAS LX 505 |
Structure of African Languages |
African language structure and status from the perspectives of theoretical and comparative linguistics, typology, and sociolinguistics (language and society, endangerment). Evolution of the four-phyla genetic classification system, emphasizing the high language density Niger-Congo phylum. Includes student research projects.
[CAS LX 250 or equivalent]
Not in current schedule.
|
| CAS LX 510 |
Phonetics |
Introduction to phonetic and phonological theory at an elementary level. Transcription and production of sounds, International Phonetic Alphabet, the anatomy and physiology of speech, speech acoustics, phonological rules, analysis of data from a variety of languages.
[Prereq: CAS LX 250 or equivalent.]
Offered:
Spring 2010
Spring 2011
[Spring 2009: Prereq: CAS LX 250 or equivalent]
|
| CAS LX 513 |
Phonology |
Introduction to the sound system of language. Study and analysis of physical and mental aspects of sound production in speech and the system in which sounds are organized. Phonological rules, processes, and universals are examined through consideration of various languages.
[Prereq: CAS LX 510 Phonetics or equivalent.]
Offered:
Fall 2009
Fall 2010
|
| CAS LX 521 |
Morphology |
Introduction to the study of word structure. The surface variability of words, classical structuralism and the morpheme, process morphology, the notions `word' and `paradigm', the structure of the lexicon, morphosyntax. In-depth analyses of data from various languages.
[Prereq: CAS LX 250 or equivalent.]
Offered:
Spring 2010
Spring 2011
|
| CAS LX 522 |
Syntax I |
Part one of a two-semester sequence. Introduction to the logical structure and organization of language, and to Chomskyan theory. Application of principles of syntactic analysis to students' own and other languages through data-oriented problems from different language types.
[Prereq: CAS LX 250 or equivalent.]
Offered:
Fall 2009
Fall 2010
(Normally offered in Fall.)
|
| CAS LX 523 |
Syntax II |
Study of recent developments in syntactic theory, including the principles and parameters framework of generative grammar (the Minimalist Program, Antisymmetry) and certain other generative approaches (including Optimality Theory). This course builds on the background from established in LX 522 and provides an introduction to current issues in the field and proposals from the current theoretical linguistics literature.
[Prereq: CAS LX 522 or equivalent.]
Offered:
Spring 2010
[Spring 2009: Prereq: CAS LX 522 or equivalent]
|
| CAS LX 533 |
Creole Linguistics |
Overview of pidginization and creolization. Evolution, typology, and area characteristics of creole languages. Role of contact languages and other substrata. Field and classroom research with creole language speakers.
[Prereq: CAS LX 250 or equivalent.]
Not in current schedule.
|
| CAS LX 535 |
Historical and Comparative Linguistics |
Introduction to language change and the methodology of historical linguistic analysis, using data from a wide array of languages. Investigates genetic relatedness among languages, language comparison, historical reconstruction, and patterns and principles of change in phonology, morphology, syntax, and semantics.
[Prereq: CAS LX 250 or equivalent.]
Offered:
Fall 2009
Fall 2010
|
| GRS LX 700 |
Language Acquisition and Linguistic Theory |
After a general introduction to the study of language acquisition within the principles and parameters framework of generative grammar, defining the central concepts and laying out some of the theoretical issues, a number of topics will be discussed, including: the status of functional categories, verb movement and finiteness, null subjects, binding theory, and wh-questions. The first part of the course will focus on first language acquisition; the latter part on second language acquisition.
[Prereq: CAS LX 522 or consent of instructor.]
Not in current schedule.
|
| GRS LX 865 |
Advanced Topics in Linguistic Theory: Language Acquisition |
An in-depth exploration of current issues in language acquisition in relation to recent developments in linguistic theory, making use of computer-based tools and techniques in hands-on lab work. The focus is on experimental methodology and statistics, analysis of transcripts to uncover generalizations and test theoretical predictions, and use of other psycholinguistic tools. Topics to be covered will be drawn, in part, from the recent programs of the annual Boston University Conference on Language Development.
[Prereq: CAS LX 522 or consent of instructor.]
Not in current schedule.
|
Other Relevant Courses at BU
|
Linguistic analysis of specific languages
|
| CAS EN 513 |
Modern English Grammar |
A systematic analysis of English, applied to the reading of literature and the writing of essays.
[Prereq: consent of instructor.]
Not in current schedule.
|
| CAS EN 515 |
History of the English Language I |
How do the social and cultural experiences of young adults contribute to development of the English
language? Examination of how, from Old English to current times, they learned and changed their native tongue at home,
in schools, and neighborhoods.
