UNDERGRADUATE CATALOG 2001–2002
 Brigham Young University
Back Linguistics

   

John S. Robertson, Chair
Lynn E. Henrichsen, Associate Chair
2129 JKHB, (801) 378-2937

College of Humanities Advisement Center
3078 JKHB, (801) 378-4789

Admission to Degree Program

All undergraduate degree programs in the Department of Linguistics are open enrollment.

The Discipline

Linguistics is the study of language in all its aspects—from speech sounds to sentence formation to meaning; from how language is organized and used in a social setting to how it is organized and processed in the brain or by computers. Linguists study language form, language change, language acquisition, and even the texts in which language is recorded. Linguists recognize that the communicative power of language is what brings cohesion to all human enterprises. For the student interested in the nature of language, linguistics is the subject to study.

The science of linguistics has many real-world applications, including translation, information storage/retrieval, lexicography, and language teaching. In addition to its major in general linguistics, BYU's Department of Linguistics offers undergraduate minor programs (as well as graduate degrees) in several of these areas.

Career Opportunities

A linguistics degree with an emphasis in computers may lead to jobs in high technology, e.g., machine translation, information retrieval, speech recognition and production software, and lexicography. Linguistics is also recognized as a strong specialization for those pursuing a career in military intelligence or technical writing. The teaching of English to speakers of other languages is another applied linguistics area of high demand, both within the United States and around the world (see further description under TESOL below).

In addition, linguistics is an excellent preparatory discipline for those planning graduate studies in areas as diverse as law, international business, tourism, library science, TESOL, communicative disorders, and speech pathology, not to mention graduate studies in specific languages or in linguistics itself.

Graduation Requirements

To receive a bachelor's degree a student must fill three groups of requirements: (1) general education requirements; (2) university requirements; and (3) major requirements.

General Education Requirements

Students should contact their college advisement center for information about general education courses that will also fill major requirements.

Languages of Learning

Precollege Math (zero to one course)
(or Math ACT score of at least 22)
0–3.0 hours
First-Year Writing (one course) 3.0
Advanced Writing (one course) 3.0
Advanced Languages/Math/Music
(one to four courses)
3–20.0

Liberal Arts Core

Biological Science (one to two courses) 3–6.0
Physical Science (one to two courses) 3–7.0
American Heritage (one to two courses) 3–6.0
Wellness (one to three courses) 1.5–2.0
Civilization (two courses) 6.0

Arts and Sciences Electives

Arts and Letters (one course) 3.0
Natural Sciences (one course) 3–4.0
Social and Behavioral Sciences (one course) 3.0

Note 1: For a complete list of courses that will fill each GE category, see the General Education section of the current class schedule.

Note 2: Additional information about general education requirements can be found in the General Education section of the current class schedule or this catalog.

Minimum University Requirements

Religion 14.0
Residency 30.0
Hours needed to graduate 120.0

Cumulative GPA must be at least 2.0.

Note: See the Graduation section of this catalog for more information.

Major Requirements

Complete the major requirements listed under one of the following undergraduate degree programs.

Undergraduate Programs and Degrees

BA Linguistics
Minors Computers and the Humanities
Linguistics
Language and Computers
TESOL
TESOL (K–12)

Students should see their college advisement center for help or information concerning the undergraduate programs.

Graduate Programs and Degrees

MA Linguistics
Cert TESOL
MA TESOL

For more information see the BYU 2001–2002 Graduate Catalog.



BA Linguistics (44-53 hours*)

Major Requirements

  1. No D credit is allowed in major courses.

  2. Complete the following courses:
    Ling 230, 330, 420, 430, 450, 490.

  3. Complete 12 credit hours ( to a 201-level or higher) of university-level course work (or the equivalent) in a single non-Indo-European or a Slavic language. Students who are minoring in a non-IE language (see item 4a below) or who are native speakers of such a language may fill this requirement with any other foreign language by taking classes or by passing a special examination after taking a culminating culture class. Native speakers of non-IE languages may elect to use English to fill this requirement. If they choose to earn the credit by special examination, they must take Engl 230, 232, or Hum 261, or an equivalent class as their culminating culture course. If they choose to earn the credit by taking classes, they must enroll for ESL 301, 302, 303, 304.

