APLN500: Language and Linguistics

An overview of the study of language and linguistics intended to provide students with a clear understanding of human language and with the conceptual foundations of linguistics. The course will expose students to several major areas within linguistics: language acquisition, phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics and pragmatics. It will introduce the major tenets and principles of linguistics without surveying the areas treated in the other graduate courses in the department. It is a prerequisite for all other courses in the M.A. program. 3 sh.

APLN502: Sociolinguistics

The study of language in its social context with a focus on language variation. Topics include language and social class, language and ethnicity, language and gender, and the study of standard versus nonstandard varieties of language. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: APLN 500.

APLN504: Syntax

An investigation of the findings of theoretical syntax and the valuable insights which these provide for syntactic analysis in language teaching, for language-learning texts, for translation, for work in artificial intelligence, etc. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: APLN 500.

APLN505: Semantics and Pragmatics

An exploration of the main tenets of contemporary semantics and pragmatics, the areas of linguistics that examine various aspects of meaning. The course investigates the boundaries between semantics and pragmatics by studying utterance meaning as well as lexical and sentence meaning. Students will learn about the applications of semantics and pragmatics to a variety of areas of applied linguistics. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: APLN 500.

APLN506: Phonetics and Phonology

The study of the basic principles of phonetics and phonology, and the relevance of these principles to a variety of applications, including foreign-language teaching, speech pathology, and the analysis and synthesis of speech by computer. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: APLN 500.

APLN508: Research Design in Applied Linguistics

A course to train students in research design, methodology and data collection procedures. Students learn basic skills which prepare them for administrative and research positions in fields such as language planning, ESL curriculum evaluation and language learning measurement. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: APLN 500.

APLN510: Discourse Analysis

An investigation of the techniques used in discourse analysis, the branch of linguistics which studies how to analyze naturally occurring connected speech. Discourse analysis is the study of the organization of language above the sentence level including the structure of conversations. It considers language in a social context, in particular the language used in verbal interactions. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: APLN 500.

APLN512: Cross-Cultural Discourse Analysis

A discourse analytic examination and comparison of the verbal practices and communicative strategies of different linguistic, social, and cultural groups. Students will broaden their understanding of discourse analysis by investigating verbal interactions that take place in different languages and within a variety of cultural contexts. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: APLN 510.

APLN518: Forensic Linguistics

The study of the role of the linguist in the field of law. The course analyzes the difference between "truth" as defined by science and by the law. It describes how linguists can serve as "expert witnesses" in civil cases and in a wide range of criminal investigations. It also explores how dialect study, discourse analysis, lexical analysis, phonetics, pragmatics, etc. can provide linguistic evidence crucial to litigation. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: APLN 500.

APLN520: Current Theories of Second Language Acquisition

An in-depth analysis of the processes of child and adult second language acquisition (SLA) and how it differs from first language acquisition and the implications of these theories for the teaching and learning of second languages. The application of sociolinguistics and psycholinguistics to language teaching. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: APLN 500.

APLN522: Sociocultural Theory and Second Language Acquisition/Learning

An examination of the basic tenets of sociocultural theory of mind and their application to various aspects of second language acquisition/learning. The results of recent studies present evidence that collaborative mental activity carried out through linguistic means promotes second language learning. At the core of this theory is the principle of linguistically mediated cognition; that is, growth in mental abilities is mediated through language working in collaboration with others. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: APLN 500.

APLN524: Advanced Structure of American English

A detailed analysis of the phonological and grammatical structures of American English; advanced study of the social and stylistic varieties of American English; various theories of English grammar are studied. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: APLN 500.

APLN525: Methodology of Teaching ESL

The study of current issues in the teaching of English as a Second Language. Issues may include innovative teaching methodologies, the application of language learning theories to classroom teaching and the adaptation and development of instructional materials. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: APLN 500.

APLN526: Computer-Assisted Language Instruction

Designed for prospective and experienced foreign language and ESL teachers who are interested in exploring the following areas: the use of network-based computer instruction; authentic interactive language instruction via the World Wide Web; and the use and evaluation of currently available software and CD Roms for teaching second and foreign languages. This course is intended to introduce students to the use of computer-mediated language instruction and to the evaluation and selection of software for language learning. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: APLN 500.

APLN528: Language Testing and Assessment

Basic concepts of testing: reliability, validity, correlation, etc. Statistical concepts: correlation coefficient, standard deviation, etc. Testing individual language skills: listening, reading, writing and oral proficiency. Testing communicative competence. Measuring language dominance in bilingualism. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: APLN 520 and 525.

APLN530: Language Policy and Language Planning

The study of the problems facing multilingual societies. The course explores the function of standard languages and the competition which often exists among different populations and languages. Topics include the role of language in ethnic loyalty, the dynamics of language loss and maintenance and the linguistic, economic, sociological, political and educational aspects of language planning. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: APLN 500.

