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Linguistics Program
Linguistics, the systematic scientific study of human language and communication, is a broad field that investigates a range of questions regarding the remarkable fact that humans produce and use language. At Emory University we take an interdisciplinary approach, looking at language in relation to cognition, culture, social identity, history, philosophy, and aesthetics. Our questions include: What enables humans to produce and understand sentences that they have never heard before? What are the basic building blocks of human languages? How do children learn language? How do people use language in multilingual contexts? How are patterns of thinking shaped by language? Why do languages change over time? How do meanings get attached to words? The Program in Linguistics faculty are based in numerous departments across the college, representing the contemporary field of linguistics, as it is situated at the intersection of the social sciences and the humanities. The program directs a minor in linguistics, a major in linguistics, and a joint major in psychology and linguistics and coordinates a Linguistics Study Abroad Program in Amsterdam. The program facilitates academic discussion on language and linguistics on campus and sponsors events connected to linguistics. The program also sponsors an annual Linguistics Student Research Symposium. Students are encouraged to check the program webpage at www.linguistics.emory.edu for updates on programs of study (majors and minor), courses, and events.
Faculty
Core Faculty
- Roberto Franzosi
- Benjamin Hary
- Hiram Maxim
- James Morey
- Laura Namy
- Yumiko Nishi
- Lynne Nygaard
- Marjorie Pak
- Bradd Shore
- Susan Tamasi
- Donald Tuten
- Debra Vidali
- Phillip Wolff
Associated Faculty
Courses
Linguistics 200-Level Courses
- LING 200: Language, Mind & Society
- LING 201: Foundations Of Linguistics
- LING 210: Sounds of Human Language
- LING 212: Structure of Human Language
- LING 214: Meaning in Human Language
- LING 230: Descript'n & Analysis:Chn Lang
- LING 234: Intro to Japanese Linguistics
- LING 235: Chinese Writing Systems in Asia
- LING 240: Language And Culture
- LING 242: Languages of the World
- LING 285: Intro Topics in Linguistics
Linguistics 300-Level Courses
- LING 309: Brain And Language
- LING 314: Psychology Of Language
- LING 316: Language Acquisition
- LING 326: History Of Judaic Languages
- LING 327: Language & Symbols of Media
- LING 333: Language, Gender & Sexuality
- LING 335: S. Asia: Lang, Pol, Identity
- LING 340: Topics in Sociolinguistics
- LING 341: Communicatn,Technol & Culture
- LING 360: The English Language
- LING 361: American English
- LING 362: Beowulf
- LING 363: Old Eng Language & Literature
- LING 385: Special Topics in Linguistics
Programs
Honors Program
The Honors Program in Linguistics is intended to provide a select group of students with experience in conducting research focused on the study of human language. Generally, this research will fall primarily within one or more of the three orientations identified in the Major in Linguistics: cognitive, structural or sociocultural (contextual) approaches to the study of language. Students with an overall grade point average of at least 3.5 in the first three years and with at least a 3.5 GPA in their major courses will be notified by the Program in Linguistics in the Spring of their junior year that they are eligible to participate in the Linguistics Honors Program, and will be invited to an orientation meeting which will fully explain the program. Students will be responsible for defining a project and finding a faculty member who is willing to serve as advisor.
General Honors Program information.
Study Abroad
The Amsterdam exchange program offers students the opportunity to take a range of courses taught in English while exploring Dutch culture and one of the world's great multicultural and multilingual cities. Students who are majors in linguistics are encouraged to take coursework abroad as part of their Emory academic degree program. Emory students can choose to study at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU) or Universiteit van Amsterdam (UvA). Please contact CIPA or the Program in Linguistics for more information.
General Study Abroad information.
Advising
Majors are assigned an academic advisor and should meet with that advisor on a regular basis to discuss courses to take to meet the requirements for the major. In addition, students should talk to their advisors about future career plans if they include graduate training, as there may be additional courses they should take for entrance to graduate school. Advisors will be available during Pre-registration. Sign-up sheets are placed outside each advisor’s office in the weeks before Pre-registration. It is strongly advised that students sign up as early as possible for advising. However, advisors often have more time to spend with students at times other than Pre-registration. Please take advantage of these times when scheduling appointments.
Language Study
Linguistics majors and minors are required to take two foreign language courses.
1. Two courses in one foreign language at the 200-level or above or
2. Two courses in two different foreign languages at any level, with approval from the Director of Undergraduate Studies.
NOTE: Students participating in the Amsterdam Study Abroad Program may use introductory Dutch to satisfy one semester of this requirement.
Awards and Honors
Phi Sigma Iota, the International Foreign Language Honor Society, is open to outstanding students of linguistics and foreign languages. Minimum qualifications for students applying for membership based on achievement in linguistics are: (1) overall GPA of 3.3 or higher, and (2) completion of at least 20 credit hours in Linguistics with an “A-“ (3.67) average in linguistics courses.