The Linguistics Major
We here in the Linguistics Program may be biased, but we think linguistics is an ideal major at a liberal arts college. Our program examines significant aspects of human nature at several levels and via a number of methodologies. We look at human beings as expert learners and manipulators of extraordinarily complex species-specific systems called “grammars”. We examine the nature of languages using various mathematical techniques. Students are required to exercise their creativity by actively participating in the building of elaborate theories of the underlying cognitive structures humans routinely, though subconsciously, acquire. They ask how we might understand the concept of “meaning” and its linguistic communication. They ponder what the results of linguistic analysis reveals about long-standing problems in the philosophy of language and mind. They learn to “make sense” of what at first blush appear to be quite exotic examples of this fundamental human skill. The program includes courses which investigate the quite amazing area of speech production and recognition through the use of sophisticated scientific instruments, which are available to all students in our laboratory, and we ask what the characteristics of sound and gesture systems tell us about human beings and their cognitive evolution. Students probe the use of language in artistic settings. They look at how languages develop and change over time, and how they are realized in written form.
We think students emerge from our program with enhanced versatility, intellectual bravery, and an appreciation of the value of rigor. They are unafraid of complexity, know the joy of achieving insight into hard problems, and can speak lucidly in public under pressure. In short, they are ready for anything.
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We will not propose to the College to add a regular major in Linguistics until we have another permanent linguist on the staff. (We are not sure at this point that this will ever happen, but we are hopeful.) However, with the addition of our visitor from 2007 to 2011, we will be able to responsibly encourage students to petition for a Special Major in Linguistics. To help with that process, we give what we will call the “standard” major. Variations on this theme are quite possible.
We also want to make sure that everyone understands that we are also encouraging joint (special) majors with other departments. The Linguistics Program maintains active collaborations with many other departments on campus, including Asian Languages, Biology, Classics, English, Mathematics, Computer Science, Philosophy, Psychology, and Women’s Studies. Details of these majors will like look quite different from our standard major.
The standard linguistics major consists of ten Required Courses and three Electives (total 69 credits):
Required Courses (10 courses, 51 credits):
Linguistics 110: Introduction to Linguistics (offered every term)
Linguistics 115: Introduction to the Theory of Syntax (offered every winter term)
Linguistics 216: Morpho-Syntax (offered every spring)
Linguistics 217: Phonetics and Phonology (offered every winter term)
Philosophy 210: Logic or CS 177 Mathematics of Computer Science
Linguistics 301: Language Survey (3 credits; offered every spring)
At least three of the following three courses:
Linguistics 315: Topics in Syntax (offered every other fall)
Linguistics 317: Topics in Phonology (offered every other spring)
Linguistics 325: Syntax of an Unfamiliar Language
Linguistics 340: Topics in Semantics (offered every other spring)
Computer Science 357: Natural Language Processing
Psychology 364: Psychology of Reading Words
Psychology 375: Language and Deception
Linguistics 399: Senior Thesis (3 credits; offered every fall)
Linguistics 400: Integrative Exercise (3 credits; offered every winter)
Electives (3 courses, 18 credits) drawn from the following list:
Asian Languages 111: Writing Systems
Asian Languages 260: Historical Linguistics
Cognitive Studies 130: How to Build a Mind: An Introduction to Cognitive Science
Computer Science 237: Theory of Computation
Computer Science 357: Natural Language Processing
Linguistics 180: Structure of Japanese
Linguistics 250: Linguistics and the Literary Art
Linguistics 265: Language and Brain
Linguistics 270: Language, Speech, and Evolution
Linguistics 275: First Language Acquisition
Philosophy 110: Evolution and Mind
Philosophy 253: Philosophy of Cognitive Science
Psychology 212: Comparative Cognition
Psychology 234: Psychology of Language
Psychology 364: Psychology of Reading Words
Psychology 366: Cognitive Neuroscience
Psychology 375: Language and Deception
SOAN 277: Language and Culture
