Course Catalog and Topics

UW Course Catalog

The UW Course Catalog, part of the Student Guide, lists all courses potentially taught by the department. Not every course in the catalog is available every quarter. To see scheduled courses, see Current & Upcoming.

The Department of Linguistics teaches courses in these three curricula:


Undergraduate Courses in Linguistics and Related Fields
Course Topics


Introductory Linguistics

The Linguistics department offers several survey courses that provide a broad introduction to the field of linguistics. For more information on choosing an introductory linguistics course, see the Introductory Classes page.

  • LING 200 Introduction to Linguistic Thought (5) I&S/VLPA, QSR
  • LING 203/ANTH 203 Introduction to Anthropological Linguistics (5) I&S/VLPA
  • LING 400 Survey of Linguistic Method and Theory (5) I&S/VLPA, QSR

The Linguistics department also offers introductory-level courses in specific areas of linguistics. Note that these courses may not count towards the linguistics majors or minor; see the Elective Requirement page.

  • LING 100 Fundamentals of Grammar (5) VLPA
  • LING 101 Fundamentals of Pronunciation for Language Learners (5) VLPA
  • LING/GERMAN 220 Origins of the Germanic Languages (5) VLPA
  • LING/ANTH/COM 233 Introduction to Language and Society (5) VLPA
  • LING 234 Language and Diversity (5) I&S

In addition, introductory linguistics courses are offered by a number of other departments. Prerequisites may apply, and some departments normally restrict courses to majors; contact department advisors for information.

  • ASIAN 401 Introduction to Asian Linguistics (5) VLPA
  • ENGL 370 English Language Study (5) VLPA
  • GERMAN 451 Linguistic Analysis of German (5) VLPA
  • JAPAN 440 Introduction to Japanese Linguistics (5) VLPA
  • SPAN 323 Introduction to Spanish Linguistics (5) VLPA
  • SPHSC 303 Language Science (3) VLPA

Animal Communication

Check the Psychology department listings in the Course Catalog for a variety of courses on animal communication and animal behavior. Prerequisites may apply, and some PSYCH courses are normally open only to PSYCH majors; contact PSYCH advising for information. Of particular interest:

  • PSYCH 416 Animal Communication (5) NW

Anthropological Linguistics

LING/ANTH 203 Introduction to Anthropological Linguistics (5) I&S/VLPA
Linguistic methods, theories used within anthropology. Basic structural features of language; human language and animal communication compared; evidence for the innate nature of language. Language and culture: linguistic relativism, ethnography of communication, sociolinguistics. Language and nationalism, language politics in the U.S. and elsewhere.

LING/ANTH/COM 233 Introduction to Language and Society (5) VLPA
Provides an introduction to the study of language through culture and society, and raises and awareness of the role that society and the individual play in shaping language via the systematic observation and critical discussion of linguistic phenomena.

Check the Anthropology and Communication department listings in the Course Catalog for a variety of courses on language and communication in social and anthropological context. Prerequisites may apply, and some ANTH and COM courses are normally open only to ANTH or COM majors; contact ANTH or COM advising for information. Of particular interest:

ANTH 358 Culture and Cognition (5) I&S/NW
Surveys anthropological theories and research on the relationship between language, thought, and behavior. Examines the influence of cultural inheritance on perception, classification, inference, and choice. Describes relevant cross-cultural research methods and evaluates theoretical models used by cognitive anthropologists. Prerequisite: either ANTH 203, LING 203, or PSYCH 355.

ANTH 359 Linguistic Ethnography (5) I&S
Language use in cultural contexts. How language reflects world view. Language use in culturally significant settings. Analyzes sets of culturally specific terms in semantic domains. Includes projects demonstrating application of theory and method to data addressing specific problems.

COM 478 Intercultural Communication (5) I&S
Investigates intercultural communication theory and its application for varying levels of human interaction: interpersonal, intergroup, and international.

COM 484 Cultural Codes in Communication (5) I&S/VLPA
Social and cultural codes in interpersonal communication, with special reference to contemporary American subcultural groups and their communication patterns.