  4. Complete one of the following options:

    • Complete an approved university minor in one of the following areas: foreign language (cannot be the same as item 3 above), TESOL, language and computers, computers and the humanities, or speech pathology.

    • Complete 15 hours selected from any of the courses listed below or approved by the Linguistics Department:
      Anthr 309, 420.
      CHum 180, 280, 281, 287, 381, 383, 385, 387.
      Engl 324, 325, 326.
      Ling 480.
      Phil 420.
      Psych 375, 376.

*Hours include courses that may fulfill GE or university requirements.



Minor Computers and the Humanities (CHum)(16 hours)

Minor Requirements

  1. Complete the following:
    CHum 180, 281.

    Note: CHum 180 is prerequisite to all other CHum courses.

  2. Complete 9 hours from the following:
    CHum 280, 287, 381, 383, 385, 387, 490R (with coordinator approval.)
    Ling 480.

  3. Complete 3 hours of the following:
    CHum 489R.



Minor Linguistics (15 hours)

Minor Requirements

  1. Complete the following courses:
    Ling 230, 330, 450.

  2. Complete 6 hours of electives from other Linguistics Department course work in consultation with a department advisor.



Minor Language and Computers (16 hours)

Minor Requirements

  1. Complete the following:
    CHum 180, 280, 287.
    Ling 230.

  2. Complete 6 hours from the following:
    CHum 281, 381, 383, 385, 387, 489R (3 hours), 490R (with coordinator approval).
    Ling 480.



Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)

The Discipline

Preparation to teach English to speakers of other languages involves multidisciplinary course work in a number of areas, including linguistics, language acquisition, teaching methods and materials, educational programs, and computer-assisted instruction.

BYU offers two TESOL minors to accommodate prospective teachers with differing career goals. The first minor is designed to prepare teachers of English as a second or foreign language in general and offers students the flexibility to choose an emphasis in keeping with their professional interests. The second, TESOL (K–12), focuses on teaching students of limited English proficiency who are in the public schools of the United States.

Career Opportunities

TESOL minors are qualified for many overseas positions teaching English as a foreign language. They may also work in various ESL and bilingual education programs in the United States and other English-speaking countries. Possible teaching settings range from adult education classes to special courses for immigrant school children. The TESOL (K–12) minor (designed for TESOL minors who wish to teach in the public school system) has been approved by the Utah State Board of Education as leading to the Utah State ESL endorsement. Earning this endorsement will enhance the career possibilities of teachers holding an elementary or secondary state teaching credential.



Minor TESOL (16 hours)

Minor Requirements

  1. Complete the following:
    Ling 230, 440, 460, 471, 472.

  2. Complete one course from the following:
    CHum 281.
    Engl 325, 329.
    Ling 330, 496R.



Minor TESOL (K–12) (21 hours)

Minor Requirements

  1. Complete the following:
    Ling 230, 440, 460, 471, 472.
    MFHD 340.

  2. Complete one course from the following:
    ElEd 450.
    ScEd 450.

  3. Complete at least 3 credit hours' worth of time in an ESL situation and/or working with limited-English-proficiency (LEP) students while enrolled in ElEd 477R or ScEd 477R.



English as a Second Language (ESL)

Class Schedule

Undergraduate Courses

301. Advanced Academic English for International Students. (3:3:1) For bilingual foreign students.

Integrated skills course for non native English speakers, primarily focused on academic listening, speaking, and the basic skills needed for succes at an American university.

302. Advanced English Pronunciation for International Students. (3:3:0) For bilingual foreign students.

Improving the speaking ability of nonnative English students, emphasizing rhetorical and communication strategies, pronunciation, stress, rhythm, intonation, and fluency.

