Linguistics Program

Anthony Mattina, Chair

Mission

Linguistics and Applied Linguistics. Linguistics studies all aspects of Language and languages, and aims to discover the general principles that govern LanguageBprinciples presumed to be common to all languages. It also aims to study, understand, and describe the details of individual languages: the sounds used by individual languages; the make-up of words, phrases and sentences; the range of phenomena covered by such grammatical categories as verbs and nouns, gender, tense, aspect, transitivity and a host of others. Linguistics studies how languages are learned, and how they function in their social contexts. The understanding of linguistic principles is applied to a variety of fields, including language teaching, language therapy, communication, speech synthesis, and language preservation.

Objectives. The objectives of the Linguistics Program are to train students in the scientific analysis of languages. Students are prepared for further graduate study in the field; to study other languages; to apply their understanding of language to other fields; and to teach English and other languages to non-native students of those languages.

Endangered Languages. About six thousand languages are currently spoken in the world, but only 300 (five percent) are projected to survive into the 22nd century. The predicted imminent extinction of nearly six thousand languages is cause for great concern, much as the extinction of biological species, and we wish for biological, linguistic, and ethnic diversity. The preservation of languages and linguistic diversity, therefore, is the most pressing goal of Linguistics.

Montana and Regional Languages. Montana is the aboriginal home of speakers of languages that belong to four distinct language families: 1. Kutenai; 2. Flathead (Salish); 3. Cree, Blackfeet, Northern Cheyenne, and Gros Ventre (Algonquian); 4. Assiniboine, Sioux and Crow (Siouan). We are committed to preserving the linguistic diversity of the state and of the region, and our students are expected to gain a multi-cultural perspective that will engender a spirit of cooperation and mutual respect between people of different cultures and backgrounds.

Collaboration. The Linguistics Program is situated within the Department of Anthropology. In offering its curriculum the Linguistics Program collaborates with Native American Studies, English, Foreign Languages and Literatures, Communication Studies, Philosophy, and the McNair and other programs to provide a cooperative environment conducive to learning.

Degrees Offered. The University offers an M.A. with a major in Linguistics with options in General and Applied Linguistics. Linguistics options also are available to students pursuing masters degrees in anthropology and English. The University does not offer an undergraduate degree in linguistics but students can earn baccalaureate degrees in anthropology, English, French, German, and Spanish with options in linguistics.

For specific course requirements in the Departments of Anthropology, English, and Foreign Languages and Literatures, students should refer to the relevant department's section in this catalog and confer both with the advisors in the individual departments and the undergraduate advisors in the Linguistics Program.

Certificate of Accomplishment in Teaching English as a Second Language. The University offers a sequence of courses (24 credits) that will lead to a Certificate of Accomplishment in Teaching English as a Second Language. The certificate will be issued by the University upon the recommendation of the Linguistics Program and the Faculty Senate.

In order to earn this certificate, a student must hold (or simultaneously earn) a baccalaureate or higher degree and complete the following courses: LING 270 or 470; LING 471; LING 472 or 466; LING 477 or 478; two upper-division electives (6 credits) from among LING 473, 476, 479, and 489; LING 480; and LING 494. Courses required for the Certificate may not be taken on a pass-not pass basis.

It is recommended that a student have the equivalent of two years of a foreign language. Non native speakers of English must take an English competency examination to be administered by the Linguistics Program.

English as a Second Language/Academic English. Outside of its curriculum, the Linguistics Program directs several EASL courses for international students whose TOEFL scores range between 500 and 580.

Two EASL courses (170 and 230) concentrate on learning second language English in a wider cultural environment. The instructional aims for these two courses include adapting to life in an American English-speaking community and understanding the experiences of self and others who have lived, studied and worked among non-native language speakers in foreign locations.

The four remaining EASL courses enhance learning second language English as the language of classroom instruction at an English-speaking university or college. These courses facilitate the transition from learning academic English to actually using English in academic settings. Course content concentrates on academic uses of language skills (reading, writing, speaking and listening, with a limited degree of periodic intensive activities involving grammar and/or pronunciation).

Trained, supervised teaching assistants who are pursuing advanced degrees in linguistics instruct academically-oriented EASL courses and professional staff teach the culturally-oriented EASL courses. Each EASL course lasts one semester and grants international students three credit hours that count toward graduation. The needs of individuals who must raise their English proficiency to gain admission to a university or college are addressed by the English Language Institute.

Teacher Preparation in English as a Second Language. Minor Teaching Field: For an endorsement in the minor teaching field of English as a Second Language, a student must complete LING 270 or 470, 471, 472 or 488, 477 or 478, 480 and 494; at least two courses from the following: LING 473S, 476, 479, 495, or 595. Students also must gain admission to Teacher Education and Student Teaching and meet the requirements for certification as a secondary teacher (see School of Education section of this catalog.) Courses in the teaching minor may not be taken on a pass-not pass basis.

Courses

U = for undergraduate credit only, UG = for undergraduate or graduate credit, G = for graduate credit. R after the credit indicates the course may be repeated for credit to the maximum indicated after the R.