LING/ANTH 464 Language Politics and Cultural Identity (3) I&S/VLPA
Theories and case studies of the power of language and how it is manipulated. Multilingualism, diglossia. Role of language and linguistics in nationalism. Standardization, educational policy, language and ethnicity. World languages, language death and revival. Prerequisite: either LING 200, LING 201, ANTH/LING 203, or LING 400.

Other courses which might be of related interest are:

  • AES 151 Introduction to the Cultures of American Ethnic Groups (5) I&S
  • AIS 201 Introduction: Ethnohistory of Native North America (5) I&S
  • AIS 270 Native Peoples of the Pacific Northwest (5) I&S
  • AIS 317 North American Indians: The Southwest (5) I&S
  • COM 321 Communications in International Relations (5) I&S
  • COM 425 European Media Systems (5) I&S
  • COM 426 International Media Images (5) I&S
  • SLAV 425 Ways of Meaning: Universal and Culture Specific Aspects of Language (5) I&S/VLPA
  • SLAV 426 Ways of Feeling: Expressions of Emotions Across Languages and Cultures (5) I&S/VLPA

Applied Linguistics: Language Teaching

EDC&I 453 Teaching the Bilingual-Bicultural Student (3) I&S
Educational needs of bilingual students: research findings, special programs, materials, and methodologies that bilingual-bicultural education can provide to meet those needs. Cultural combinations of bilingual populations in American culture; historical, social, and linguistic factors affecting their K-12 education.

SPLING/SPAN 406 Advanced Spanish Grammar (5) VLPA
Problems of Spanish grammar. Differences from English grammar. Techniques for the effective teaching of Spanish. Prerequisites: either SPAN 303, SPAN 316 or 330; SPAN 323.

Applied Linguistics: Translation

SPAN 408 Spanish Translation Workshop (5) VLPA
Intensive practice in translation to and from Spanish. Texts include literary prose, poetry, expository writing, newspaper and magazine articles. Problems of standard versus colloquial language, transposition of cultural references, concept of fidelity in translation.
Prerequisites: either SPAN 303, SPAN 316, or SPAN 330; SPAN 323; recommended: SPAN 406.
 

FRENCH 472 French-English/English-French Translation (5) VLPA
Intense practice of translation from English into French and from French into English. Translation issues specific to French and English syntactic, semantic, and grammatical differences with emphasis on the naturalness of the target language and the accuracy of the translation of the source language. Conducted in French.
Prerequisite: FRENCH 303; either FRENCH 304, FRENCH 305, FRENCH 306, or FRENCH 307.

Computational Linguistics

In addition to the undergraduate-level courses in computational linguistics listed below, the linguistics department's graduate-level courses are open to qualified undergraduates with permission of the instructor.

LING 471 Computational Methods for Linguists (5) QSR
Overview of methods for working with linguistic data in electronic form: electronic corpora, linguistic software tools, textual data formats, operating system fundamentals, and basic programming.
Prerequisite: either LING 450 or LING 461.

LING/CSE 472 Introduction to Computational Linguistics (5) NW/VLPA
Introduction to computational approaches to modeling language, for linguistic research and practical applications, including analyses at different levels of linguistic structure and symbolic as well as statistical approaches.
Prerequisites: either LING 200 or LING 400; either LING 461 or CSE 321. Offered: jointly with CSE 472.

LING 473 Basics for Computational Linguistics (3)
Examines computer applications involving automatic processing of natural language speech or text by machines. Intended as preparation for CLMA core courses. Includes concepts form probability and statistics; formal grammars and languages; finite-state automata and transducers; review of algorithms and data structures; and software for using parallel server cluster.
Prerequisites: CSE 326; STAT 391; programming in Perl, C, C++, Java, or Python. Offered: S.

