Fall 2023

For a full list of undergraduate courses in linguistics offered in recent years, see: 

CAS LX 120

Is the co-occurrence of music and language in human societies coincidental or inevitable? This course examines this question by defining what language and music are, exploring their structural similarities and differences, and surveying global diversity in musical and linguistic expression. Carries humanities divisional studies credit in CAS.

BU Hub areas: Aesthetic Exploration, Scientific Inquiry I, Research and Information Literacy.

MWF 10:10-11:00

CAS LX 250 / MET LX 250

Properties that languages share and how languages differ with respect to structure (sound system, word formation, syntax), expression of meaning, acquisition, variation, and change; cultural and artistic uses of language; comparison of oral, written, and signed languages. Also offered through Metropolitan College as MET LX 250. (Students must also register for a discussion section.)

BU Hub areas: Scientific Inquiry I, Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy, Critical Thinking.

TR 11-12:15

Discussion Section S1

F 9:05-9:55

Discussion Section S2

F 9:05-9:55

Discussion Section S3

F 10:10-11:00

Discussion Section S4

F 11:15-12:05

Discussion Section S5

F 12:20-1:10

Discussion Section S6

F 12:20-1:10

Discussion Section S7

F 1:25-2:15

Discussion Section S8

F 2:30-3:20

CAS LX 301

Introduction to the nature and patterning of sounds in human language. Presents articulatory and acoustic phonetics, and basic phonological analysis, focusing on cross-language typology and comparison. Hands-on development of practical skills, including IPA transcription, field techniques, and digital speech analysis. (Students must also register for a discussion section.)

Prerequisite: CAS LX 250, or consent of instructor. BU Hub areas: Scientific Inquiry II, Quantitative Reasoning I, Critical Thinking.

TR 9:30-10:45

Discussion Section S1

M 3:35-4:25

Discussion Section S2

M 4:40-5:30

Discussion Section S3

W 3:35-4:25

CAS LX 311

Morphology, the study of the internal structure and the shapes of words across languages, straddles the boundary between syntax and phonology. This course covers the major empirical and theoretical issues in the study of morphology, emphasizing links to other components of grammar. Carries humanities divisional credit in CAS. Also offered as GRS LX 611

Prerequisite: CAS LX 250, or consent of instructor.

MWF 11:15-12:05

CAS LX 331

Systematic examination of how meaning is encoded in words and sentences, and how it can emerge from the complexity of the grammar. Also touches on various aspects of pragmatics–the study of how meaning is shaped by context. Effective Fall 2018, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: The Individual in Community, Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy, Critical Thinking. (Students must also register for a discussion section.)

Prerequisite: CAS LX 250, or consent of instructor.

TR 2:00-3:15

Discussion Section S1

M 3:35-4:25

Discussion Section S2

M 4:40-5:30

Discussion Section S3

W 3:35-4:25

CAS LX 341

Introduction to language in its social context. Methodological and theoretical approaches to sociolinguistics. Linguistic variation in relation to situation, gender, socioeconomic class, linguistic context, and ethnicity. Integrating micro- and macro-analysis from conversation to societal language planning.

Prerequisite: CAS LX 250, or consent of instructor. 

TR 11:00-12:15

CAS LX 342

Do women talk differently from men? How do race and ethnicity relate to the way people use language? This course examines these interrelated questions from the perspective of modern sociolinguistic theory, analyzing a range of languages and communities throughout the world.

BU Hub areas: Social Inquiry I, Teamwork/Collaboration.

MWF 12:20-1:10

CAS LX 367

Exploration of the structure, history, and varieties of indigenous languages of Latin America, and of the communities that speak them.

BU Hub areas: Writing-Intensive Course, Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy, Research and Information Literacy.

MWF 1:25-2:15

CAS LX 394

Introduction to computational techniques to explore linguistic models and test empirical claims. Serves as an introduction to programming, algorithms, and data structures, focused on modern applications to Natural Language Processing (NLP). Topics include tagging and classification, parsing models, meaning representation, and information extraction. (Not intended for students with a background in programming or computer science.) Carries MCS divisional studies credit in CAS.

BU Hub areas: Quantitative Reasoning II, Research and Information Literacy.

MWF 2:30-3:20

CAS LX 405

Exploration of the melodic and rhythmic aspects of the languages of the world. Emphasis on theoretical and experimental approaches to cross-linguistic typology. Specific topics include: syllables and syllable-weight, rhythm and speech timing; stress and metrics; tone and intonation. Also offered as GRS LX 705.

Prerequisite: CAS LX 301, or consent of instructor.

MWF 9:05-9:55

CAS LX 422

Using linguistic data drawn from a wide variety of languages, students develop a precise model of syntactic knowledge through evaluation of hypotheses and arguments. Exploration of major discoveries and phenomena from the linguistic literature. Also offered as GRS LX 722.

Prerequisite: CAS LX 321, or consent of instructor.

TR 12:30-1:45

CAS LX 454

Exploration of the character and course of acquisition of syntactic knowledge in both first and second language contexts. Covers methodological principles for conducting studies and analyzing data, and topics such as development of verb movement, binding theory, and tense. Also offered as GRS LX 754.

Prerequisite: CAS LX 321, or consent of instructor.

TR 9:30-10:45