Special Summer Faculty: Baart, Bickford (Chair), C. Black, H. A. Black, Clifton (Graduate Director), Headland, Karan, Levinsohn, Marlett, Meyer, Olson, Parker, Roberts, Snider, Tuggy, D.A. Weber and D.D. Weber
Program Description
The graduate program in Linguistics provides intensive graduate instruction, integrating linguistic theory with practical application, in the areas of language research, documentation, description, and development of linguistic resources such as writing systems, literacy, native literature, and translated materials. The distinctive focus of the program relates to work in multicultural, multilingual settings involving both major and lesser-studied languages, both spoken and signed. It is designed to move students toward careers involving linguistic analysis, acquisition of languages and cultures, linguistic community development, literacy, or translation.
It is a cooperative program between UND and SIL International, and offered primarily during a nine-week summer session every year. Students are initially accepted into the program only in the summer session (when the program’s faculty members are on campus) and are normally expected to spend at least two summers enrolled in the program. (See the detailed information at: http://www.und.edu/dept/linguistics/lingma.htm.)
Admission Requirements
- A minimum of 20 semester credits in linguistics or related fields, e.g., foreign language, of which at least 10 credits must be in linguistics, and which must include the equivalent of Ling 452.
Students deficient in undergraduate credit requirements but otherwise qualifying for acceptance may use their first summer’s coursework at SIL (or 10 graduate credits in courses designated as linguistics) in lieu of the undergraduate requirement in linguistics. The foreign language requirement may be met by passing an examination in the language.
Degree Requirements
- A minimum of 32 credits including:
- 3 credits listed in the Linguistics section of the graduate catalog in the area of phonetics/phonology.
- 3 credits in Linguistics in syntax/semantics.
- 3 credits in Linguistics in applied linguistics.
- 4 credits for a thesis
- at least 6 other credits in Linguistics.
Of the remaining 13 credits, courses with linguistics content offered by other departments, such as English, may be counted as linguistics credits for the major. Alternately, 9 credits may be in a minor or in cognate courses (see the Degree Requirements section of the Graduate catalog.)
The thesis will be based on the analysis of language data collected by the student or on theoretical or applied applications of data arising from language research. Students majoring in Linguistics may wish to minor in English at UND.
Students may take the linguistics courses even without applying to the M.A. program. All students who wish to take SIL courses (whether in the M.A. program or not) should apply directly to SIL each year, preferably by April 15 (April 1 for non-U.S. citizens). Application and other information is available at: http://www.und.edu/dept/linguistics/ or call 1-800-292-1621. The chair of the linguistics program is Albert Bickford, SIL-UND, 16131 N. Vernon Dr., Tucson, AZ 85739 (director_silund@sil.org) and the director of graduate studies is John Clifton (john_clifton@sil.org). Information is also available from the SIL office on campus when the courses are in session during the summer (777-0575).
Courses
503. Phonology II. 3 credits. Prerequisite: Linguistics 450, 451, or equivalent. Phonological phenomena examined from a generative point of view; emphasis on creation and testing of hypotheses about the phonological systems of particular languages.
504. Syntax II. 3 credits. Prerequisite: Linguistics 452. Drawing on one or more theories from the generative tradition, this course explores syntactic forms that are commonly attested in human language. There is emphasis on the role of language universals and linguistic argumentation in arriving at analyses of language phenomena.
505. Typology and Discourse. 3 credits. Prerequisite: Linguistics 452. The course covers recent trends relating to language typology and cross-linguistic generalizations, focusing on the domains of morphosyntax, semantics and pragmatics.
506. Field Methods. 3 credits. Prerequisites: Linguistics 450 and 452 or equivalent. Recommended prerequisite: Linguistices 480. Corequisite: Linguistics 451 or equivalent. Practical aspects of linguistic field work and analysis, including an intensive practicum with speakers of a non-Western language for the purposes of developing skill in data collection, data management (using some computational tools), and the analysis and description of the phonological, grammatical and lexical structures of human languages.