Check the Computer Science and Engineering listings in the Course Catalog for other relevant courses. Prerequisites may apply, and some CSE courses are normally open only to CSE majors; contact CSE advising for information. Of particular interest:

  • CSE 142 Computer Programming for Engineers and Scientists I (4) NW, QSR
  • CSE 143 Computer Programming for Engineers and Scientists II (5) NW, QSR
  • CSE 373 Data Structures and Algorithms (3)
  • CSE 415 Introduction to Artificial Intelligence (3) NW

Grammar

LING 100 Fundamentals of Grammar (5) VLPA
Introduction to basic grammatical concepts and terminology. Specifically intended for students planning to take a foreign language or linguistics. Does not count toward the linguistics major or minor.

Historical Linguistics

General Historical Linguistics

LING 454 Methods in Comparative Linguistics (5) VLPA Aldridge, Handel
Method and theory of historical and comparative linguistics. Problems of phonological, morphological, syntactic, and semantic change and reconstruction.
Prerequisite: either LING 200, LING 201, ANTH/LING 203, or LING 400.

Language Family-Specific Historical Linguistics

Romance

ROLING 402 Historical Romance Linguistics (5) VLPA Klausenburger
Comparative historical survey of the development of the principal Romance tongues.
Prerequisite: LING 400. (UW also offers Latin.)

Scandinavian

SCAND 460 History of the Scandinavian Languages (5) VLPA
Development of languages from common Scandinavian to contemporary Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, Faroese, and Icelandic.
Recommended: DANISH 203, FINN 203, NORW 203, or SWED 203.

Slavic

SLAV 351 History of the Slavic Languages (5) VLPA
External and internal history of Slavic literary languages from the beginnings to the present time, including the development of writing systems, external attempts at reform, and the development of vocabulary.
Prerequisite: LING 200.

Language-Specific Historical Linguistics

English

ENGL 373 History of the English Language (5) VLPA
Evolution of English sounds, forms, structures, and word meanings from Anglo-Saxon times to the present.
Prerequisite: either ENGL 370 or LING 200.

French

FRENCH 404 Old French (5) VLPA
Designed for acquisition of reading facility in Old French through intensive study of selected texts.
(UW also offers Latin.)

Greek

(UW offers Classical Greek.)

Hindi/Urdu

(UW offers Sanskrit.)

Italian and other Romance Languages

(UW offers Latin.)

German

LING 415/GERMAN 452 History of the German Language (5) VLPA
Traces the history of the German language from early Germanic to the present.
Recommended: LING 200 and GERMAN 203. Offered: jointly with LING 415.

Japanese

JAPAN 405 History of the Japanese Language (5) VLPA
Introduction to the history of the Japanese language, including phonology, morphology, syntax, and the writing system.
Prerequisite: JAPAN 313. Recommended: JAPAN 440, JAPAN 471.

JAPAN 471 Introduction to Classical Japanese (5) VLPA
Introduction to classical Japanese writing system, grammar, and vocabulary.
Prerequisite: minimum grade of 2.5 in either JAPAN 313 or JAPAN 334; may not be repeated. Offered: A.

Spanish

SPLING/SPAN 403 The Evolution of the Spanish Language (5) VLPA
Historical survey of Spanish phonology, morphology, and syntax, from Latin origins to the modern language.
Prerequisites: either SPAN 301 or SPAN 314; either ANTH 203, LING 200, LING 201, LING 203, LING 400, or SPAN 323. Offered: jointly with SPAN 403. (UW also offers Latin.)

History of Linguistics

LING 402 Survey of the History of Linguistics (3) VLPA/I&S
Main trends in linguistic theory and philosophy of linguistics from ancient times through advent of transformational-generative grammar. Includes nineteenth-century comparative and historical grammar, Prague school grammar, American structuralist grammar, major concerns of linguistics today.
Prerequisite: LING 451.

Language Contact

LING 430/ANTH 439 Pidgin and Creole Languages (5) VLPA/I&S
Explores aspects of the linguistic structure, history, and social context of pidgin and creole languages. Creolization as one possible outcome of language contact. Examines theories of creole genesis, similarities and differences between creole and non-creole languages.
Prerequisite: either ANTH 203, LING 200, LING 201, LING 203, or LING 400. Offered: jointly with ANTH 439.

