Asian and Near Eastern Languages

ASIAN AND NEAR EASTERN LANGUAGES

Chair: Van C. Gessel
Graduate Coordinator: Dana S. Bourgerie
4064 JKHB
Provo, UT 84602-6117
(801) 378-4952
bourgerie@byu.edu

THE PROGRAM OF STUDIES

One degree is offered through the Department of Asian and Near Eastern Languages: Language Acquisition (Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, or Korean)—MA. This is a collegewide program. Generally not more than two students per language are admitted each year to the acquisition program. The program is designed so that a student can complete the degree in four semesters if he or she enters with the appropriate background (see below).

Language Acquisition (Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, or Korean)—MA

This program offers professional preparation to students seeking careers in applied linguistics, foreign language education, computer-
assisted language learning and instruction, and other related areas.

Students become familiar with current theories of second-language acquisition and develop basic skills in applying that knowledge to teaching, testing, and classroom-oriented research in their language of specialization.

The program is quite flexible, with emphases varying according to students' interests and faculty members' expertise. It is ideally suited to the needs of the following types of students:

• Students who have completed undergraduate majors in foreign languages, applied linguistics, or related fields, and who are contemplating eventual careers in academics.
• Foreign language teachers at the secondary school level who wish to further their professional education and acquire more specialized competency in their fields.
• Students seeking the necessary preparation for advanced research and work in the field of high technology applications to language learning and instruction.

Although the nature of the program is applied, the Department of Asian and Near Eastern Languages offers a broad range of supporting courses in modern and classical culture and literature within the various language groups.

Admission and Entry.

• Semesters of entry and application deadlines: fall, February 1 (U.S. and international).
• Application requirements: entrance examination (general test) and a fifteen-minute interview in the language of specialization addressing applicant's academic goals. The interview may be completed in person, by telephone, or on tape in conversation with a second party.
• Prerequisite: baccalaureate degree and strong background in the language of specialization. A basic linguistics background is helpful.

Requirements for Degree.

• Credit hours (33): minimum 27 course work hours plus 6 thesis hours (699R).
• Required courses: Ling 540, 600, 641, 660, 677.
• Elective courses (12 hours): advanced linguistic study of the language of specialization (3 hours), plus 9 hours as approved by the graduate committee.
• Language requirement: reading and speaking ability (202 level) in language other than English in addition to language of specialization.
• Thesis: 6 hours of 699R in language of specialization.
• Examination: oral defense of thesis.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

Full or partial tuition assistance is available, depending on merit. According to department needs, students may also have opportunities to serve as research or teaching assistants to help finance their studies and to gain practical experience.

RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES

The Department of Asian and Near Eastern Languages utilizes the Humanities Research Center for world-class computer-assisted language instruction and translation. Other resources are:

The Foreign Language Student Residence. Students who desire a more intensive language study experience and practical application of the language under the direction of faculty and native residents may apply to live in the Foreign Language Student Residence. All activities in the individual apartments in the residence are conducted in the foreign language. Housing is available for men and women in Japanese, Chinese, Arabic, and Korean languages. Graduate students may participate as students or as senior residents.

For a more detailed description of the graduate program requirements, send for a copy of the department's bulletin.

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

Chinese (Mandarin)

Class Schedule

599R. Cooperative Education: Internship. (9)

Prerequisite: Chin 301.

On-the-job cultural and/or language experience.

670R. Tutorial Internship in Chinese. (1-3)

Individual research in cooperation with graduate faculty member in problems relating to Chinese literature and language. Tutorial work in writing research papers. Topics vary according to interests and expertise of faculty supervisor.

680R. Special Studies in Chinese. (1-3)

Individual study supervised by graduate faculty member in varying topics of specific interest in Chinese literature and language.

690R. Seminar in Chinese. (1-3)

Group studies supervised by graduate faculty member in varying topics of specific interest in Chinese literature and language.

699R. Master's Thesis. (1-6)

Japanese

Class Schedule

599R. Cooperative Education: Internship. (9)

Prerequisite: Japan 301.

On-the-job cultural and/or language experience.

670R. Tutorial Internship in Japanese. (1-3)

Individual research in cooperation with graduate faculty member in problems relating to Japanese literature and language. Tutorial work in writing research papers. Topics vary according to interests and expertise of faculty supervisor.

680R. Special Studies in Japanese. (1-3)

Individual study supervised by graduate faculty member in varying topics of specific interest in Japanese literature and language.

690R. Seminar in Japanese. (1-3)

Group studies supervised by graduate faculty member in varying topics of specific interest in Japanese literature and language.