507. Special Topics in Linguistics. 1 to 4 credits. Topics of current interest in linguistics. May be repeated if topic is different.
510. Semantics and Pragmatics. 3 credits. Prerequisite: Linguistics 452 or equivalent. Various dimensions of meaning on the lexical, propositional, and inter-propositional levels. Meaning is studied both as a property of linguistic expressions and as derived from contextual factors. Topics include principles of lexicography, selectional restrictions, operators and their scope, illocutionary force, inference, and relations between form and meaning.
511. Translation of Texts: Theory and Practice. 3 credits. Prerequisites: Linguistics 452 and two years of foreign language or equivalent proficiency. Corequisite: Linguistics 510. This course is an introduction to the theory and practice of text translation, emphasizing the accurate, natural and clear transference of meaning across languages and cultures. Current issues in translation theory will be discussed, especially the approach based on Relevance Theory. Practical aspects of the course will include recognizing common translation problems and solutions, maintaining quality control, the role of computation, program planning aspects of translation projects or activities and teaching others to translate.
519. Introduction to Literacy Principles. 3 credits. Prerequisites: Linguistics 451 and 452 or equivalents. Corequisite (recommended): Linguistics 530. Introduction to literacy principles, methods, materials and programs in multilingual societies, especially those involving one or more minority languages. Includes language policy and planning, reading theory, materials design, and literacy program design and implementation, with special emphasis on training and assisting members of the minority language community to establish and maintain ongoing literacy programs. Intended as an introduction to the topic for field linguists who are not planning to be literacy specialists. Content is similar to the package of courses 520/521/522, but in less depth; it may be taught with some class sessions in common with the larger package. May not be used for graduate credit on the same program of study as 520/521/522.
520. Foundational Issues of Community-based Literacy in Multilingual Societies. 3 credits. Corequisites: Linguistics 521, 522 and 530. Upon completion of this course, students will be able to: (a) explain in detail the inter-relationship between illiteracy, poverty, politics and environment; (b) identify and describe the major movements and trends in literacy; (c) explain and teach the principles of adult education; (d) identify the major “players” in the field of adult literacy; (e) explain the major issues involved in developing a multilingual education program for school children.
521. Literacy Program Planning and Management. 3 credits. Corequisites: Linguistics 520, 522 and 530. Upon completion of this course, students will be able to: (a) explain, with examples, change processes in traditional communities; (b) design a complete literacy program; (c) explain alternative strategies for designing and managing a literacy program; (d) evaluate the need for external funding in a literacy program; (e) do detailed costing for a literacy program; (f) write a funding proposal for a literacy program; and (g) use the LinguaLinks Electronic Performance Support system and access relevant Internet resources.
522. Materials and Methods in Adult Literacy. 3 credits. Corequisites: Linguistics 520, 521 and 530. Upon completion of this course, students will be able to: (a) explain some of the major theories of reading and the history of their evolution; (b) explain, describe, and critique various instructional strategies for teaching reading; (c) design instructional materials from any one of five different strategies for teaching reading; (d) design teacher training protocols for literacy programs; (e) design testing protocols for reading materials; (f) develop instructional materials for transitional literacy programs; (g) organize and direct a writers’ workshop; and (h) explain the need for post-literacy materials and how to develop these.
530. Introduction to Writing Systems. 1 credit. Corequisite: Linguistics 451 or equivalent. Introduction to the principles of designing and testing a writing system. Attention is given to linguistic, sociolinguistic, educational, psycholinguistic, political/ideological, production and implementation issues in orthographic development.
590. Directed Studies in Linguistics. 1 to 4 credits. Supervised individual study. May be repeated if the topic is different. A maximum of 8 credits may be applied to the M.A. in linguistics.
594. Research in Linguistics. 1 to 6 credits. May be repeated if topic is different.
450. Articulatory Phonetics. 2 credits.
451. Phonology I. 3 credits. |