303. College Reading and Study Skills for International Students. (3:3:0) For bilingual foreign students.

Learning strategies to improve reading speed and to understand materials used in university classes. Should be taken during the first year (for non native English speakers).

304. Academic Writing for International Students. (3:3:1) For bilingual foreign students.

Learning how to write essays, reports, and research papers acceptable in an American university. Should be taken before Engl 115 (for non native English speakers).

404. ESL Advanced Composition. (3:3:0)

Research and writing techniques for prethesis work. For graduate ESL students.



Computers and the Humanities (CHum)

Class Schedule

Undergraduate Courses

98. Basic Academic Word Processing Skills. (0:2:0)

Introduction to academic computer skills, focusing on programs for writing student papers (no technical background necessary). Fee.

180. Humanities Computing Survey. (1:1:1)

Open to all majors. Survey of how computer software packages are used in humanities disciplines: for computer-based instruction, for academic publishing, and as research tools.

280. Basic Humanities Computing Skills. (3:3:0) Prerequisite: CHum 180 or computer experience.

Software applications for computer-based instruction, academic publishing, and research; introduction to programming new applications.

281. Computers and Teaching 1. (3:3:0) Prerequisite: CHum 180 or computer experience.

Recommended for teaching majors and minors. Applying computer technology to teaching: designing, authoring, and evaluating computer-based instructional materials for lab and classroom use.

287. Programming Humanities Applications 1. (3:3:0) Prerequisite: CHum 180 or computer experience.

Computer programming for language and humanities applications in a visual environment: data types, character representation, flow of control, file input/output, string manipulation.

381. Computers and Teaching 2. (3:3:0) Prerequisite: CHum 281.

Advanced applications of computer technology to teaching: integrating digital graphics, sound, and video; hypertext and hypermedia; computer-based testing; network applications.

383. Computers and Academic Publishing. (3:3:0) Prerequisite: CHum 180 or word processing experience.

Applications of computer technology to writing and publishing beyond basic word processing: scholarly publications, journals and newsletters, desktop publishing, electronic publishing on the Internet.

385. Computer Research Tools and Methods. (3:3:0) Prerequisite: CHum 180 or computer experience.

Applications of computer technology to research in language and literature: quantitative analysis, text data processing, corpora, databases, on-line resources, statistics, evaluation.

387. Programming Humanities Applications 2. (3:3:0) Prerequisite: CHum 287.

Advanced computer programming for the humanities: advanced string manipulation and format conversions, data structures, integrating modules written in another programming language, software design, performance issues.

489R. Humanities Computing Project. (1–3:Arr.:0 ea.) Prerequisite: any 300-level computers in the humanities course.

Applying principles from other courses to a substantial research or development project. Students work individually with faculty and technical advisors.

490R. Humanities Computing Seminar. (1–3:Arr.:0 ea.) Prerequisite: instructor's consent.

Individual or group study of current issues and developments in humanities computing. Extended readings; research or project required. Pass/fail grade only.



Linguistics (Ling)

Class Schedule Major Academic Plan (MAP)

Undergraduate Courses

230. Language, Mind, and the World. (3:3:0)

Broad overview of language as the medium that makes thinking, understanding, communications, and teaching possible.

330. Introduction to Linguistics (Modern). (3:3:0) Prerequisite: Ling 230.

Basic understanding of linguistic systems. Phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, and pragmatics.

377R. Basic Training in TESOL. (1–3:Arr.:Arr. ea.)

Basic preparation to teach English to speakers of other languages. Modular in nature, the course offers credit according to number of modules completed.

399R. Academic Internship: Linguistics. (1–9:0:0 ea.) Prerequisite: program coordinator's consent.

On-the-job experience and education related to linguistics.

420. Phonetics. (3:3:0) Prerequisite: Ling 330.

General inventory of speech sounds possible in language, from both an acoustic and articulatory point of view.

