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Linguistics

Language is a uniquely human capacity that enables us to communicate a limitless set of messages on any topic. While human languages can differ greatly in certain respects, all are intricate, complex, rule-governed systems. Linguistics is the scientific study of these systems, their use for communication in rich social settings, and their cognitive underpinnings. The linguistics concentration at Brown gives students a background in the “core” aspects of the language system: phonetics/phonology (the study of speech sounds and their patterning), syntax (the study of combinatorics of words, phrases, and sentences), semantics/pragmatics (the study of the meanings of both words and larger expressions, and how they interact with communicative goals), and how language is produced, understood, and learned by children and adults (psycholinguistics). Beyond this, students may focus more heavily in one or more of these areas and/or explore related questions such as how core aspects of language do (and do not) vary, including through the use linguistic fieldwork on understudied languages, or how probabilistic tendencies and variability in language usage relate to grammar. Other areas such as historical linguistics, computational linguistics, sociolinguistics, philosophy of language, and linguistic anthropology can also be pursued in conjunction with offerings in other departments.

Students who wish to pursue one or more aspects of Linguistics in greater depth than does the Bachelor of Arts, and to focus on some of the more technical, computational, and/or experimental areas of the field may choose to take a Bachelor of Science in Linguistics. Students will choose a focus pathway which will direct their choices. Pathways include: Language, Computation, and Information; Language, Mind, and Brain; Meaning and Logic, or one of the student's design, with approval from the concentration advisor. 

A.B. Requirements (10 courses)

 The core requirements are:

One gateway course:

Four breadth requirements:

Five additional appropriate electives forming a thematically related set (to be determined in consultation with the Concentration Advisor):

  • At least one of these must be drawn from the list of advanced and methods courses listed below. No more than 2 of these courses may be drawn from below 1000 level courses. Every linguistics course offered by the Linguistics Program counts. Electives may also be drawn from courses in other departments and programs in consultation with the Concentration Advisor.
Gateway Course 1
Introduction to Linguistics
Phonetics/Phonology Courses1
Phonology
Phonetics
Syntax Courses1
Introduction to Syntax
Linguistic Variation and Universals
Semantics/Pragmatics Courses1
Lexical Semantics
Compositional Semantics
Pragmatics
Linguistic Variation Courses1
Sociolinguistics
Language and Gender
Making Visual Illusions
Linguistic Variation and Universals
Language and the Mind
Child Language Acquisition
Learning Compositional Language
Language Processing
Language Processing in Humans and Machines
Laboratory in Psycholinguistics
5 additional appropriate electives forming a thematically related set to be determined in consultation with the Concentration Advisor. At least one of these must be drawn from the list of advanced courses listed below, and we strongly recommend that at least one course be an appropriate methods and a topics course. No more than 2 of these courses may be drawn from below 1000 level courses. The electives can be drawn from any of the above courses, or any of the other linguistic/language related courses in the program. Electives may also be drawn from courses in other departments in consultation with the Concentration Advisor; a list of courses which standardly count towards the Linguistics Concentration (provided they form part of the thematically related set) is appended below.5
Child Language Acquisition
Sociolinguistics (with Case Studies on the Former USSR and Eastern Europe)
Advanced and Methods Courses
Compositional Semantics
Introduction to Corpus Linguistics
Linguistic Field Methods
Computational Linguistics
Laboratory in Psycholinguistics
NOTE: This is NOT an exhaustive list of courses that can be applied towards the Linguistics Concentration requirements.
Total Credits10


Honors (12 courses)

Candidates for Honors in Linguistics must meet all of the requirements above, write an Honors thesis, and take two additional courses.  One course is normally LING 19XX (Directed Research in  Linguistics) - intended for work on the Honors thesis.

Three of the total 12 courses must be drawn from the advanced list above (the Directed Research course counts as one of the advanced courses).

Refer to the Program in Linguistics webpage for detailed information about the Linguistics Honors program.

Independent Study

Independent study is encouraged for the A.B. degree. Students should sign up for LING 19XX with a faculty advisor who is a member of the Program in Linguistics. Arrangements should be made in Semester 6 for students expecting to do independent study during Semesters 7 and/or 8.

Do Foreign Language Courses Count?

Foreign language courses will generally not count towards the concentration requirements, except those that focus on the structure or history of the language. Students are, however, advised to gain familiarity with a foreign language, and are encouraged to take at least one course which deals with the structure of a language other than English.

ScB Requirements (16 courses)

Students who wish to pursue one or more aspects of Linguistics in greater depth than does the A.B., and to focus on some of the more technical, computational, and/or experimental areas of the field may choose to take an Sc.B in Linguistics. Students will choose a focus pathway which will direct their choices.  Three possible pathways are described below in additional detail, though other pathways are possible, if approved by the Concentration Advisor.

