Linguistics

239 and 241 Stevenson College
(831) 459-2905
(831) 459-4988
http://ling.ucsc.edu

Program Description

Among the humanities, linguistics is an exact and structured discipline. As the study of human language, it has connections to many other fields in the humanities (philosophy, literature), the social sciences (anthropology, psychology, sociology), and the natural sciences (biology, neuroscience, acoustics, computer science, computer engineering).

The central areas of linguistics proper investigate the knowledge that speakers of a language acquire about its structure. Syntax is concerned with the rules that combine words into larger units of phrases and sentences. Semantics studies the meanings of linguistic units and how they are combined to form the meanings of sentences. Phonetics deals with the physical properties of language sounds. Phonology investigates the ways in which these speech sounds pattern in the sound systems of particular languages. Morphology studies the way in which words are put together out of prefixes, roots, and suffixes.

All faculty in the nationally recognized Linguistics Department have primary research and teaching interests in one or more of these areas. Other perspectives on language study represented include sociolinguistics, psycholinguistics, the study of poetic language, and the study of language change.

The programs offered by the Linguistics Department are designed to acquaint students with the central aspects of linguistic structure and the methodologies and perspectives of the field. The department offers two undergraduate majors, Linguistics and Language Studies, and a graduate program in theoretical linguistics. The Linguistics major leads to a B.A. degree in Linguistics; the Language Studies major leads to a B.A. degree in Language Studies (see Language Studies, page 302). The graduate program leads to the M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in Linguistics.

Requirements for the Linguistics Major

All students are required to complete the following 12 courses in Linguistics and related disciplines.

Eight foundation courses in Linguistics:

• 20 Introduction to Linguistics

• 52 Syntax 1

• 53 Semantics 1

• 101 Phonology 1

• 102 Phonology 2

• 113 Syntax 2

• 116 Semantics 2

• 140 Language Change

Four upper-division elective courses in linguistics: One of these upper-division linguistics courses may be substituted by a course from a related discipline or an 80-level linguistics course.

Students may petition the department to have elective courses offered through other institutions or other UC programs applied toward the major requirements. Such courses must clearly fit into a coherent program of study in linguistics.

Foreign language/mathematics competency requirement: Linguistics majors are required to demonstrate either foreign language or mathematics competency as follows:

• Foreign language competency: students must successfully complete six quarters of language study at UCSC (three quarters for Latin or Greek) or demonstrate an equivalent level of competence through a recognized language test or evidence of credit from another institution.

• Mathematics competency: Alternatively, students with a strong formal background can choose to satisfy the mathematics competency requirement by demonstrating sufficient preparation in mathematics for advanced formal work in linguistics. This requirement is satisfied by passing two courses chosen from the following list: Mathematics 11A, 19A, or 21; Computer Science 12A; Computer Engineering 16; Economics 11A; or any course which has one of these courses as a prerequisite.

Senior exit requirement: In their senior year, linguistics majors must satisfy the senior exit requirement in one of two ways:

Option 1: Successful completion of a capstone course. Students may designate an appropriate upper-division Linguistics course as their capstone course.

• In addition to fulfilling the normal requirements for the designated course, such students concurrently enroll in the Ling 190 Senior Research Series (two credits, enrollment limited to 10) with the same instructor, and produce a research paper, or other significant project, to be filed with the department.

• Prior to enrolling in 190, students must have senior standing, completed Ling 52 Syntax I, and 101 Phonology I.

Option 2: Successful completion of a senior thesis or senior project supervised by a Linguistics faculty member.

• The proposal for a senior thesis or project must be submitted for departmental approval at least two quarters prior to the quarter of graduation.

• Students enroll in Ling 195 (Senior Thesis) or Ling 194 (Senior Project) with the same faculty adviser.

Concentrations within the Major

The major provides a strong background in the central subdisciplines of linguistics. Students who wish to pursue linguistic theory further are encouraged to take other upper-division linguistics courses and seek permission to enroll in the graduate sequences in phonology, syntax, or semantics.

Students may wish to take elective courses in other subdisciplines of linguistics. Psycholinguistics focuses on the psychological mechanisms of language. Computational linguistics focuses on computational approaches to linguistic analysis and the linguistic analysis of computer languages. Applied linguistics focuses on bilingualism, second-language acquisition, and translation.

Students who wish to pursue these subdisciplines should consult the Department of Linguistics for lists of elective courses in these areas. Students may also focus on the grammar of one or more languages by taking the structure course in linguistics (180 series) and related courses in other disciplines. Linguistics majors with a language focus are also encouraged to consider academic study at foreign universities through the UCSC Education Abroad Program. Students preparing for careers in teaching should contact the Education Department office, 217 Social Sciences 1, (831) 459-2589, for information on the requirements for a California teaching credential.

Requirements for the Minor

To graduate with a minor in linguistics, students must complete eight linguistics courses.

• 20 Introduction to Linguistics

• 52 Syntax 1

• 53 Semantics 1

• 101 Phonology 1

• Four upper-division electives in linguistics

There is no senior exit requirement and no foreign language/mathematics competency requirement for the minor.

Courses

Courses numbered 80 are lower-division topical courses. They treat the phenomenon of language from a variety of perspectives:

• 80B Modern English Grammar. A modern non-prescriptive approach to English grammar.

• 80C Language, Society, and Culture. An exploration of ways in which language structure and use reflect societal distinctions and cultural practice.

• 80D Language and Mind. A critical examination of the view of human language underpinning the research program initiated by Noam Chomsky and of its implications for theories of the human mind and brain.

