Linguistics Courses

Check the undergraduate catalog for further details.  See the Class Schedule for courses currently offered.  
LING 190 (cross-listed with MLL 190)
The World of Language: Structural and Biological Aspects
Language as a distinctive characteristic of the human species. In this course, we examine the structure of both written and spoken forms of language across cultures, comparing them with animal communication and human gestural systems. We explore language’s neurological basis, theories of origin, and first and second-language learning.
LING 191 (cross-listed with MLL 191)
The World of Language: Cultural and Social Aspects
Language as both a reflection and a determiner of social relationships. In this course, we examine the varying idioms of the scientist, the politician, the media, the poet, the child and the magician, and we investigate how language changes and how it marks social groups. Communication strategies and social taboos reflected in language are discussed for various cultures. 
LING 210
Introduction to Language Structures
An introduction to the relationship between form and meaning across languages; basic notions in phonology, morphology, syntax, and semantics. Practical exercises are drawn from a variety of languages. This course and LING 290 are designed as gateway courses to the Applied Linguistics major.
LING 230 (cross-listed with MLL 230)
World Language Communities

A course designed to expand the cultural awareness of students by introducing them to the study of language in a broad context of historical, political and social issues. Special emphasis is placed on the question of bi- or multi-lingual states and on the explosiveness of the language issue in many regions.
LING 290
Introduction to Applied Linguistics
A survey of the many areas in which the study of language intersects with the analysis of social and psychological issues. Readings and discussions on language learning and processing, bilingualism, attitudes toward language varieties, language hygiene, cryptology, natural language processing, and the structure of everyday conversation.
LING 310
Phonology and Morphology
A survey of sound systems, phonological and morphological processes across a range of languages. The principles of modern phonology and morphology are examined, and phonological and morphological data are analyzed and interpreted within those principles. Prerequisite: LING 210 with a grade of C or better.
LING 320
Syntax
The principles of the scientific description of sentences within the framework of generative grammar. Strong emphasis on the analysis of linguistic data, formulation of hypotheses, and scientific argumentation, with special reference to English and other languages. Prerequisite: LING 190 and LING 210, both with a grade of C or better.
LING 330
Language in Context
An examination of the principles that govern language use. This course studies linguistic performance issues, particularly the ways in which context influences the shape and meaning of utterances. Pragmatics, discourse analysis, and conversation analysis provide the theoretical orientations for an in-depth examination of language in action. Students will complete an original research paper.  Prerequisite: MLL 301 with a grade of C or better; recommended preparation: LING 210.
LING 350
Historical Linguistics
An investigation of various aspects of language change over time, relatedness between languages, the reconstruction of earlier stages of a language, and the factors, both internal and external, that motivate language change. Prerequisite: LING 210 with a grade of C or better.
LING 360
Sociolinguistics and Dialectology
The ways in which forms of language vary across space, across boundaries of class and ethnicity, etc., and the ongoing processes of change that are shaping both language and social relations. Attitudes toward language diversity. Many of the concepts introduced in class are applied to a study of English as it is spoken in Maryland. Prerequisite: One of the following: LING 190, 191, 210, with a grade of C or better.
LING 390
Linguistic Typology
This course investigates the crosslinguistic distribution of structural properties in phonology, morphology, syntax, and lexicon, in terms of absolute and non-absolute universals as well as implicational universals: what properties do languages share and what is the extent of structural diversity. Motivations for crosslinguistic structural
preferences are considered, as well as typological change over time. Prerequisite: LING 310 and LING 320 with a grade of C or better.
LING 401
Pragmatics
The course investigates the linguistic and semiotic underpinnings of human communication: the sorts of structuring that communicative codes themselves impose on interaction, the social constraints within which human communication operates and the role context plays in understanding the complexities of discourse. Prerequisite: MLL 301 and  LING 210 with a grade of C or better.
LING 410
Language Planning
This course examines the language planning choices that have been made in a variety of multilingual settings in the world, with particular reference to the role of ethnic or national identity. It also identifies the impact of those choices on the political, cultural, educational, and socioeconomic domains. Prerequisite: MLL 230 or LING 290 or LING 360 with a grade of C or better.
LING 450
Workshop in Applied Linguistics
A linguistic investigation of the structure of several uncommonly-taught languages. Students elicit language data from native-speaker informants, construct a corpus of data in IPA transcription, and analyze the data linguistically, applying principles acquired in previous LING courses. Prerequisite: LING 310 and LING 320, both with a grade of C or better.
LING 470
Language and Cognition
This course examines the implications of current linguistic theory and research for first and second language acquisition, language disorders, aphasia studies and speech therapy. Prerequisites: LING 310 and LING 320, both with a grade of C or better.
LING 490
Seminar in Applied Linguistics
Advanced research in a particular topic in applied linguistics. Students are expected to give frequent oral reports and to complete work on a theory-significant and original term paper. Prerequisite: Two LING courses at the 300 or 400 level with a grade of C or better.