APLN532: Language and Culture in Minority Education

An investigation of the intimate connection between language, culture, and ethnic pride and identity. Study of the communication problems faced by bilingual children due to differences in verbal and non-verbal patterns of communication; survey of various instructional methods and models employed in teaching children from different linguistic and cultural backgrounds; study of the correlation between language and various socio-cultural factors. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: APLN 500.

APLN534: Languages in Contact

A study of the effects of bilingualism and multilingualism on society and on the languages involved. By examining a variety of examples, students become familiar with the possible outcomes of language contact and with the factors that play a role in language-policy decisions in multilingual societies. Pidgins and creoles are also studied. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: APLN 500.

APLN535: Language Policy in Nations in Transition

This course explores the language policy issues that arise in nations in transitions, the ways in which such countries have dealt with or are dealing with these issues, and the outcomes of their actions. The general approach will be to examine a variey of contemporary and historical case studies--i.e. cases of language policy formation in developing countries around the world. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: APLN 500.

APLN536: Languages of the USA

A survey of the indigenous, colonial, and immigrant languages of the U.S. and how they are used in education and general communication. Also studied are factors affecting the maintenance or loss of languages and the shift from native languages to English with discussion of the mutual effects of language contact. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: APLN 500.

APLN538: Cross-Cultural Perspectives on Language Socialization

A cross-cultural analysis of how children are socialized to use language and how children are socialized through the use of language. Investigates how children learn about their culture through learning their language. Connects the phenomenon of language acquisition to the belief-system and family structure within a society. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: APLN 500.

APLN540: Literacy

An exploration of the nature of written language and its role in cognition and in social and intellectual life. The linguistic, psychological, and functional differences between speaking, writing, and reading are studied. Literate and nonliterate societies are examined. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: APLN 500.

APLN542: Cross-cultural Perspectives on Literacy

An overview of how reading and writing are acquired among various societies throughout the world and what educational implications this knowledge has in applied contexts, such as in the teaching of English as a Second Language. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: APLN 500.

APLN544: Linguistics and Reading

A study of the insights into the reading process provided by the linguist's description of what the speaker knows about language; an analysis of what the process of language acquisition tells us about the process by which children learn to read; an investigation of the connection between dialect differences and reading difficulties and an exploration of the contribution that linguistics makes for teaching second language learners to read English. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: APLN 500.

APLN550: Computational Linguistics

A survey of the field of existing computer systems for analyzing natural language. The following areas are covered: parsing, semantic analysis and discourse analysis. Students will be required to analyze human language using a specific programming language such as PROLOG, LISP, or Pascal. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: APLN 500.

APLN552: Current Issues in Natural Language Processing

An investigation of the two methodologies that dominate speech and natural language processing: rule-based and probabilistic system design. The two methodologies will be compared in light of their suitability for language processing applications in syntactic and morphological analysis, speech synthesis and recognition, and text classification and information retrieval. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: ALPN 500.

APLN560: Translation Theory

An exploration of the principles involved in providing semantic "equivalents" between two languages, emphasizing the problems of translating a variety of different types of texts which reflect major cross-cultural differences. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: APLN 500.

APLN565: Lexicography

The study of the principles of compiling dictionaries. Topics include: the collection and evaluation of citations, semantic fields, defining, recording pronunciations, and determining usage. Attention will be paid to the differences among different types of dictionaries. Sample dictionaries are examined and students carry out their own lexicographic project. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: APLN 500.

APLN570: The Structure of American Sign Language

The study of American sign language, or ASL, the manual language of many deaf Americans. This course approaches ASL from a linguistic perspective, examining its semantics, grammar, and "phonology", and comparing ASL with English and other spoken languages. ASL is also compared with other manual languages used in America, including signed English and "total communication". The educational implications of ASL and other manual languages are discussed. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: APLN 500.

APLN590: Selected Topics in Applied Linguistics

An intensive study in a particular area of applied linguistics to address topics not covered in other courses. Topics reflect current issues in applied linguistics. May be repeated once for a maximum of 6.0 credits as long as the topic is different. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: APLN 500.

APLN594: Independent Study

This course allows MA students to explore areas in Applied Linguistics that are not covered in the normal course offerings. May be repeated for a maximum of 6.0 credits. 1 - 3 sh.

Prerequisites: Departmental approval.

APLN596: Independent Study

This course allows MA students to explore areas in Applied Linguistics that are not covered in the normal course offerings. May be repeated for a maximum of 6.0 credits. 1 - 3 sh.

Prerequisites: Departmental approval.

APLN605: Research Questions in Applied Linguistics

Research on an approved topic or on an approved reading list in Applied Linguistics. For this requirement, students write a paper based on a research topic that they choose or write a response to a research topic provided to them based on readings that they choose. The papers and/or responses will be read and approved by three faculty members. For this final research requirement, students give an oral presentation at a Linguistics Department colloquium. A grade of In Progress (IP) will be used until the research is completed; may be repeated two times. 1 sh.

Prerequisites: All other required courses for the M.A. degree in Applied Linguistics.