Language Policy

ENGL 478 Language and Social Policy (5) I&S/VLPA
Examines the relationship between language policy and social organization; the impact of language policy on immigration, education, and access to resources and political institutions; language policy and revolutionary change; language rights.

ENGL 479 Language Variation and Language Policy in North America (5) I&S/VLPA
Surveys basic issues of language variation: phonological, syntactic, semantic, and narrative/discourse differences among speech communities of North American English; examines how language policy can affect access to education, the labor force, and political institutions.

LING/ANTH 464 Language Politics and Cultural Identity (3) I&S/VLPA
Theories and case studies of the power of language and how it is manipulated. Multilingualism, diglossia. Role of language and linguistics in nationalism. Standardization, educational policy, language and ethnicity. World languages, language death and revival. Prerequisite: either LING 200, LING 201, ANTH/LING 203, or LING 400.

Language Variation

LING/ANTH 432 Sociolinguistics I (5) I&S/VLPA
Social variation in the phonology, morphology, syntax, lexicon of languages and dialects. Nonstandard language, diglossia, pidgins and creoles, gender differences, bi- and multilingualism, ethnography of speaking, pragmatics, and language attitudes.
Prerequisite: either LING 200 or LING 400; recommended: prior or concurrent registration in LING 450. Offered: jointly with ANTH 432.

LING/ANTH 433 Sociolinguistics II (5) I&S/VLPA
Examines field methods linguists use in socially oriented studies of language variation and change. Includes language attitudes, study of urban dialects, syntactic variation, sampling and interview design. Discussion of issues related to recording, ethics, and analysis of large bodies of data.
Prerequisite: LING 432. Offered: jointly with ANTH 433.

Language-Specific Variation

English

ENGL 372 World Englishes (5) VLPA
Examines emerging World/New Englishes, and variants of English employed as a second language in former colonies of the United Kingdom and United States. Explores issues of standardization and the standard in a global perspective.
Prerequisite: ENGL 370, LING 200, or LING 400.

ENGL 479 Language Variation and Language Policy in North America (5) I&S/VLPA
Surveys basic issues of language variation: phonological, syntactic, semantic, and narrative/discourse differences among speech communities of North American English; examines how language policy can affect access to education, the labor force, and political institutions.

Japanese

Topics in Japanese Sociolinguistics (5) I&S/VLPA
Methodology and theory of sociolinguistic analysis. Reading of research literature and training in analysis of Japanese language data.
Prerequisites: JAPAN 312; either JAPAN 343 or JAPAN 440, either of which may be taken concurrently.

Morphology

General Morphology

LING 481 Introduction to Morphology (5) VLPA
Structure of words and the processes by which they are formed. Morphological processes in a wide variety of languages.

Prerequisites: LING 451.

Language-Specific Morphology

Hindi/Urdu


HINDI 404 Derivational Morphology of Hindi/Urdu (3) VLPA Shapiro
A systematic introduction to the derivational morphology of Hindi/Urdu. Sanskrit, Persian, Arabic, and English elements in Hindi/Urdu. Treatment of derivational prefixes and suffixes, stem alternations, and methods of compound formation.
Prerequisite: HINDI 323.

Philosophical Aspects of Linguistics

PHIL 464 Philosophical Issues in the Cognitive Sciences (5) I&S/NW
Philosophical problems connected with research in psychology, artificial intelligence, and other cognitive sciences. Topics vary. Readings from both philosophical and scientific literature. Accessible to nonphilosophers with suitable interests and backgrounds.

Phonetics

General Phonetics

LING 450 Introduction to Linguistic Phonetics (5) VLPA/NW
Introduction to the articulatory and acoustic correlates of phonological features. Issues covered include the mapping of dynamic events to static representations, phonetic evidence for phonological description, universal constraints on phonological structure, and implications of psychological speech-sound categorization for phonological theory.
Prerequisite: either LING 200 or 400.

