Spring 2009→ Full list of Linguistics course offerings |
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Linguistics courses | |||||||
Course number | Course title | Section | Instructor | Days | Time | Room | |
CAS LX 235 | Language in the Contemporary World: Language, Society, and the Law | web | A1 | Zabbal | MWF | 11-12 | KCB 103 |
Exploration of the role of human language in society, focusing on language in legal settings. Addresses governmental policy on language; language crimes such as perjury, solicitation, and bribery; the meaning of consent; and the linguistics of legal interpretation. [Prereq: none] | |||||||
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CAS LX 250 | Introduction to Linguistics | A1 | Barnes | TR | 11-12:30 | LSE B01 | |
S1 | Barnes | F | 9 | CAS B06A | |||
S2 | Barnes | F | 10 | CAS B06A | |||
S3 | Barnes | F | 11 | CAS B06A | |||
S4 | Barnes | F | 12 | CAS B06A | |||
S5 | Barnes | F | 1 | CAS B06A | |||
S6 | Barnes | F | 2 | CAS B06A | |||
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. [Prereq: none] | |||||||
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CAS LX 341 | Sociolinguistics | A1 | M. Catherine O'Connor | M | 4-7 | CAS 325 | |
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 Introduction to Linguistics or AN 351 Language, Culture, and Society; or consent of instructor.] | |||||||
[Meets with GRS LX 641; Also offered as CAS AN 521] | |||||||
CAS LX 372 | French Phonetics | web | A1 | Neidle | TR | 11-12:30 | TBA |
(Conducted in French) Students improve their pronunciation and aural comprehension by applying linguistic principles governing the articulation and distribution of French sounds, liaison, "mute e," and intonation. Written exercises reinforce theoretical points; oral exercises and audio and video recordings allow focus on individual difficulties. Includes readings from literary texts. [Prereq: vNote that CAS LX 250 can be taken concurrently.] | |||||||
[Also offered as CAS LF 500] | |||||||
Enrollment is limited, so that students can receive individual attention :-) | |||||||
CAS LX 500 | Topics in Linguistics: Questions | web | B1 | Hagstrom | TR | 12:30-2 | KCB 201 |
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. | |||||||
CAS LX 500 | Topics in Linguistics: Acquisition of Semantics and Pragmatics | A1 | Zabbal | MWF | 2-3 | KCB 104 | |
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] | |||||||
CAS LX 501 | Linguistic Field Methods | web | A1 | M. Catherine O'Connor | TR | 9:30-11 | KCB 201 |
An in-depth investigation of the phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, and lexicon of an African or other non-Indo-European language. Weekly sessions with language consultant. [Prereq: CAS LX 250 Introduction to Linguistics or consent of instructor.] | |||||||
CAS LX 510 | Phonetics | A1 | Barnes | TR | 2-3:30 | KCB 107 | |
[Prereq: CAS LX 250 Introduction to Linguistics or consent of instructor.] | |||||||
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CAS LX 523 | Syntax II x | A1 | Hagstrom | T | 4-7 | PSY B49 | |
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] | |||||||
Related courses at BU | |||||||
Course number | Course title | Section | Instructor | Days | Time | Room | |
CAS AR 208 | Lost Languages and Decipherments | A1 | Danti | TR | 2-3:30 | CAS 316 | |
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. | |||||||
CAS EN 516 | History of the English Language II | A1 | Green | MWF | 9-10 | CAS 228 | |
Everyone who uses English has reason to wonder about its idiosyncrasies and its history. How can words with such different spellings as “eight” and “ate” be pronounced alike? Why do we say “a twenty foot” pole, rather than “twenty feet”? And why is it “feet” rather than “foots”? What did Shakespeare’s spoken language sound like? What happened to the word “thou”? What is an Anglo-Saxon rune (∑∏∑) and how do you read it? This course will address everyone’s curiosity about these and other features of the English language through analysis of medieval and early modern literary texts, noting especially changes in pronunciation, syntax, spelling, and vocabulary. We will also explore the pre- and early print culture of England, locating these early forms of English in relation to the material forms onto and into which they were written; students will learn to read and analyze not only handwritten scrolls, manuscripts and early printed books but also other media including sword belts, jewels, illuminated manuscripts, goblets, stone cross monuments, pregnancy girdles, barrow tombs and king’s coffins. We will also give some thought to constructed and fictional languages that draw on medieval British languages, such as JRR Tolkien’s Orkish, Elvish, and Mannish. No previous knowledge of linguistics or medieval literature required. Fulfills English major Pre-1800 Literature requirement. | |||||||
CAS EN 518 | Linguistic Problems in TESOL | A1 | Zlateva | T | 4-7 | CAS 204B | |
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.] | |||||||
CAS LJ 410 | The History of the Japanese Language | A1 | Okita | MWF | 10-11 | TBA | |
(Conducted in English) 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.] | |||||||
CAS LS 504 | History of the Spanish Language | A1 | Zaderenko | MWF | 10-11 | CAS 218 | |
(Conducted in Spanish) 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 350 plus two CAS LS 400-level literature courses] | |||||||
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CAS PS 544 | Developmental Neuropsychology | A1 | Liederman | R | 4-7 | TBA | |
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). [Prereq: consent of instructor] | |||||||
SAR SH 505 | Introduction to Phonological Disorders | A1 | Oppenheimer | F | 12-2:30 | SAR 218 | |
This course provides an overview of current models of normal and disordered phonological development. Students examine and practice evidenced-based principles and practical applications of assessment, analysis, diagnosis, and remediation approaches and procedures to facilitate critical thinking and problem-solving abilities to apply to working with individuals with a variety of phonological disorders. [Prereq: SAR SH 521 and SH 524 ] |