430. Theoretical Syntax. (3:3:0) Prerequisite: Ling 330 or Engl 328.

Theoretical comparison and contrast of different sentence types. Methods of argument to develop and critique generative theories of lexical categories, grammatical roles, and syntactic structure.

440. Understanding Language Acquisition. (2:2:0) Prerequisite: Ling 230; ElEd 450 or ScEd 450.

Processes and variables in native- and second-language development. How teachers can foster efficient acquisition of language, cognitive, and academic skills in second-language environments.

450. Introduction to Historical- Comparative Linguistics. (3:3:0) Prerequisite: Ling 330.

Theory and method of language change via comparison of daughter languages and reconstruction of their ancestral language: phonological, morphological, semantic, and lexical.

460. Assessment for Linguistically Diverse Students. (2:2:0) Prerequisite: Ling 230; ElEd 450 or ScEd 450.

Fundamental concepts in testing, use/interpretation of current instruments for language/academic assessment, appropriate placement of linguistically diverse students, and developing classroom language assessments.

471. Methods and Strategies for Developing Second-Language Skills. (3:3:0) Prerequisite: Ling 230; ElEd 450 or ScEd 450.

Instructional methods, strategies, and materials for integrating curriculum content and language instruction. Teaching, creating, and adapting lesson materials in a multicultural context.

472. Developing Second-Language Literacy Skills. (3:3:0) Prerequisite: Ling 230; ElEd 450 or ScEd 450.

Instructional strategies, methodologies, and materials for developing reading and writing skills in a second language. Developing cognitive academic language proficiency and integrating multiple cultural perspectives.

480. Problems in Translation. (3:3:0) Prerequisite: proficiency in a second language.

History, theory, and practice of human and machine translation.

490. Senior Seminar. (2:2:0) Prerequisite: Ling 330.

Reading and discussing major issues in linguistics.

496R. Academic Internship: TESOL. (1–9:0:0 ea.) Prerequisite: Ling 230, 440; 471 or 472.

Individualized work or volunteer experience in a domestic or international setting. International internships must be coordinated through Study Abroad. All internships require prior departmental approval.

500-Level Graduate Courses (available to advanced undergraduates)

500.Introduction to Research in TESOL. (3:3:0) Prerequisite: admission to TESOL graduate certificate or language acquisition MA program.

Research questions in language teaching and learning, literature review, research design, data collection, and interpretation. Understanding research methods as used in others' studies.

521. Phonology. (3:3:0) Prerequisite: Ling 330.

Distinctive values of speech sounds: their function in the communicative process. Analysis of phonological data via postulation of underlying forms and derivational rules.

535. Semantics. (3:3:0) Prerequisite: Ling 330.

Theory and practice of semantic analysis with special emphasis on Jakobsonian and Peircean semiotics.

540. Language Acquisition. (3:3:0) Prerequisite: Ling 330 or equivalent.

First- and second-language acquisition viewed in light of psycholinguistics and sociolinguistics.

545. Psycholinguistics. (3:3:0) Prerequisite: Ling 230 or equivalent.

How the mind interprets, stores, retrieves, and produces language. Anatomical structures and physiological processes of the brain dealing with language.

550. (Ling-Anthr) Sociolinguistics. (3:3:0)

Research and theory in anthropological linguistics and sociolinguistics.

551. (Ling-Anthr) Anthropological Linguistics. (3:3:0)

Language in culture and society: development, typology, and description.

555. Teaching Culture. (3:3:0)

What culture is, how it affects language learners and teachers, and development of U.S. lifestyle patterns.

558. Historical-Comparative Linguistics. (3:3:0) W, Sp Prerequisite: Ling 450 or equivalent.

Theory and method of language change via comparing daughter languages and reconstructing ancestral languages. Language universals and typology.

