Linguistics Minor

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Students can minor in linguistics and prepare for careers in language studies, international business, intelligence agencies, software development, computational linguistics, speech recognition, lexicography, editing, test development, teaching English as a second language, translation, or technical writing. This program requires 24 hours plus a sophomore level foreign language course (Spanish, French, German, Russian or Japanese).

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Required for the Linguistics Minor

WRTG 2320 Introduction to Linguistics
Introduces students to sound structure, word structure, and sentence structure; meaning and function of language; language and culture; language and thought; linguistic variation; history of writing systems; and language acquisition. Prerequisite: WRTG 1320.

WRTG 4315 Semantics
An upper-division elective for writing majors and minors and for speech and mass communications majors and minors. This course examines meaning in language--how we know what words and sentences mean. At the word level, students will examine such ideas as sense, connotation and extension. At the sentence level, students will examine propositions, truth conditions, scope, entailment and implicature. Metaphor, representation, speech acts and conversation will also be discussed. Discussion, lecture, essays, project. Prerequisite: WRTG 1320. Fall.

WRTG 4325 Sociolinguistics
An upper-division elective course for writing majors and minors and for anthropological cociology majors and minors. This course examines the connections between language and society and language and culture, including such factors as region, gender, age, race, sexual orientation, and social standing; language varieties, registers and speech communities. Discussion, lecture, short essays and a student project. Prerequisite: WRTG 1320. Fall.

PHIL 4330 Philosophy of Language
A required course for minors in Linguistics and an elective course for majors or minors in philosophy but open to others with interest in the topic. An inquiry into the nature of language in its relations to consciousness, logic, social behavior and reality. Combines lecture and discussion. Fall, odd years.

Electives for the Linguistics Minor (Choose any 4)

• Basic Sign Language (SPTH 2303)
• World Languages (WRTG 2350)
• Introduction to Logic (PHIL 2310)
• Applied Phonetics (SPTH 2322)
• Phonological Acquisition (SPTH 3300)
• Advanced Grammar and Composition I (FREN 3300 or GERM 3300 or SPAN 3300)
• Advanced Grammar and Composition II (FREN 3303 or GERM 3303 or SPAN 3303)
• Gender Communication (SPCH 3303)
• Interpersonal Communication (SPCH 3307)
• Gender and Language (ENGL 3315)
• Language Pathologies in Children (SPTH 3320)
• Acquisition and Development of Normal Speech and Language (SPTH 3321)
• Cognitive Psychology (PSYC 3325)
• Language and Grammar Studies (ENGL 3335)
• History & Structure of the English Language (ENGL 4360)
• Intermediate Sign Language (SPTH 4303)
• Second Language Acquisition (WLAN 4325)
• Second Language Assessment (WLAN 4330)
• Linguistics for Educators (WRTG 4330)
• Advanced Conversation and Phonetics (FREN 4350)
• German Grammar and Phonetics (GERM 4350)
• Advanced Grammar and Phonetics (SPAN 4350)