Brigham Young University
Back Linguistics

  

John S. Robertson, Chair
2129 JKHB, PO Box 26278, (801) 378-2937

College of Humanities Advisement Center
3078 JKHB, PO Box 26101, (801) 378-4789

Admission to Degree Program

All 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. 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 the glue that brings cohesion to all human enterprise. For the student interested in the nature of language, linguistics is the subject to study.

Career Opportunities

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

A linguistics degree (with emphasis in computers) may lead to jobs in high technology, e.g., machine translation, information retrieval, and speech recognition and production. Linguistics is also recognized as a strong specialization for those pursuing a career in military intelligence or technical writing.

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

Please see your college advisement center for information about general education courses you should take to dovetail with your major program.

Languages of Learning

Precollege Math (none to three courses)
(or Math ACT score of at least 22) 		0-3.0 hours
First-Year Writing (one course) 3.0
Advanced Writing (one to four courses) 3-8.0
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) 1.5-3.0
History of 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
Upper-division hours 40.0
Residency 30.0
Total hours 128.0

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 for one of the folowing undergraduate degree programs.

Undergraduate Programs and Degrees

BA Linguistics
Minors Computers in the Humanities
Linguistics
Language and Computers
TESL

For help or information on the undergraduate programs, please see your college advisement center.

Graduate Programs and Degrees

MA Linguistics
TESL Certificate
MA TESL

For more information See the 1997-98 BYU Graduate Catalog.


BA Linguistics (44-50 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 of university-level course work in a single non-Indo-European 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, 303, 304, 404.
  4. Select one of the following options:
    • Complete an approved university minor in one of the following areas: foreign language (cannot be the same one as noted above), TESL, language and computers, or speech pathology.
    • Complete 15 hours selected from any of the courses listed below or approved by the Linguistics Department. Complete the following:
      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 in the Humanities (16 hours)


  1. Complete the following:
    CHum 180, 281.
    Note: CHum 180 is prerequisite to all other CHum courses.
  2. Select 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)


  1. Complete the following courses:
    Ling 230, 330, 450.
  2. Select 6 hours of electives from other Linguistics Department course work in consultation with a department advisor.

Minor Language and Computers (16 hours)


  1. Complete the following:
    CHum 180, 280, 287.
    Ling 230.
  2. Select 6 hours from the following:
    CHum 281, 381, 383, 385, 387, 489R (3 hours), 490R (with coordinator approval).
    Ling 480.

Teaching English As A Second Language (TESL)

The Discipline

The TESL program exists primarily to prepare teachers of English for speakers of other languages. Related areas of emphasis are administration or materials development. TESL involves multidisciplinary course work, notably in language pedagogy and linguistics, but includes subjects ranging from testing to literature.

Career Opportunities

TESL graduates are qualified for overseas English teaching or administrative positions. They may enter U.S. TESL programs or bilingual programs, ranging from adult education or junior college positions to special courses for immigrant children offered by school districts. A state teaching certificate qualifying one to teach ESL is available to those who take requisite course work in the School of Education in addition to TESL classes.

Special Provisions

TESL has been accepted by the Utah Board of Education as an accredited teaching major or minor for secondary education students. BYU TESL courses plus professional course work can lead to a state secondary teaching certificate in ESL. Those students seeking state teacher certification on a secondary level may obtain further information on this option by contacting the Linguistics Department. This option is essential for those planning to teach ESL in U.S. public schools.


Minor TESL (19 hours)


Complete the following:

Ling 230, 330, 531, 540, 572, 577.

English As a Second Language (ESL)

Class Schedule Major Academic Plan (MAP)

Undergraduate Courses

Note: For TESL teacher training courses, see Linguistics in the current BYU Graduate Catalog.

301. English as a Second Language (Structure). (4:4:1) For bilingual foreign students.

Integrated skills course in listening, speaking, reading, and writing, with grammar focus in each area.

