Computational linguistics addresses the problem of 'information overload,' the result of huge advances in processing speeds and memory size. This course shows the methods and techniques for automatically analyzing and modeling natural language data in order to redress the balance of information acquisition and information analysis, turning information into knowledge. The focus will be word-based, sentence- based and meaning-based computational approaches. Students will have the opportunity to practically apply their theoretical knowledge in a computer environment.

This course studies the historical development of language through time and space, examining the internal mechanisms and external influences involved in language change. Change will be examined at all levels: orthographic, phonetic, phonological, morphological, syntactic, semantic, and lexical. The course will also to investigate a variety of topics related to the phenomenon of language change; language classification; comparative linguistics; the reconstruction of linguistic systems; the social context of language change.

Linguistics stands at the intersection of social science, the natural sciences, and the humanities. As such, the investigation of linguistic phenomena requires a mixture of methods drawing on all of these epistemological traditions. This course is a companion to linguistics 611 and will provide an introduction to the full life cycle of conducting linguistics research with an emphasis on qualitative methodologies and the ways in which these methods interface with quantitative approaches.

Advanced investigation into a designated topic in linguistic theory and typology. May be repeated to a maximum of twelve credits under different subtitles.

Students are trained in research and professionalization related to the discipline of a linguistics. To that end students will create a 20-30 page research report as a culmination of a set of training milestones that include (1) producing an annotated bibliography, (2) writing an abstract, (3) reflecting on good practice in linguistics research, (4) publicly presenting research, and (5) reflecting on professional aspects of linguistics.

This course is an advanced survey of current areas of research in sociolinguistics. Topics include dialectology, language variation and change, ineractional sociolinguistics, language and gender, bilingualism, and language contact.

This course is an introduction to modern, model-theoretic approaches to natural language semantics. We examine a range of issues relating to the notions of meaning and truth in language; to the interface of semantics with syntax; and to the relation between semantics and pragmatics. Students attend a large number of essential lectures; participate in several discussions with their classmates; and submit several written analyses addressing specific problems in the semantics of English.

This course examines the phonetics of natural language, including both the articulation and acoustics of speech sounds and suprasegmental units. Discussion includes extensive reference to languages other than English.

This course is an advanced survey of current areas of research in linguistic anthropology. Topics include language and thought, cultural difference in linguistic interactions, the ethnography of communication, ritual uses of language and identify and cultural poetics.

This course is an introduction to the methods used in various approaches to discourse and textual analysis. The approaches examined include Speech Act Theory, Conversation Analysis, Ethnographic Discourse Analysis, Discourse Pragmatics, Interactional Sociolinguistics, Variation Analysis, and Critical Discourse Analysis. Special attention is given to practice experience analyzing both spoken and written discourse.