699R. Master's Thesis. (1-6)

Korean

Class Schedule

599R. Cooperative Education: Internship. (9)

Prerequisite: coordinator's consent and departmental approval.

On-the-job cultural and/or language experience. Students must meet departmental requirements and consult coordinator before enrollment. Report required.

670R. Tutorial Internship in Korean. (1-3)

Individual research in cooperation with graduate faculty member in problems relating to Korean literature and language. Tutorial work in writing research papers. Topics vary according to interests and expertise of faculty supervisor.

680R. Special Studies in Korean. (1-3)

Individual study supervised by graduate faculty member in varying topics of specific interest in Korean literature and language.

690R. Seminar in Korean. (1-3)

Group studies supervised by graduate faculty member in varying topics of specific interest in Korean literature and language.

699R. Master's Thesis. (1-6)

Linguistics

(See Linguistics section of this catalog for courses.)

Near Eastern Languages and Literature

Ancient: Akkadian, Aramaic, Coptic, Egyptian, Syriac, and Ugaritic Courses

Class Schedule

511R. Studies in Ancient Near Eastern Languages. (2-4) On dem.

Grammar and reading skills.

521R. Special Topics in Ancient Near Eastern Literature. (2-3) On dem.

Historical and comparative studies of ancient Near Eastern literature.

Arabic

Class Schedule

531R. Advanced Topics in Arabic. (3) On dem.

Prerequisite: instructor's consent.

Advanced studies in Arabic language and literature.

670R. Tutorial Internship in Arabic. (1-3) On dem.

Individual research in cooperation with graduate faculty member in problems relating to Arabic literature and language. Tutorial work in writing research papers. Topics vary according to interests and expertise of faculty supervisor.

680R. Special Studies in Arabic. (1-3) On dem.

Individual study supervised by graduate faculty member in varying topics of specific interest in Arabic literature and language.

690R. Seminar in Arabic. (1-3) On dem.

Group studies supervised by graduate faculty member in varying topics of specific interest in Arabic literature and language.

699R. Master's Thesis. (1-6) On dem.

Hebrew

Class Schedule

531R. Studies in Hebrew. (1-3)

Prerequisite: Heb 331.

FACULTY

BELNAP, R. KIRK, Assistant Professor. PhD, University of Pennsylvania, 1991. Arabic Language and Linguistics.

BOURGERIE, DANA S., Assistant Professor. PhD, Ohio State University, 1990. Chinese Linguistics: Dialect Studies and Sociolinguistics.

CHRISTENSEN, MATTHEW B., Assistant Professor. PhD, Ohio State University, 1994. Chinese Language and Linguistics; Curriculum Development.

GESSEL, VAN C., Professor. PhD, Columbia University, 1979. Japanese Language and Literature.

HONEY, DAVID B., Associate Professor. PhD, University of California, Berkeley, 1988. Classical Chinese Language and Literature.

KIM, HAN KON, Professor. PhD, Seoul National University, Korea, 1975. Korean Linguistics; Natural Language Processing and Computer-Assisted Language Learning.

MILLER, J. SCOTT, Associate Professor. PhD, Princeton University, 1988. Japanese Language and Literature.

PARKINSON, DILWORTH B., Professor. PhD, University of Michigan, 1982. Sociolinguistics; Arabic.

PARRY, DONALD W., Assistant Professor. PhD, University of Utah, 1992. Modern and Biblical Hebrew.

PERKINS, GEORGE W., Assistant Professor. PhD, University of Utah, 1992. Modern and Biblical Hebrew.

PETERSON, DANIEL C., Associate Professor. PhD, University of California, Los Angeles, 1990. Medieval Islamic Philosophy; Arabic Language and Literature.

PETERSON, MARK A., Associate Professor. PhD, Harvard University, 1987. Korean Language and History.

RICKS, STEPHEN DAVID, Professor. PhD, University of California, Berkeley, 1982. Hebrew; Near Eastern Languages, History of Religions.

RUSSELL, ROBERT A., Associate Professor. PhD, Harvard University, 1977. Second Language Acquisition; Computer-Assisted Instruction.

WARNICK, J PAUL, Assistant Professor. PhD, Ohio State University, 1996; Japanese Linguistics and Pedagogy.

WATABE, MASAKAZU, Associate Professor. PhD, University of Southern California, 1978. Linguistics; Japanese.

WILLIAMS, GARY S., Associate Professor. PhD, University of Washington, 1973. Chinese Language and Literature.

Back

Catalog Homepage

BYU Homepage