302. English as a Second Language (Oral-Aural). (2:2:0) For bilingual foreign students.

Improving listening comprehension and speaking ability. Emphasizes fluency, correct pronunciation, and intonation.

303. English as a Second Language (Reading). (3:3:0) For bilingual foreign students.

Improving reading comprehension and reading speed.

304. English as a Second Language (Writing). (4:4:1) For bilingual foreign students.

Composition, rhetoric, usage, and mechanics, plus techniques of writing research papers.

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

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

Computers in the Humanities (CHum)

Class Schedule Major Academic Plan (MAP)

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

101R. Study of an Uncommon Language. (4:4:0 ea.)

Oceanic, American Indian, African, Haitian Creole, Persian Farsi.

102R. Study of an Uncommon Language. (4:4:0 ea.) Prerequisite: Ling 101R or equivalent.

Oceanic, American Indian, African, Haitian Creole, Persian Farsi.

201R. Second-Year Study of an Uncommon Language. (4:4:0 ea.) Prerequisite: Ling 101 and 102 or foreign residence experience.

Further development of conversation, reading and writing skills, and vocabulary building, emphasizing reading.

211R. Second-Year Study of an Uncommon Language. (2:2:0 ea.) Prerequisite: Ling 201 or foreign residence experience.

Conversation, emphasizing further development of intermediate listening comprehension and speaking skills.

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

The medium that makes thinking, understanding, communications, and teaching possible.

270. Course for Prospective Language Learners. (3:3:1)

For prospective missionaries and others desiring fundamentals of language learning before selecting a specific language. Principles and strategies for efficient second-language learning; includes minicourse language learning experiences.

301R. Third-Year Study of an Uncommon Language. (4:4:0 ea.)

Oceanic, American Indian, African, Haitian Creole, Persian Farsi.

311R. Third-Year Study of an Uncommon Language. (2:2:0 ea.) Prerequisite: Ling 211 or foreign residence experience.

Advanced conversation.

330. Introduction to Linguistics (Modern). (3:3:0)

Basic understanding of linguistic systems. Morphology, syntax, and phonology.

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. Transformational Grammar. (3:3:0) Prerequisite: Ling 330 or Engl 328.

Goals of linguistic argumentation, syntactic structure, nature of the lexicon, and functions of transformations.

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.

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)

Reading and discussing major issues in linguistics.

500-Level Graduate Courses (available to advanced undergraduates)

500. Research Prospectus Design. (1:2:0) Prerequisite: admission to language acquisition MA program or provisional admission to TESL MA program.

Procedures for developing research projects (including introduction and review of literature for MA thesis). Students enroll concurrently for up to 2 hours of Ling 699R (thesis) credit.

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.

525. Phonology of Modern English. (3:3:0)

Detailed phonetic and phonemic study of American English pronunciation, including theories and practices of teaching and acquiring pronunciation. Practicum included.

531. Grammar Usage. (3:3:0)

Examining English grammar and usage as they reflect different theories about language description and applying this knowledge in the ESL classroom. Practicum included.

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

Theory and practice of semantic analysis with special emphasis on Jakobsonian and Peircian 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, development of U.S. lifestyle patterns. Variety of readings.

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.

565R. Humanities Computing Project. (1-3:3:0 ea.) Prerequisite: instructor's consent.

Major application or research project, working with instructor to do ongoing research or program development.

571. English as a Second Language K-12. (3:3:0)

Nature of language acquisition and strategies and materials designed to facilitate second language learning K-12.

572. TESL Reading and Writing. (3:3:0)

Nature of the processes involved in reading and writing, with special emphasis on helping ESL students develop these skills. Includes a limited teaching practicum.

573. TESL Literature. (3:3:0) On dem.

Teaching literature to nonnative English speakers, both TEFL and TESL.

577. Introduction to ESL Methodology. (4:4:1) Prerequisite: ESL 404 or native English speaker.

Survey of basic concepts, procedures, and techniques in second language teaching methodology and materials selection. Observation of actual ESL classes and a mentored ESL teaching practicum experience.