577. TESOL Methods and Materials. (4:4:1) Prerequisite: ESL 404 or native English speaker.

Foundation course surveying concepts, procedures, and techniques in second/foreign language teaching methodology and materials selection. Includes observing actual classes and participating in a mentored teaching practicum.

579. TESOL Student Teaching. (3:0:8) Prerequisite: Ling 577 and departmental consent.

Sustained and supervised practice teaching at the English Language Center.

580R. Problems in Linguistics and Applied Linguistics. (1–3:3:0 ea.) On dem.

Advanced research in language acquisition, sociolinguistics, psycholinguistics, linguistics field study, applied linguistics.

581. Natural Language Processing. (3:3:0) F Prerequisite: good programming skills in at least one language (preferably LISP, Prolog, C, C++, Perl, or Java) and a knowledge of basic discrete math. Upper-division linguistics/computers and the humanities students with less programming may enroll with instructor's consent.

Intensive overview of natural language processing, including computational techniques, hands-on experience with linguistic technologies and corpora, language modeling approaches, and readings from current research.

590R. Readings in Linguistics. (1–3:Arr.:0 ea.) Prerequisite: instructor's consent.

Individual study of current linguistic literature. Occasional discussion sessions with instructor and other class members. Pass/fail grade only.

595. Research Design in TESOL. (1:2:0) Prerequisite: Ling 500; admission to TESOL MA (thesis option) or language acquisition MA program; preliminary draft of rationale and review of literature for MA thesis.

Research design options for examining language acquisition and teaching. Designing research and writing the third chapter of the MA thesis. Students may enroll concurrently for up to 2 hours of Ling 699R (thesis) credit.

596. Research Design in Linguistics. (1:2:0) Prerequisite: admission to linguistics MA program.

Research options in linguistics. Selecting thesis topic and writing first chapters of MA thesis. Students may enroll concurrently for up to 2 hours of Ling 699R (thesis) credit.

599R. Academic Internship: Linguistics. (1–9:9:0 ea.) On dem.

On-the-job experience under faculty supervision, with department approval.

Graduate Courses

For 600- and 700-level courses, see the BYU 2001–2002 Graduate Catalog.



American Sign Language (ASL)

Class Schedule

Undergraduate Courses

(Available only through Evening Classes.)

101, 102. Conversation ASL, Parts 1 and 2. (4:4:1 ea.)

Basic ASL skills, both receptive and expressive. Basic conversation skill, emphasizing vocabulary building and pragmatics. Introduction to deafness and ASL.

201. ASL Grammar. (4:4:0)

Basic study of ASL structure and syntax. Beginning transcription.

202. Advanced ASL Grammar. (4:4:0) W even yr. Prerequisite: ASL 201.

Advanced ASL structure, including conversational skills.

301. Deaf Culture. (3:3:0)

Society and culture of the deaf community. Required course for obtaining language credit by examination.

302. Deaf Literature. (3:3:0) W on dem. Prerequisite: ASL 301.

Various genres of deaf literature. Introduction to analysis of ASL literary works.

431. Interpreting 1. (4:4:1) Independent Study also.

Building basic interpreting skills. Code of Ethics, interpreting protocol, and interpreting issues.

432. Interpreting 2. (4:4:1)

Various interpreting models; the interpreting process; building and applying interpreting skills.



Linguistics Faculty

Professors

Henrichsen, Lynn E. (1992) BA, MA, Brigham Young U., 1973, 1975; EdD, U. of Hawaii, Manoa, 1987.

Luthy, Melvin J. (1971) BS, Utah State U., 1962; PhD, Indiana U., Bloomington, 1967.

Manning, Alan D. (1994) BA, Brigham Young U., 1984; PhD, Louisiana State U., 1988.

Melby, Alan K. (1977) BS, MA, PhD, Brigham Young U., 1973, 1974, 1976.

Robertson, John S. (1977) BA, MA, Brigham Young U., 1967, 1970; PhD, Harvard U., 1976.