LING 453 Experimental Phonetics (5) I&S/NW/VLPA
Examines phonetic and phonological aspects of spoken language using experimental methods. Focuses on acoustic phonetics and speech perception. Significant time devoted to experimental design and hands-on data analysis techniques.
Prerequisite: LING 451.

SPHSC 302 Phonetics (3) VLPA
Introduction to the description and classification of speech sounds with a focus on American English. Phonetic analysis of segmental and suprasegmental properties of speech. Practice using the International Phonetic Alphabet to transcribe normal and disordered speech patterns.
Prerequisite: either SPHSC 303, LING 200, or LING 400. Offered: W.

Articulatory Phonetics

SPHSC 320 Anatomy and Physiology of Speech (5) NW
Anatomy and physiology of the speech and swallowing mechanism, including the respiratory, phonatory, and resonatory systems and the neural control. Examples and laboratory work are directed toward clinical issues in speech-language pathology.

Offered: Sp.

Acoustic Phonetics

SPHSC 261 The Nature of Sound (4) NW
Fundamental principles of sound and vibration with emphasis on examples relevant to the speech and hearing systems.
Recommended: MATH 120; PHYS 114. Offered: W,S.

PHYS 116 General Physics (4) NW, QSR
Basic principles of physics presented without use of calculus. Suitable for students majoring in technically oriented fields other than engineering or the physical sciences. Sound, light, and modern physics. Credit is not given for both PHYS 116 and PHYS 123.
Prerequisite: PHYS 115 or PHYS 122. Recommended: concurrent registration in PHYS 119. Offered: AWSpS.

Auditory Phonetics

SPHSC 461 Introduction to Hearing Science (5) NW
Basic aspects of hearing and the ear and auditory nervous system. How the auditory system constructs an image of the acoustic environment. How attention and memory influence hearing. Effects of damage to the auditory system.
Prerequisite: either SPHSC 261 or PSYCH 333. Offered: Sp.

SPHSC 462 Hearing Development (3) NW
Description of the changes that occur in human hearing during development. Consideration of the possible explanations for early immaturity.
Prerequisite: SPHSC 461. Offered: A, even years.

Phonology

General Phonology

LING 451, 452 Phonology I, II (5, 5) VLPA/I&S Hargus, Kaisse
Speech sounds, mechanism of their production, and structuring of sounds in languages; generative view of phonology; autosegmental and metrical phonology.
LING 451 Prerequisite: LING 450.
LING 452 Prerequisite: LING 451.

Language-Specific Phonology

English

LING 446 English Phonology(3) VLPA Hargus
Descriptively oriented approach to of English phonology and phonetics; dialect differences.
Prerequisite: LING 450.

Pragmatics

SPHSC 308 Social-Cultural Aspects of Communication (3) I&S
Introduction to human communication in context. Exploration of ways communication is influenced by context, including situational, social/interpersonal, and cultural variables. Studies systems and cultural practices as they influence communication.
Offered: WS.

Psycholinguistics

General Psycholinguistics

LING/PSYCH 447 Psychology of Language (4) VLPA/I&S Osterhout
Introduction to the study of language, including language structure, speech perception, language acquisition, psychological processes underlying comprehension and production of language, the relation between brain and language, and the question of the species-specificity of human language.
Prerequisite: 2.0 in either PSYCH 209 or either LING 200 or LING 201. Offered: jointly with PSYCH 447.

SPHSC 425 Speech, Language, Hearing, and the Brain (4) NW
Addresses the neural bases of topics in speech, language, and hearing with an emphasis on the normal aspects of central nervous system anatomy, physiology, and function. Gives attention to issues relevant to understanding disordered systems and to points of contemporary debate among neuroscientists.
Offered: W.

Check the Psychology listings in the Course Catalog for other relevant courses. Prerequisites may apply, and some PSYCH courses are normally open only to PSYCH majors; contact PSYCH advising for information. Of particular interest:

  • PSYCH 355 Cognitive Psychology (5) I&S
  • PSYCH 460 Cognitive Neuroscience (4) NW

Language Acquisition

JAPAN 441 The Acquisition of Japanese as a Second or Foreign Language (5) Ohta
Focuses on how Japanese is acquired or learned by non-native speakers in North America and Japan. Includes study of how Japanese is learned in both naturalistic settings such as study abroad and in foreign language classrooms. Prerequisite: either JAPAN 312, which may be taken concurrently, or JAPAN 334.