Not in current schedule.
|
| CAS EN 516 |
History of the English Language II |
Linguistic and social history of the English language, including sounds, structure, vocabulary, semantics, and dialects. First semester: Old and Middle English. Second semester: Early Modern and Modern English. [CAS EN 515 is not a prerequisite for CAS EN 516.]
Not in current schedule.
|
| CAS EN 518 |
Linguistic Problems in TESOL |
Application of linguistic concepts to the teaching of English as a foreign language. Includes description of contemporary English grammatical structures that pose problems for learners and teachers.
[Prereq: consent of instructor.]
Offered:
Fall 2009
Spring 2010
|
| CAS LF 500 |
French Phonetics |
(Conducted in French) Students work to improve their own pronunciation through study of the distribution and articulation of French sounds, liaison, "mute e" and intonation. Written exercises and phonetic transcription reinforce theoretical points. An individualized program of language lab exercises is designed for each student on the basis of a diagnostic test. Regular pronunciation exercises include memorization of short dialogs and poetry readings.
Required texts (ordered through Schoenhof's):
(1) Carduner et Hagiwara, D'Accord - La Prononciation du français internationale: Acquisition et perfectionnement, ISBN-10: 0471097292; ISBN-13: 978-0471097297.
(2) Baudelaire, Les fleurs du mal.
(3) Ionesco, La cantatrice chauve et La leçon.
For more detailed description of course coverage and aims, see course home page.
[Prereq: CAS LF 304 or permission of instructor.]
Not in current schedule.
|
| CAS LF 502 |
French Syntax |
(Conducted in French) After an introduction to some of the main features of the sentence structure of French (with occasional excursions into Quebecois), attention will be focused on a number of specific topics in French syntax: the position of the finite and non-finite verb, the formation of questions and relative clauses, different types of subject verb inversion, quantifier floating and the position of subjects, the behavior of clitic pronouns, imperative and causative constructions.
[Prereq CAS LX 250 and CAS LF 304 or consent of instructor. (Note: CAS LX 250 may be taken concurrently.)]
Not in current schedule.
|
| CAS LF 503 |
French Phonology |
(Conducted in French) Students study the organization of the sound system of standard French. Quebecois and Haitian creole will be considered briefly. Questions about the mental representation of linguistic information, processes of word formation and language variation and change will be discussed. Frequent problem sets will allow students to discover linguistic regularities.
[Prereq CAS LX 250 and CAS LF 304 or consent of instructor. (Note: CAS LX 250 may be taken concurrently.)]
Offered:
Fall 2010
|
| CAS LJ 410 |
The History of the Japanese Language |
Overview of major issues in the history of Japanese: genetic relationships, changes in sound system, word and sentence structures, and pragmatics. Special attention to the process leading to the current writing system. Representative texts used to demonstrate different literary languages.
[Prereq: CAS LJ 211]
Not in current schedule.
|
| CAS LJ 510 |
Structure of the Japanese Language |
Introduction to linguistic analysis of the Japanese language (phonology, word structure, grammar, history of orthography). Genetic relationships, social and cultural issues, such as women's language and honorifics, are discussed. Lectures and discussions in English with bilingual materials.
[Prereq: LJ 112 and LX 250 or consent of instructor.]
Not in current schedule.
|
| CAS LS 504 |
History of the Spanish Language |
Study of the structure of sounds, general concepts of language change, and specific phonological, morphological and syntactic changes in the history of Spanish. Begins with the modern language and proceeds to successively earlier stages; includes reading of representative medieval and dialectal texts.
[Prereq: CAS LS 303 and LS 304 or equivalent.]
Offered:
Spring 2010
|
| SED DE 672 |
Structure of American Sign Language |
Structural linguistic study of specific aspects of phonology, morphology, syntax, and lexicology in ASL. Concepts of language variation, dialect, creolization, and bilingualism.
[Prereq: SED LS 560, LS 571, and LS 602.]
Offered:
Spring 2010
|
Logic and the philosophy of language
|
| CAS PH 160 |
Reasoning and Argumentation |
A systematic study of the principles of both deductive and informal reasoning, calculated to enhance students' actual reasoning skills, with an emphasis on reasoning and argumentation in ordinary discourse.
Offered:
Fall 2009
Spring 2010
|
| CAS PH 360 |
Logic |
Study of the basics of modern logic, including propositional logic, quantifiers, identity and functions, completeness and incompleteness. A special emphasis is placed on strategies of deductive reasoning.
[Prereq: one philosophy course or sophomore standing.]
Offered:
Spring 2010
|
| CAS PH 421 |
Frege, Moore, and Russell |
An in-depth reading of several works by Russell.