Senior Lecturer

Probst, Glen W. (1980) BA, MA, Brigham Young U., 1961, 1966; PhD, Ohio State U., 1969.

Associate Professors

Anderson, Neil J. (1997) BA, MA, Brigham Young U., 1979, 1980; PhD, U. of Texas, Austin, 1989.

Graham, Charles Ray (1980) BA, MA, Brigham Young U., 1967, 1969; PhD, U. of Texas, Austin, 1977.

Hallen, Cynthia L. (1991) BA, MA, Brigham Young U., 1980, 1982; PhD, U. of Arizona, 1991.

Assistant Professors

Gardner, Dee (1999) BA, MA, Brigham Young U., 1983, 1994; PhD, Northern Arizona U., 1999.

Lonsdale, Deryle W. (1997) BSc, U. of Alberta, Canada, 1981; MS, PhD, Carnegie Mellon U., 1992, 1997.

Shelley, Monte (1976) PhD, Brigham Young U., 1976.

Tanner, Mark W. (1993) BA, U. of Utah, 1982; MA, U. of Southern California, 1985; PhD, U. of Pennsylvania, 1991.

Assistant Lecturer

Strong-Krause, Diane (1979) BA, MA, Brigham Young U., 1975, 1976.

Special Instructors

Eslinger, Catherine (2000) BA, MA, Brigham Young U., 1997, 2000.

Isaak, Curtis (1998) BA, MA, Brigham Young U., 1992, 1998.

Jacob, Jenet (1999) BA, MA, Brigham Young U., 1997, 1999.

Slowinski, Patrick (1998) BA, MA, Brigham Young U., 1996, 1998.

Udall, Symonie (1999) BA, MA, Brigham Young U., 1991, 1999.

Wilson, Russell (2000) BA, MA, Brigham Young U., 1997, 2000.

Emeriti

Blair, Robert W. (1959) BA, MA, Brigham Young U., 1955, 1957; PhD, Indiana U., Bloomington, 1964.

Brown, Cheryl (1975) BA, MA, Utah State U., 1967, 1971; TESL Cert., Brigham Young U., 1974; PhD, U. of California, Los Angeles, 1983.

Cox, Soren (1955) BA, MA, Brigham Young U., 1952, 1956; PhD, U. of Minnesota, 1964.

Madsen, Harold S. (1970) BA, MA, U. of Utah, 1953, 1960; PhD, U. of Colorado, 1965.

Associate Linguists

The following are linguists in other departments who frequently teach linguistics courses in their own department or in the Department of Linguistics and who also serve on graduate and other committees for the Linguistics Department.
Asay, Devin (Humanities Research Center)
Baltes, Paul (English)
Belnap, R. Kirk (Asian and Near Eastern Languages)
Bourgerie, Dana (Asian and Near Eastern Languages)
Bush, Charles D. (Humanities Research Center)
Chapman, Don (English)
Christensen, Mathew (Asian and Near Eastern Languages)
Clegg, J. Halvor (Spanish and Portuguese)
Eggington, William G. (English)
Fails, Willis (Spanish and Portuguese)
Hart, David Kay (Germanic and Slavic Languages)
Hendricks, Harold (Humanities Research Center)
Jones, Randall L. (Germanic and Slavic Languages)
Larson, Jerry W. (Humanities Research Center)
Lund, Randall J. (Germanic and Slavic Languages)
Meredith, R. Alan (Spanish and Portuguese)
Oaks, Dallin D. (English)
Parkinson, Dilworth B. (Asian and Near Eastern Languages)
Russell, Robert A. (Asian and Near Eastern Languages)
Skousen, Royal (English)
Smith, Kim L. (Humanities Research Center)
Smith, Melvin R. (Humanities Research Center)
Teemant, Annela (Teacher Education)
Turley, Jeffrey S. (Spanish and Portuguese)
Watabe, Masakazu (Asian and Near Eastern Languages)






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