LING 449 Second-Language Learning (5) VLPA Herschensohn
Issues related to the linguistic aspects of second-language learning.
Prerequisite: either LING 200, LING 201, ANTH/LING 203, or LING 400.

PSYCH 414 Cognitive Development (5) I&S
Key theoretical and research approaches to cognitive development from infancy through adolescence. Sensorimotor development, language development, imitation, number concepts, logical reasoning, memory, cognition in adolescents, intelligence, and the role of biology, environment, and experience.
Prerequisite: Prerequisite: either 2.0 in PSYCH 306, or 2.0 in both PSYCH 206 and PSYCH 209.

SPHSC 304 Developmental Aspects of Communication (5) I&S
Patterns of communicative development in English speaking children and adolescents. Introduction to the study of language and communication from a developmental perspective. Application to children with various types of communication impairments.
Prerequisites: either SPHSC 303, ANTH 203, LING 200, or LING 400. Offered: Sp.

COM 480 Communication in Adolescent Environments (5) VLPA/I&S
Study of the communication process in youth environments with a primary focus on formal and informal learning. Includes critical analysis of communication in contemporary instructional settings and the development of communication strategies for teaching and learning.

Also of related interest to those studying language acquisition:

  • PSYCH 306 Developmental Psychology (5) I&S

Language Processing

LING 441 Language Processing and Development 1 (5) I&S/NW A. OMAKI
This course explores current research on language processing and development in adult native speakers and children, with a focus on sound and world-level representations. Topics include speech perception, word recognition, acquisition of phonology and word meanings, as well as a variety of methodologies that are used to study these mechanisms.
Prerequisite: LING 200 or LING 400. Offered: A.

LING 442 Language Processing and Development 2 (5) I&S
Overview of research on language processing and development in adult native speakers and children, with a focus on the sentence-level representations. Topics include processing of syntactic/semantic representations, development of morpho-syntax, semantics and pragmatics, as well as variety of methodologies for studying these mechanisms.  

SPHSC 445 Models of Speech Processing (3) NW
Examines models and basic issues concerning how spoken language is processed. Presents current issues, theories, and research relative to the levels of processing entailed in producing and comprehending speech.
Prerequisites: SPHSC 302, 303, 320, and 425. Offered: SpS.

Semantics

LING 442 Semantics I (5) VLPA/NW Ogihara
Introduction to the study of meaning as part of linguistic theory. Relation of semantics to syntax. Emphasis on formal semantics and pragmatics. Discussion of various semantic phenomena in natural language that are theoretically relevant.
Prerequisite: LING 461.

LING/PHIL 479 Semantics II (3) VLPA/I&S/NW Ogihara
Formal characterization of linguistic meaning. Emphasis on nature and purpose of formal semantics and on its relation to formal syntax.
Prerequisite: LING 442. Offered: jointly with PHIL 479.

PHIL 120 Introduction to Logic (5) I&S/NW, QSR
Elementary symbolic logic. The development, application, and theoretical properties of an artificial symbolic language designed to provide a clear representation of the logical structure of deductive arguments.
Offered: AWSpS.

LING 476 Philosophy of Language (5) VLPA/I&S
Current theories of meaning, reference, predication, and related concepts.
Recommended: PHIL 120. Offered: jointly with PHIL 453.

Also of related interest to those studying semantics (or pragmatics):

  • PHIL 363 Introduction to the Philosophy of Mind (5) I&S
  • PHIL 463 Philosophy of Mind (5) I&S
  • PHIL 470 Intermediate Logic (5) I&S/NW, QSR
  • PHIL 471 Advanced Logic (5) I&S/NW
  • PHIL 472 Axiomatic Set Theory (5) I&S/NW
  • PHIL 474 Modal Logic (5) I&S/NW

Speech Disorders

SPHSC 250 Human Communication and Its Disorders (5) I&S/NW
Overview of normal and impaired human communication, including speech, language, and hearing disorders.
Offered: WS.

