Course Descriptions

Core Courses

Each course is worth 3 credits unless stated otherwise.

AL603 Phonological Analysis. Study the principles and methods of analyzing linguistic sound systems.
AL605 Grammatical Analysis. Study the principles and methods of analyzing grammatical structures.
AL608 Sociolinguistics. Study the structure and use of language in its social and cultural contexts with a focus on multilingual situations.

The core courses are prerequisites to many other courses.

A Prerequisite Course refers to a course that a student must pass before enrolling in a more advanced course. When a course has a prerequisite, it means that a student must have certain knowledge to be successful in the course. An assessment exam with qualifying scores of a prerequisite is achieved by a final grade of A, B+, B, C+, or C.

Elective Courses

Each course is worth 3 credits unless stated otherwise.

AL703 Linguistic Description (Prerequisites: AL603, AL605) The application of analysis and argumentation to linguistic data. Practice in describing, discussing, and reporting on the findings of research in one or more specific languages.

AL704 Field Methods in Linguistics (Prerequisites: AL603, AL605) [4 credits]. Methods for collecting and analyzing language data to formulate hypotheses and then refine them in light of available data.

AL706 Linguistic Data Management (Prerequisites: AL603, AL605) [2 credits]. Methods for managing, organizing, and presenting language data using computational tools.

AL707 Language Research Methods This course provides an introduction to research design and methods for students interested in SE, EthnoArts, Literacy, Anthropology, or Sociolinguistic research. Course topics include developing research questions, defining variables, using basic statistical concepts, collecting, coding, and analyzing data. Both qualitative and quantitative-based research methods and designs will both be discussed and contextualized as a function of research questions. There will be hands-on practice in research design and interpretation of research results.

AL708 Ethno Arts Applied Linguistic Methods This course offers training in Ethnomusicology and EthnoArts from both academic and applied perspectives. The course increases participants’ awareness of local Music and Art communication functions within ethnolinguistic communities, offers tools for beginning steps in ethnographic research techniques related to the EthnoArts, and offers guidance in specific ways that Music and Arts can be applied appropriately within various cultural contexts. The course includes input sessions, microteaching, individual study, and practical application to students’ contexts.

AL710 Historical and Comparative Linguistics (Prerequisites: AL603, AL605) The theoretical analysis of language change and methods for linguistic reconstruction with a focus on Asian languages.

AL712 Advanced Grammatical Analysis (Prerequisite: AL605) Advanced linguistic theory and its application to the morphological and syntactic structure of languages.

AL713 Pragmatics (Prerequisite: AL605) Theoretical tools with which to explain how people interpret utterances in context, including speech act functions, conversational implicatures, and other topics on understanding natural language.

AL715 Seminar on Linguistic Typology (Prerequisites: AL603, AL605) Seminar on Mainland Southeast Asia as an area of linguistic convergence. This course explores linguistic structures of Mainland Southeast Asian languages from a typological perspective, i.e., language universals and the scope of variation in the linguistic structures found in the world’s languages.

AL720 Discourse Analysis (Prerequisite: AL605) Linguistic analysis of the discourse features, including coherence, discontinuities, information structure, prominence, pragmatic connectives, participant reference, and other topics.

AL723 Translation Practicum (Prerequisite: AL 722) The application of translation methods, with practice in translating as well as checking and correcting translated material.

AL724 Translation Technology (Prerequisite: AL 722) The introduction and practice of specialized software tools for translation.

AL725 Seminar on Translation and Communication (Prerequisite: AL 722) The application of translation methods, with practice in translating as well as checking and correcting translated material.

AL730 Lexicography The principles and methods necessary for the production of dictionaries, including the use of pertinent computer software tools.

AL732 Principles of Literacy (Prerequisite: AL 603) The linguistic, sociolinguistic, and educational factors required to support reading and writing in a language community.

AL734 Orthography Development Principles of orthography development and discussion of case studies.

AL735 Seminar on Language Planning and Language Policy (Prerequisite: AL 608) Practical social and linguistic issues relating to language development programs in multilingual societies.

AL736 Literacy Program Planning and Materials (Prerequisite: AL732) This course will focus on applying principles of literacy, sociolinguistic research, language development methodologies, and educational theories for relevant program planning and material production needed for a minority language literacy or multilingual education program. Students will plan activities, prepare example materials, and develop teaching techniques for involving the local language community. By the end of the course, students will also be able to explain the value and benefits of literacy and education in the home language and how it provides connections to other information and resources.

AL740 Phonetics for Field Linguists Overview of speech sounds in languages of the world with a special focus on the languages of Asia. Practice in the identification, pronunciation, and transcription of speech sounds. Discussion of articulatory phonetics and basic acoustic phonetics and their application in descriptive linguistics.

AL741 Anthropological Linguistics. The interaction and influence of language and culture on each other, including the effect of world views in matters relating to language and culture.

AL742 Language Survey (Prerequisites: AL 603, AL 608) The theory and methodology for conducting language survey, including criteria for defining language and dialect boundaries, determining ethnolinguistic identity, and measuring levels of bilingualism as well as mutual intelligibility.

AL744 Advanced Phonology (Prerequisite: AL603) Issues related to the advanced analysis of sound systems in languages, including current theories of phonology.

AL746 Semantics The relationship between form and meaning at various levels of language.

AL747 Seminar on Semitic Languages (Prerequisite: AL 605) This course introduces linguistics students to minimal knowledge of Classical Hebrew enough to read a selected prose/narrative, not poetry.

The purposes are to apply knowledge of linguistics to the study of the ancient language and to lay a foundation for life-long self-study toward an intermediate level.

AL748 Discourse Analysis of Ancient Languages (Prerequisite: AL 720) The application of discourse analysis principles to the analysis of ancient texts.

AL750 Selected Topics in Linguistics Readings and discussion of selected linguistic topic(s), for example, a series of special topics by visiting lecturers, or deeper study into particular areas of interest.

AL751 Current Issues in Linguistics Recent trends in linguistics that are likely to influence the future development of the discipline, including evaluating differing theoretical perspectives.

AL752 Directed Readings Guided independent readings of a special linguistic topic.

AL753 Linguistic Applications The application of linguistics to other academic domains.

AL754 Selected Topics in Language Development Readings and discussion of selected topic(s) in language development, for example, a series of special topics by visiting lecturers, or a deeper study into particular areas of interest.

AL755 Academic Writing for Linguistics Seminar on how to write formal written research proposals, abstracts, journal articles, academic conference presentations, and more extensive written works (i.e., M.A. theses and Independent Study Research Papers).