The core requirements are:

  • One gateway course
  • Four breath requirements, one each in Phonology, Syntax, Semantics or Pragmatics, and Psycholinguistics. 
  • Three electives in the focus area (see individual pathways below)
  • Four non-linguistic focus area electives (see individual pathways below)
  • Two breadth requirements that satisfy the Linguistics AB requirement. These could serve as a secondary focus area. 
  • One Capstone course
Language, Computation, and Information Pathway
Gateway course1
Introduction to Linguistics
At least one course in phonetics / phonology, such as:1
Phonology
Phonetics
At least one course in syntax, such as: 1
Introduction to Syntax
Linguistic Variation and Universals
At least one course in semantics / pragmatics, such as:1
Lexical Semantics
Pragmatics
Compositional Semantics
At least one course in linguistics variation, such as:1
Linguistic Variation and Universals
Language and Gender
Making Visual Illusions
Sociolinguistics
Language and the Mind
Child Language Acquisition
Learning Compositional Language
Language Processing
Laboratory in Psycholinguistics
Three electives specifically in the focus area, such as: 3
Information Theory in Language
Introduction to Corpus Linguistics
Computational Linguistics
Language Processing
Language Processing in Humans and Machines
Four non-linguistic focus area electives, such as:4
Statistical Inference I
Introduction to Discrete Structures and Probability
Artificial Intelligence
Machine Learning
Data Science
Statistical Programming in R
Linear Algebra
Introduction to programming
Multivariate Statistical Techniques
Three additional electives in Linguistics, preferably outside the main focus area, such as:3
Linguistic Variation and Universals
Linguistic Field Methods
Compositional Semantics
Sociolinguistics, Discourse and Dialogue
Sociolinguistics (with Case Studies on the Former USSR and Eastern Europe)
Learning Compositional Language
Language Processing in Humans and Machines
Or many other courses
One independent study / capstone requirement1
LING 19XX: Directed Research
Total Credits16
Language, Mind and Brain Pathway
Gateway course1
Introduction to Linguistics
At least one course in phonetics / phonology, such as:1
Phonology
Phonetics
At least one course in syntax, such as: 1
Introduction to Syntax
Linguistic Variation and Universals
At least one course in semantics / pragmatics, such as:1
Lexical Semantics
Pragmatics
Compositional Semantics
At least one course in linguistic variations, such as:1
Linguistic Variation and Universals
Sociolinguistics
Language and Gender
Making Visual Illusions
Language and the Mind
Child Language Acquisition
Learning Compositional Language
Language Processing
Laboratory in Psycholinguistics
Three electives specifically in the focus area, such as: 3
Introduction to Syntax
Language and the Mind
Topics in Language Acquisition: Language Acquisition and Cognitive Development
Child Language Acquisition
Learning Compositional Language
Language Processing
Language Processing in Humans and Machines
Laboratory in Psycholinguistics
Four non-linguistic focus area electives, such as:4
Machine Learning
Computational Linguistics
Introduction to Computational Neuroscience
Philosophy of Mind
Human Cognition
Cognitive Neuroscience
Children's Thinking: The Nature of Cognitive Development
Statistical Methods
Computational Cognitive Neuroscience
Cognitive Development
Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience
Research Methods And Design
Three additional electives in Linguistics, preferably outside the focus area, such as:3
Linguistic Variation and Universals
Compositional Semantics
Linguistic Field Methods
Introduction to Corpus Linguistics
Sociolinguistics, Discourse and Dialogue
Sociolinguistics (with Case Studies on the Former USSR and Eastern Europe)
Learning Compositional Language
Or many other courses
One independent study / capstone requirement1
LING 19XX Directed Research
Total Credits16
Meaning and Logic Pathway
Gateway course1
Introduction to Linguistics
At least one course in phonetics / phonology, such as:1
Phonology
Phonetics
At least one course in syntax, such as: 1
Introduction to Syntax (*INCORRECT)
Linguistic Variation and Universals
At least one course in semantics / pragmatics, such as:1
Lexical Semantics
Pragmatics
Compositional Semantics
At least one course in linguistic variation, such as:1
Linguistic Variation and Universals
Sociolinguistics
Language and Gender
Making Visual Illusions
Language and the Mind
Child Language Acquisition
Learning Compositional Language
Language Processing
Laboratory in Psycholinguistics
Three electives specifically in the focus area, such as: 3
Laboratory in Phonetics
Linguistic Variation and Universals
Lexical Semantics
Pragmatics
Compositional Semantics
Conditionals
Learning Compositional Language
Four non-linguistics focus area electives, such as:4
Introduction to Higher Mathematics
Introduction to Discrete Structures and Probability
Paradox and Infinity
Mathematical Logic
Human Cognition
Children's Thinking: The Nature of Cognitive Development
Social Psychology
Three additional electives in Linguistics, preferably outside the main focus area, such as:3
Linguistic Variation and Universals
Information Theory in Language
Linguistic Field Methods
Sociolinguistics, Discourse and Dialogue
Sociolinguistics (with Case Studies on the Former USSR and Eastern Europe)
Language Processing
Language Processing in Humans and Machines
Or many other courses
One independent study / capstone requirement1
LING 19XX: Directed Research
Total Credits16

Honors (17 courses)

The Honors program requires one additional elective, which will typically be a second LING 19XX Directed Research course during the senior year (thus leading to a full year of Directed Reading or Directed Research). Admission to the honors program requires a majority of A grades in the concentration. The student’s work will culminate in an Honors’ thesis on an approved topic (learn more about regulations regarding Honors’ theses at https://linguistics.brown.edu/concentrations), written under the direction of one or more faculty members, and read by a committee of at least two faculty members (one of whom may be from another department).

NOTE:  Please refer to the undergraduate Linguistics concentration site for updates not listed here.