• 80P The Sounds of the World's Languages. Practical training in hearing and recording sounds in a wide range of phonetic systems.

• 80V Structure of the English Vocabulary. A systematic study of the elements of English words: their historical origins and their sound, meaning, spelling, and function.

These courses have no prerequisites. They are intended to serve as general education courses, and introduce the concepts of linguistics through their relation to other areas of general interest.

Courses 20 Introduction to Linguistics, 52 Syntax I, 55, Syntactic Structures, and 53 Semantics I are "disciplinary introductions." These courses have no linguistics prerequisites and serve as entry courses to the specialized upper-division sequences. Upper-division courses generally have at least one of these courses as a prerequisite.

Courses 101 Phonology I, 102 Phonology II, 113 Syntax II, and 116 Semantics II are the core upper-level courses in linguistic structure and are offered each year. The two phonology courses (101 and 102) provide an introduction to the study of the sound systems of languages. These courses use a problem-solving approach to developing understanding of phonological theory and phonological regularities in various languages. The intermediate syntax course (113) continues the development of syntactic theory begun in course 52, extending the range to more complex constructions and rules and introducing alternative theoretical approaches. The semantics course (116), which has as prerequisites course 53 Semantics I, and either course 52 Syntax I, or course 55 Syntactic Structures, addresses advanced problems in the analysis of meaning.

Several upper-division elective courses are offered each year. For a list of these courses, contact the Linguistics Department.

To enroll in the graduate (200-level) courses, undergraduates need special permission from the instructor. Permission is usually granted only to especially motivated undergraduates who have completed all the core course requirements for the major with excellent performance.

Preparation for the UCSC  Master's Degree

Each year a number of UCSC students who have B.A. degrees in linguistics or language studies are admitted into the graduate program to pursue the M.A. in theoretical linguistics. Interested students should discuss the possibility with one or more faculty members and formally apply online to the graduate program during the fall quarter of the senior year. For up-to-date information about the application process, consult our web site (http://ling.ucsc.edu/); and see the Linguistics Department manager.

Graduate Program

The graduate program in linguistics at UCSC is a small, focused five-year program in linguistic theory leading to the degree of doctor of philosophy. The research interests of faculty and students draw on the framework of generative grammar, with a primary focus on theoretical syntax, semantics, and phonology; research and course strengths also include the structure of various languages, phonetics, morphology (theoretical and computational), mathematical foundations, and the philosophy of linguistics. The department admits approximately five new students to the doctoral program each year; more enter to receive a master's degree associated with the doctoral program. The master's degree can be completed in one or two years, depending on the student's previous background in linguistics.

While committed to training in theoretical depth, the program makes possible an unusual breadth of theoretical understanding. Research in syntax focuses on ways in which generative theory and language-particular analysis inform one another. Faculty expertise covers a range of current theories: principles and parameters theory, minimalism, phrase structure grammar, and optimality syntax. Work in phonology is pursued in various current frameworks, including optimality theory and dispersion theory. It ranges from prosodic theory and prosodic morphology to issues in segmental phonology, feature theory, and the phonetics-phonology relationship. Research in semantics applies formal, model-theoretic techniques to illuminate the interface between syntactic structure and interpretation and the role of semantic competence in the pragmatics of utterance interpretation.

The faculty have language expertise in a variety of languages, including Chamorro, German, Hungarian, Irish, Japanese, Latin, Rumanian, Russian, Spanish, Turkish, and Tzotzil.

From the beginning of their studies, students are engaged in original research and critical evaluation, since the aim of the program is to provide sophisticated training as a foundation for a career in academic research and teaching. The program begins with a sequence of foundation and core courses in linguistic theory. Subsequent course work emphasizes theoretical depth; it is increasingly centered around the doctoral student's own research, culminating in the presentation of a dissertation on some aspect of linguistic theory and analysis.

Undergraduate Preparation

Applications are invited from students who have completed an undergraduate linguistics major or who have demonstrated excellence in some related discipline (psychology, mathematics, computer science, anthropology) and have the equivalent of a minor in linguistics. A student applying for admission to this program should, in any case, have a good foundation in at least one of the central fields of linguistic structure: phonology, morphology, syntax, or semantics. Students entering the program with a deficiency in one or more areas will make up the deficiency by taking appropriate undergraduate courses at UCSC during the first year of graduate study.

Requirements for the M.A.

Courses. A minimum of 45 credits of graduate-level work. This must include the core courses in phonology, syntax, and semantics. Electives are chosen from upper-division or graduate courses offered by linguistics and related disciplines, in addition to independent study with linguistics faculty.

Languages. Reading competence in one foreign language, to be demonstrated by examination.

Research paper. Submission of a research paper in a core area of theoretical linguistics and approval of a committee of two faculty.

Requirements for the Ph.D.

Courses. A minimum of 60 credits of graduate-level work. This includes foundation sequences in phonology, syntax, and semantics, and a course in mathematical foundations.

Languages. Reading competence in one foreign language, to be demonstrated by examination.

Qualifying papers and examination. By the end of the third year, two research papers, one in phonology/morphology and one in syntax/semantics, are to be presented as part of the requirements for admission to candidacy. At this time, the prospective candidate is examined by the faculty on topics related to the student's major area of research, as part of the Qualifying Exam. The student is expected to defend a dissertation prospectus by the end of the fourth year.

Dissertation. The final requirement for the Ph.D. degree is the presentation of a dissertation representing a significant contribution in some central area of linguistic research.

Application and Admission

To apply, please consult the Department of Linguistics web site: http://ling.ucsc.edu/graduate/