English as a Second Language (EASL)

U 170 Orientation to the U.S. 2 cr. Offered intermittently. Examination of American cultural and societal trends from a cross cultural perspective to help new and continuing foreign students adjust to life in the United States and to offer U.S. students an opportunity to examine their own culture from the perspective of members of other cultures.
U 230 Explorations in American Culture 2 cr. Offered spring. U.S. and foreign students read fictional accounts of cultural adaptation. Some accounts written from the perspective of foreigners to give foreign students comparisons with their own acculturation process and provide a contrastive world-view for American students. Intended to give an understanding of the complexity and richness of cross-cultural ambiguity, dissonance, and convergence.
U 250 Intermediate English for Academic Purposes: I 3 cr. (R 6) Offered autumn and spring. Same as ENSL 250. Extensive training in reading, writing, and speaking grammatical English. This course is required of all foreign students with TOEFL scores between 500 and 525. Grading A, B, C, D, or F.
U 251 Intermediate English for Academic Purposes: II 3 cr. (R 6) Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., 500 to 525 on the TOEFL or consent of instr. Same as ENSL 251. English grammar, reading, writing, and conversation skills for students who are not native speaker of English; designed for students who have scored between 500 and 525 on the TOEFL. Grading A, B, C, D, or F.
U 450 Advanced English for Academic Purposes: I 3 cr. Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., TOEFL score of 526 or greater and consent of instr. Same as ENSL 450. Extensive training in reading, writing, and speaking grammatical English. Grading A, B, C, D, or F.
U 451 Advanced English for Academic Purposes: II 3 cr. Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., 526 to 580 on the TOEFL or consent of instr. Same as ENSL 451. English grammar, reading, writing, and conversation skills for students who are not native speakers of English; designed for students who have scored between 525 an 580 on the TOEFL. Grading A, B, C, D, or F.

Linguistics (LING)

