LINGUISTICS at UMW

Faculty

• Assistant Professor Paul D. Fallon, Ph.D. Ohio State University (phonology, morphology, historical linguistics, writing systems)
• Professor Christina Kakava, Ph.D. Georgetown University (sociolinguistics, discourse analysis, cross-cultural communication).
• Professor Judith Parker, Ph.D. Brown University (psycholinguistics, speech processing, women's studies).

Linguistics faculty and students at a recent gathering.

Linguistics courses

For course descriptions, please click here

101 – Introduction to Linguistics (3)
202 – Cross-Cultural Communication (3)
205 - Writing Systems of the World (3) (formerly LING 251A)
251 – Issues in Linguistics (3)
301 – Introduction to Psycholinguistics (3)
302 – Introduction to Sociolinguistics and Anthropological Linguistics (3)
305 – Linguistics and Text (3)
307 – Language and Gender (3)
309 - Introduction to Phonology (3) (formerly LING 375C)
310 - History of the English Language (3) (formerly LING 375D)
311 - Introduction to Morphology (3) (formerly LING 375E)
312 - Language Acquisition (3)
375 – Special Studies (3)
470 – Seminar in Linguistics (3)

Past seminars have included:
Accents of English
Discourse Analysis
Language and Conflict
Language and Identity
Language and Speech
Narrative and Identity
Narrative Development
Speech, Narrative, and Emotion

480: Seminar in Language and Speech
491, 492 – Individual Study in Linguistics (3, 3)
499 – Internship (1–6)

Linguistics courses are integrated into the college curriculum as follows:

1. General Education Requirements
   LING101: Introduction to Linguistics
2. Teacher Certification Requirements
   LING101: Introduction to Linguistics
3. Across-the-Curriculum Requirements

• Global Awareness
  LING 202: Cross-Cultural Communication
  LING 251: Writing Systems of the World (effective Fall 2006)
• Race and Gender
  LING 302: Introduction to Sociolinguistics and Anthropological Linguistics
  LING 305: Language and Text
• Speaking Intensive
  LING 301, LING 302, LING 305
  LING 470 seminars (Speaking Intensive)

Linguistics courses are integrated into the English major as follows (though please note the new requirements at http://www.umw.edu/cas/els/english/default.php):

1. Linguistics Requirements (6 credits)
   LING 101 (3 credits)
   a 300-level linguistics course
2. Seminar Requirements
   LING 470 (any seminar in linguistics fulfills the English major requirement)
3. Electives
   All 300- and 400-level linguistics courses

Special major

The option for a Special Major is available to any student who wants to combine linguistics with at least one more discipline (e.g. psychology, sociology, Spanish). The Special Major involves 30-40 credits and includes a capstone course experience (a linguistics seminar or individual study in linguistics).

Linguistics majors Anne Zeigler and Katie Earnshaw present on Southern Welsh syllable structure.

 

Laboratories

The ELC Department has a 3-laboratory suite: a speech-recording lab, observation/control room, and a research lab for audio and video recording. Equipment includes the Kay Elemetrics Computerized Speech Laboratory (CSL 4400) hardware and software system, 2 Dell computers, 1 Macintosh computer, video cameras, VCRs, DAT recorders, 5 Marantz PMD-660 solid-state digital recorders, and additional software and hardware for conducting speech processing and social interaction research. Additional laboratories also include some linguistics software.

Undergraduate Research

Students have engaged in group research on child language and sexual assault and abuse narratives. They have also undertaken individual research projects involving fieldwork and have engaged in community-service learning.

The College has a generous program for undergraduate research that has funded students' travel to present at conferences (e.g. Harvard Undergraduate Linguistics Colloquium, SECOL, National Association of Undergraduate Research, Southeastern Psychological Association, and Virginia Women's Studies Association), and has paid for students' attendance at linguistics conferences (e.g. Georgetown Roundtable on Languages and Linguistics), and research expenses (e.g. tape-recorders, research participants, advertising).

Special Major Simon Stevens analyzes the Armenian vowel shift.

Linguistics Speaker Series

This program brings to campus distinguished linguists (e.g. Marc Okrand, Ron Scollon, Deborah Tannen, Roger Shuy, William Frawley, Frank Abate, and John Baugh). Please click on the sidebar on the left for current information on our next speaker.

Major Accomplishments in Linguistics

• More than 30 students have created special majors in Linguistics in the past decade.
• More than 230 students take Linguistics 101 a year.
• More than 180 students take a 200-, 300-, or 400- level each year, with many students taking as many as 4-5 courses in linguistics without being special majors in linguistics.
• Students have taken numerous individual studies and internships.
• Special majors in linguistics and English majors taking linguistics courses have presented at national and regional conferences.
• Special majors in Linguistics and English majors have entered graduate programs in such fields as Linguistics, English as a second Language, speech/language pathology, audiology, and computer science (e.g. Brown University, University of Virginia, University of Florida, George Mason University, Georgetown University, University of North Carolina/Greensboro, University of Texas/Austin, University of Texas/Dallas).