SPHSC 305 Speech and Language Disorders (5) NW
Etiology and nature of developmental and acquired communication disorders across the lifespan. Behavioral characteristics of language delay and disorders, developmental apraxia of speech, phonological disorders, stuttering, acquired aphasia, apraxia of speech and dysarthria, craniofacial anomalies, and voice disorders.
Prerequisite: SPHSC 302; SPHSC 304; SPHSC 320. Offered: A.

SPHSC 405 Diagnosis of Speech and Language Disorders (3) NW
Principles and procedures for the diagnosis of speech and language disorders.
Prerequisite: SPHSC 305. Offered: W.

SPHSC 406 Treatment of Speech and Language Disorders (4) NW
Principles and procedures for planning, implementing, and evaluating treatment for speech and language disorders.
Prerequisite: SPHSC 405. Offered: SpS.

Syntax

General Syntax

LING 461, 462 Syntax I, II (5, 5) VLPA/I&S Zagona, Citko, Aldridge
Study of the structural properties of language; introduction to generative transformational syntax.
LING 461 Prerequisite: either LING 200 or LING 400.
LING 462 Prerequisite: either LING 461.

Language-Specific Syntax

Chinese

CHIN 443 Structure of Chinese (5) VLPA
Outline of the major grammatical structures of Chinese. Focus on learning and teaching problems.
Prerequisite: CHIN 413.

English

ENGL 371 English Syntax (5) VLPA
Description of sentence, phrase, and word structures in present-day English.
Prerequisite: ENGL 370, LING 200 or LING 400.

Visual Languages

American Sign Language

ASL 305 Deaf Studies (3) I&S
Introduces the language, culture, and community of Deaf people. Covers topics in Deaf history, education, sociology, language, legal issues, art and literature, organizations and services for the Deaf, technological devices, and the nature of Deafhood. Analyzes issues such as methods of Deaf education, biomedical ethics, and the social movements in Deaf community.

LING 403 Structure of American Sign Language (5) VLPA
Introduction to the phonological, morphological, and syntactic structure of American Sign Language. Topics include acquisition, sociolinguisitics, neurolinguisitics, lexicography, history, and culture. Knowledge of American Sign Language is not required.
Prerequisite: LING 200, 201, 203, or 400.

Of possible interest to students of a visual language is:

COM 376 Nonverbal Communication (5) VLPA/I&S
Reviews the nature of nonverbal communication as part of the human message system. Discusses research on the types of cues that are part of the nonverbal system, reviews some communicative functions allowed by nonverbal cues (e.g., emotional expressions, relational messages, deception, coordination, or interaction), and ties nonverbal communication to language.

In addition, UW offers:
SPHSC 481 Management of Hearing Loss (4) NW
Introduction to methods of communicative rehabilitation of person with hearing loss. Remediation principles of auditory and visual perception, amplification, communication strategies, and information counseling.
Prerequisite: SPHSC 471; may not be repeated. Offered: WSp.

Writing Systems

Language Family-Specific Writing Systems

Asian

ASIAN 404 Writing Systems (3) VLPA
Origin, nature, and development of writing systems. Alphabets, syllabaries, and logographic systems; relation of writing systems to spoken languages; decipherment of previously undeciphered scripts.

Other Courses with Linguistic Content or Content Related to Linguistics

General

LING 480 Topics in Linguistics (3, max. 12) VLPA
Introduction to an area of linguistic study not covered by the regular departmental course offerings.

LING/COM 470 Discourse: Analyzing Talk and Texts (5) I&S/VLPA
A critical and practical introduction to contemporary theories/methods in discourse analysis: how verbal communication (together with visual communication) is used in conversational talk and mediztized texts to construct identities and relationships; and how power and ideology are reproduced through these everyday social interactions.
Offered: jointly with COM 470.

