The Department of Linguistics offers a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Linguistics with a Concentration in Signed Language Studies. This degree option is offered for students who wish to major in linguistics and specialize in the study of American Sign Language (ASL) and the linguistic analysis of other signed languages. Students receive a solid foundation in core linguistic knowledge areas such as phonology, morphology, semantics, and discourse.
The BA in Linguistics with a Concentration in Signed Language Studies requires a minimum of 36 hours in courses numbered above 200 (24 required, 12 in approved electives) and four semesters of American Sign Language*. Required courses are described below. The 12 hours in approved electives must be approved by the department advisor.
Ling 322. Grammatical Analysis.
(Also offered as Anth 318.) Principles of morphological and syntactic analysis and the theory of grammar, descriptive analysis of grammatical structures, and problems from selected languages.
*Sign 305. Signed Language Linguistics.
Examines linguistic research on signed languages, primarily ASL: phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, and semantics. Also covers signed language sociolinguistics, psycholinguistics, language acquisition (first and second), and neurolinguistics.
Ling 331. Language in Society.
Cross-cultural view of speech varieties as they reflect social organization. Topics: social dialects, societal multilingualism, language contact, language attitudes, language policy and planning.
— OR —
Ling 359. Language and Culture.
Examination of the interrelations of language and speech with other selected aspects of culture and cognition.
Ling 367. Psychology of Language.
Theoretical and methodological issues in psycholinguistics, including comprehension, speech perception and production, language acquisition, bilingualism, brain and language, reading.
Ling 412. Morphology.
And introduction to principles underlying structure of words and paradigms in languages of different types. How word structure reflects cognitive organization and how it is affected by child language acquisition and historical change.
Ling 425. Semantic Analysis.
An introduction to the study of sentence and word level meaning in the languages of the world, emphasizing the role of speaker and hearer, linguistic and extralinguistic context, lexical semantics, and grammatical meaning.
— OR —
Ling 429. Discourse Analysis.
Introduction to the relationship of morphosyntax to the structure of discourse in the languages of the world. Topics: method and theory in the analysis of spoken and written discourse; basic notions such as topic, focus, and cohesion.
Sign 352. Language and Culture in the Deaf Community.
An introduction to Deaf culture. Examines the language, education, social and political aspects, and art forms of Deaf people from an anthropological point of view.
Sign 355. Deaf History and Literature.
A study of the history of Deaf people, the Deaf community, and an overview of all genres of Deaf literature.
* The four semester ASL requirement consists of SIGN 201, 201, 211, and 310, or the equivalent. See the interpreting program course descriptions for more information. Any equivalent must be approved by the SLS program advisor.
(Also offered as Anth 318.) Principles of morphological and syntactic analysis and the theory of grammar, descriptive analysis of grammatical structures, and problems from selected languages.
*Sign 305. Signed Language Linguistics.
Examines linguistic research on signed languages, primarily ASL: phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, and semantics. Also covers signed language sociolinguistics, psycholinguistics, language acquisition (first and second), and neurolinguistics.
Ling 331. Language in Society.
Cross-cultural view of speech varieties as they reflect social organization. Topics: social dialects, societal multilingualism, language contact, language attitudes, language policy and planning.
— OR —
Ling 359. Language and Culture.
Examination of the interrelations of language and speech with other selected aspects of culture and cognition.
Ling 367. Psychology of Language.
Theoretical and methodological issues in psycholinguistics, including comprehension, speech perception and production, language acquisition, bilingualism, brain and language, reading.
Ling 412. Morphology.
And introduction to principles underlying structure of words and paradigms in languages of different types. How word structure reflects cognitive organization and how it is affected by child language acquisition and historical change.
Ling 425. Semantic Analysis.
An introduction to the study of sentence and word level meaning in the languages of the world, emphasizing the role of speaker and hearer, linguistic and extralinguistic context, lexical semantics, and grammatical meaning.
— OR —
Ling 429. Discourse Analysis.
Introduction to the relationship of morphosyntax to the structure of discourse in the languages of the world. Topics: method and theory in the analysis of spoken and written discourse; basic notions such as topic, focus, and cohesion.
Sign 352. Language and Culture in the Deaf Community.
An introduction to Deaf culture. Examines the language, education, social and political aspects, and art forms of Deaf people from an anthropological point of view.
Sign 355. Deaf History and Literature.
A study of the history of Deaf people, the Deaf community, and an overview of all genres of Deaf literature.
* The four semester ASL requirement consists of SIGN 201, 201, 211, and 310, or the equivalent. See the interpreting program course descriptions for more information. Any equivalent must be approved by the SLS program advisor.