[Prereq: CAS PH 310 History of Modern Philosophy and two other philosophy courses, or consent of instructor]
Not in current schedule.
|
| CAS PH 463 |
Philosophy of Language |
Critical survey of the main issues in the philosophy of language and the foundations of linguistics,
including the ideas of logical form and the universality of languages as well as the basic ideas of generative grammar,
possible-worlds semantics, Wittgenstein, and speech-act theories.
Offered:
Fall 2009
|
| CAS PH 486 |
Topics in Knowledge, Language, and Logic |
This course will focus on new approaches to logic and language theory, as well as their impact on epistemology.
[Prereq: any one philosophy course from CAS PH 460-468, or consent of instructor.]
Not in current schedule.
|
Language, culture, and society
|
| CAS AN 351 |
Language, Culture, and Society |
Introduction to basic concepts, problems, and methods used by anthropologists in the investigation of relationships among language, culture, and society. Topics include language and conceptual systems, language and role, language and social context, and language and thought.
Offered:
Fall 2009
|
| CAS AN 521 |
Introduction to Sociolinguistics |
Sociolinguistics, broadly construed, is the investigation of relations between linguistic phenomena and human social life. This course covers several recent theoretical approaches to the study of language and society: variational sociolinguistics, ethnography of communication, and international sociolinguistics. Also covered are development of pidgins and creoles, multilingualism, language choice, and other aspects of language and culture.
[Prereq: CAS LX 250 or equivalent.]
Offered:
Spring 2010
|
| CAS AN 555 |
Evolution of Brain Language |
Current issues in human brain evolution research and theories of the origins and neurological basis for human language abilities. Topics: animal communication, brain size evolution, intelligence theories, innateness debate, brain and vocal tract anatomy, and dual inheritance theories.
[Prereq: AN331 or consent of instructor.]
Not in current schedule.
|
| CAS AR 208 |
Lost Languages and Decipherments |
An overview of the archaeology of writing focusing on modern decipherments of ancient texts. Related topics include characteristics of the world's major language families, the nature of linguistic change, and the origin and history of the alphabet.
Offered:
Spring 2010
|
| CAS SO 413 |
Sociology of Language and Communication |
Approaches to the study of social interaction. Theoretical and methodological perspectives from Goffman to Sacks and conversation analysis. Students undertake supervised research studies of audio and video recordings of naturally occurring interaction.
[Prereq: SO 203 or consent of the instructor]
Not in current schedule.
|
Language acquisition
|
| CAS PS 545 |
Language Development |
Language development in children. The acquisition of phonological, morphological, and syntactic systems; the role of both parent and child in the acquisition of communicative competence.
[Prereq: CAS PS 241, PS 243, or consent of instructor.]
Not in current schedule.
|
| SED LS 566 |
Language Acquisition |
Overview of language acquisition in typical, atypical, and second language learners. Topic areas include phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, pragmatics, child-directed speech, the role of cognitive development, and theories of language acquisition. Students will apply course material during weekly observations of a language learner, and in a data analysis project.
[Prereq: CAS LX250, SED LS565, or equivalent.]
Not in current schedule.
|
Neurological aspects of language
|
| CAS PS 544 |
Developmental Neuropsychology |
Study of the neural mechanisms underlying behavioral development. Topics include the plasticity of the developing brain in response to deprivation or damage and mechanisms underlying specific syndromes (e.g., aphasia, dyslexia, learning disabilities, hyperactivity, autism, and Tourette's syndrome).
Offered:
Spring 2010
|
| SAR SH 505 |
Introduction to Phonological Disorders |
An introduction to phonological/articulation disorders, including phonological acquisition, etiology of disorders, assessment, and remediation procedures.
[Prereq: consent of instructor.]
Not in current schedule.
|
| SAR SH 523 |
Introduction to Speech Science |
Lecture, laboratory, and demonstrations. Introduction to the basic physics of sound, including the decibel scale, spectral analysis, and sound resonance. Acoustic theory of speech production. Effects of contact on speech acoustics. Suprasegmental characteristics of speech production. Introduction to speech perception.
[Prereq: SED SH 521.]
Offered:
Fall 2009
|
| SAR SH 524 |
Normal Language Acquisition |
Introduces current theories of normal language acquisition and traces the stages of normal language development from the prelinguistic period through the school-age years.
Offered:
Fall 2009
|
| SAR SH 531 |
Introduction to Speech-Language Pathology |
Introduction to various speech-language pathologies found across linguistically and culturally diverse
populations. Characteristics underlying biological systems and methods for evaluation and treating them. Exploration of
the professions of speech pathology and audiology.
Offered:
Fall 2009
|
Other courses
|
| CAS EN 511 |
Introduction to Linguistics |
Basic concepts, scope, and methods of the study of language. Phonology, morphology, syntax, language change, and language varieties. Exercises in language analysis.
Not in current schedule.
|