SLAV 210 Introduction to Bilingualism (5) VLPA/I&S
Provides a multidisciplinary examination of bilingualism as a societal and individual phenomenon. Considers language versus dialect, diglossia, state language policies, language rights, indigenous languages, and linguistic minorities. Explores bilingualism and biculturalism as human experience and as indexes of identity. Includes a fieldwork project focused on linguistic diversity in the Pacific Northwest.
Offered: W.

Language Family-Specific

Asian

ASIAN 405 Advanced Problems in Asian Linguistics (3) VLPA
Advanced problems in the analysis of the languages of east, southeast, south, and central Asia. Includes phonology, morphology, syntax, lexicography, historical reconstruction, linguistic typology, and comparative grammar.
Prerequisite: ASIAN 401.

ASIAN 498 Special Topics (1-5, max. 15) VLPA
Offered occasionally by permanent or visiting faculty members. Topics vary, but may include topics of linguistic interest.
Offered: AWSp.

Slavic

SLAV 470 Special Topics in Slavic Linguistics (3-5, max. 15) VLPA
Special topics in Slavic linguistics. Course offerings based on instructor's specialty and student demand.

Language-Specific

Arabic

ARAB 457 Arabic Grammatical Texts (3) VLPA
Introduction to concepts and terminology of Arabic grammar and lexicography through readings from scholars such as Sibawayh, Ibn Aqil, and Ibn Manzur.
Prerequisites: ARAB 423.

Chinese

CHIN 342 The Chinese Language (5) VLPA
Nature and structure of the Chinese language, covering structural characteristics, genetic and typological affiliation, standard Mandarin and Chinese dialects, Chinese writing system, history of the Chinese language, and cultural aspects.
Prerequisite: either CHIN 103, CHIN 113, or CHIN 134; recommended: either CHIN 201, CHIN 211, or CHIN 234.

German

GERMAN 496 History of Germanic Philology (5) VLPA
Introduction to the works of outstanding scholars in the field of Germanics.

GERMAN 498 Studies in the German Language (1-6, max. 15)

Japanese

JAPAN 342 The Japanese Language (5) VLPA
Survey of the nature and structure of the Japanese language, covering genetic and typological affiliations, writing systems, lexicon, and features of Japanese sentence structures.
Prerequisite: either JAPAN 311 or JAPAN 334, which may be taken concurrently.

JAPAN 343 Japanese Language in Society (5) VLPA/I&S
Survey of issues in Japanese language use. Areas covered include dialectical variation, language attitudes, gender differences, and pragmatics.
Prerequisite: either JAPAN 311 or JAPAN 334, which may be taken concurrently.

Latin & Greek

CLAS 101 Latin and Greek in Current Use (2) VLPA
Designed to improve and increase English vocabulary through a study of the Latin and Greek elements in English, with emphasis on words in current literary and scientific use. No auditors. Knowledge of Latin or Greek is not required. Credit/no credit only.
Offered: AWSpS.

Russian

RUSS 451 Structure of Russian (5) VLPA
Descriptive analysis of contemporary standard Russian. Detailed phonetic transcription, discussion of major Great Russian dialects as well as variations in popular speech, examination of common roots and productive derivational elements in Russian words, and elementary principles of syntax.
Prerequisites: either RUSS 303 or RUSS 350; LING 200. Offered: W.

Spanish

SPLING/SPAN 404 Dialects of World Spanish (5)
Introduction to dialectical variants of Spanish. Considers standardization and the real academia; variation and change; pragmatics and politeness; Spanish in contact; sound, word formation, and grammar variation. Taught in Spanish.
Prerequisites: either SPAN 301 or SPAN 314; either SPAN 323, LING 200, or LING 400. Offered: jointly with SPAN 404.

SPLING/SPAN 406 Advanced Spanish Grammar (5) VLPA
Problems of Spanish grammar. Differences from English grammar. Techniques for the effective teaching of Spanish.
Prerequisites: either SPAN 303, SPAN 316 or 330; SPAN 323. Offered: jointly with SPAN 406.

 

Share