579. TESL Student Teaching. (2:0:8) Prerequisite: Ling 577 and department's prior consent.

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.

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.

599R. Cooperative Education. (1-9:9:0 ea.) On dem.

On-the-job experience under faculty supervision.

Graduate Courses

For 600- and 700-level courses, See the 1997-98 BYU Graduate Catalog.

American Sign Language (ASL)

Class Schedule Major Academic Plan (MAP)

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.

Austronesian Languages (AstLg)

Class Schedule Major Academic Plan (MAP)

Undergraduate Courses

Note: Austronesian languages are offered only when there is sufficient student interest.

Fijian, Indonesian, Maori, Niuean, Rarotongan, Samoan, Tagalog, Tahitian, and Tongan Courses

101R, 102R. First-Year. (4:4:0 ea.)

Basic language skills.

201R. Second-Year. (4:4:0 ea.) Prerequisite: 101 and 102 or equivalent experience.

Conversation, vocabulary building, and reading and writing skills, emphasizing reading.

211R. Second-Year Conversation. (2:2:0 ea.) Prerequisite: 102 or equivalent experience.

Intermediate listening comprehension and speaking skills.

311R. Third-Year Conversation. (2:2:0 ea.) Prerequisite: 201 and 211 or equivalent experience.

Advanced conversational skills.

North, Central, and South American Indian Languages (AmILg and SAmLg)

Class Schedule Major Academic Plan (MAP)

Undergraduate Courses

Note: American Indian languages are offered only when there is sufficient student interest.

Navajo, Aymara, Cakchiquel, Quechua, Quich, Maya, and Guaran Courses

101R, 102R. First-Year. (4:4:0 ea.)

Basic language skills.

201R. Second-Year. (4:4:0 ea.) Prerequisite: 101 and 102 or equivalent experience.

Conversation, vocabulary building, and reading and writing skills, emphasizing reading.

211R. Second-Year Conversation. (2:2:0 ea.) Prerequisite: 102 or equivalent experience.

Intermediate listening comprehension and speaking skills.

311R. Third-Year Conversation. (2:2:0 ea.) Prerequisite: 201 and 211 or equivalent experience.

Advanced conversational skills.

Welsh (Welsh)

Class Schedule Major Academic Plan (MAP)

Undergraduate Courses

101A, B. First-Year Welsh. (2:2:1 ea.)

Pronunciation, grammar fundamentals, and vocabulary building, emphasizing conversation.

102. First-Year Welsh. (4:4:0) Prerequisite: Welsh 101 or equivalent.

Pronunciation, grammar fundamentals, and vocabulary building, emphasizing conversation.

201. Second-Year Welsh. (4:4:0) Prerequisite: Welsh 101 and 102 or equivalent.

Conversation, vocabulary building, and reading and writing skills, emphasizing reading.

Linguistics Faculty

Professors

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Assistant Professors

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

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

Cox, Troy (1996) BA, MA, Brigham Young U., 1994, 1996.

Erickson, Dena (1995)BA, MA, Brigham Young U., 1992, 1995.

Garzola, Yvonne B. (1992) BS, MA, Brigham Young U., 1980, 1994.

Gillie, Jeri Wyn (1994) BA, MA, Brigham Young U., 1990, 1993.

Jones, Dawnell (1995) BA, MA, Brigham Young U., 1990, 1995.

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.

Baltes, Paul (English)

Belnap, R. Kirk (Asian and Near Eastern Languages)

Bourgerie, Dana (Asian and Near Eastern Languages)

Bush, Charles D. (Humanities Research Center)

Clegg, J. Halvor (Spanish and Portuguese)

Eggington, William G. (English)

Fails, Willis (Spanish and Portuguese)

Hart, David Kay (Germanic and Slavic Languages)

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)

Turley, Jeffrey S. (Spanish and Portuguese)

Watabe, Masakazu (Asian and Near Eastern Languages)




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Please report any errors. Updated May 20, 1997, by web_ugrad_cat@byu.edu