U 173 Introduction to Language 3 cr. Offered autumn. Same as COMM 173. A survey of the elements of language (structure, meaning, and sound) including language use in its social and cultural context. Credit is not allowed for students who have already completed Ling 270.
U 195 Special Topics Variable cr. (R 6) Offered autumn and spring. Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or one time offerings of current topics.
U 198 Cooperative Education Experience Variable cr. (R 9) Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., consent of department. Extended classroom experience which provides practical application of classroom learning during placements off campus. Prior approval must be obtained from the faculty supervisor and the Center for Work-Based Learning.
U 270 Introduction to Linguistics 3 cr. Offered every term. Same as ANTH and ENLI 270. An introduction to the field of modern linguistics and to the nature of language. Emphasis on the ways different cultures develop symbol systems for representing meaning.
U 271 The Least You Should Know About English 3 cr. Offered intermittently. The principles behind grammatical nomenclature in human languages; emphasis on ways that humans use language to develop standard and non-standard dialects of the same language, special focus on English.
U 395 Special Topics Variable cr. (R 9) Offered autumn and spring. Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or one time offerings of current topics.
U 398 Cooperative Education Experience Variable cr. (R 9) Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., consent of department. Extended classroom experience which provides practical application of classroom learning during placements off campus. Prior approval must be obtained from the faculty supervisor and the Center for Work-Based Learning.
UG 401 Applied French Linguistics 3 cr. Offered spring. Prereq., FREN 301 and LING 270 or consent of instr. Same as FREN 401. Contrastive analysis of French phonology (including phonetics), morphology, and syntax.
UG 403 Applied German Linguistics 3 cr. Offered autumn. Same as GERM 403. Contrastive analysis of German phonology, morphology, and syntax.
UG 405 Applied Spanish Linguistics 3 cr. Offered autumn. Prereq., SPAN 302 and LING 270 or consent of instr. Same as SPAN 405. Topics and issues from various linguistic approaches, selected for their applicability to the teaching of Spanish.
UG 465 Structure and History of English for Teachers 3 cr. Offered autumn and spring. Same as ENLI 465. The development of the English language from a historical perspective contrasted with the phonological and grammatical structure of English from a modern linguistic point of view; specifically designed for teachers.
UG 466 Pedagogical Grammar 3 cr. Offered autumn. Prereq., LING 270 or 470. Discussion of English grammar from a non-native speaker perspective focusing on items and structures that are difficult for non-native speakers.
UG 470 Introduction to Linguistic Analysis 3 cr. Offered autumn and spring. Same as ANTH, FLLL, ENLI 470. An introduction to the field of modern linguistics and to the nature of language. Emphasis on linguistic analysis.
UG 471 Phonology and Morphology 3 cr. Offered spring. Prereq., LING 270. or equiv. A study of phonological and morphological systems from as many as 20 languages, most of them non Indo European; training in how to do linguistic analysis as well as linguistic theory.
UG 472 Generative Syntax and Semantics 3 cr. Offered autumn. Prereq., LING 270 or 470. A systematic study of the nature of syntactic and semantic systems in natural language. Emphasis on abstract argument.
UG 473S Language and Culture 3 cr. Offered autumn odd-numbered years. Prereq., LING 270 or LING 470. Same as ANTH 473S. Technical study of the relationships between grammatical categories and world view.
UG 474 Language History, Variety, and Change 3 cr. Offered autumn. Prereq., LING 270 or 470. The principles of historical reconstruction and comparative method in the analysis of linguistic variation and change.
UG 475 Linguistic Fieldmethods 3 cr. Offered autumn even-numbered years. Prereq., LING 270 or equiv. Writing up linguistic data; developing techniques for eliciting linguistic data by working with a native speaker of a non Indo European language.
UG 476 Child Language Acquisition 3 cr. Offered spring even-numbered years. Prereq., LING 270 or 470. The development of speech and language: phonologic, prosodic, semantic, pragmatic, and morphosyntactic systems.
UG 477 Bilingualism 3 cr. Offered autumn even-numbered years. Prereq., LING 270 or 470. Societal and individual bilingualism: topics include language policy such as maintenance and interference; code switching and mixture; and bilingual education.
UG 478 Second Language Acquisition 3 cr. Offered autumn odd-numbered years. Prereq., LING 270 or 470. Discussion of theories of SLA, analysis of the development of Interlanguage and study and use of the research methods in SLA.
UG 479 Pragmatics 3 cr. Offered spring odd-numbered years. Prereq., LING 270 or 470. Relations between language and its interpreters focusing on presupposition, speech acts, discourse analysis, and the application of pragmatics to second and foreign language acquisition.
UG 480 Teaching English as a Foreign Language 3 cr. Offered spring. Prereq., LING 270 or 470. Same as ENLI 480. The application of principles of modern linguistics to the problems of teaching English as a foreign language.
UG 481 The ESL Professional 3 cr. Offered spring. Prereq. or coreq., LING 494; prereq., LING 480 or consent of instr. Professional development techniques for the independent language teacher: language test construction, self-critique of teaching strategies, materials development, curriculum evaluation and design, electronic and print media resources for the language teaching professional.
UG 482 Topics in the Philosophy of Language 3 cr. (R-6) Offered Intermittently. Prereq., upper division standing. Same as PHIL 471. Discussion of one or more of the following topics: theories of meaning, theories of reference, pragmatics, the origin of language, psycholinguistics, and foundations of linguistic theory.
UG 484 North American Indian Linguistics 3 cr. Offered spring odd-numbered years. Prereq., LING 270 or 470. Same as ANTH 484. Analysis and characteristics of American Indian languages in historical perspective.
UG 485 Topics in the Linguistic Structure of French 3 cr. (R 6) Offered autumn. Prereq., FREN 301 and LING 270 or consent of instr. Same as FREN 485. Synchronic and diachonic topics in French phonology, morphology, syntax, and lexicon.
UG 489 Languages of the World 3 cr. Offered spring. Prereq., LING 270 or 470. A survey of the grammatical features of several unrelated languages to provide the student with a broad overview of how world languages compare and contrast.
UG 494 ESL Senior Seminar 3 cr. Prereq., or coreq., LING 480. Offered every term.
UG 495 Special Topics Variable cr. (R 6) Offered autumn and spring. Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or one time offerings of current topics.
UG 496 Independent Study Variable cr. (R 9) Offered every term. Prereq., consent of instr. Special projects in linguistic analysis.
U 498 Cooperative Education Experience Variable cr. (R 12) Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., consent of department. Extended classroom experience which provides practical application of classroom learning during placements off campus. Prior approval must be obtained from the faculty supervisor and the Center for Work-Based Learning.
G 570 Seminar in Linguistics 3 cr. (R 12) Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., LING 270 or equiv. Same as ANTH 570. Advanced topics in linguistic analysis.
G 575 Preceptorship 1 cr. (R 4) Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., consent of instr. Materials development, assessment and evaluation of learners' need and interests in teaching English as an academic second Language to international students attending universities with English instruction..
G 595 Special Topics Variable cr. (R 9) Offered every term. Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or one time offerings of current topics.
G 596 S Independent Study 1 3 cr. (R 6) Offered every term.
G 598 Cooperative Education Experience Variable cr. (R 6) Offered autumn and spring.
G 599 Professional Paper Variable cr. (R 6) Offered every term.
G 699 Thesis Variable cr. (R 6) Offered every term.

Faculty

Irene Appelbaum, Ph.D., University of Chicago, 1995, Associate Professor (Philosophy)
Anthony Beltramo, Ph.D., Stanford University, 1972, Professor (Foreign Languages and Literatures)
Albert Borgmann, Ph.D., University of Munich, 1963, Professor (Philosophy)
Merrel D. Clubb, Jr., Ph.D., University of Michigan, 1953, Emeritus (English)
Stephen Greymorning, Ph.D., University of Oklahoma, 1997, Associate Professor (Anthropology)
Robert Hausmann, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin, 1972, Professor (English Language Institute)
Anthony Mattina, Ph.D., University of Hawaii, 1973, Professor
O.W. Rolfe, Ph.D., Stanford University, 1967, Professor (Foreign Languages and Literatures)
Wesley Shellen, Ph.D., Ohio University, 1973, Professor, Emeritus (Communication Studies)
Tully J. Thibeau, Ph.D., University of Arizona, 1999, Assistant Professor