Linguistics (LIN)

Language and Communication Department Chair:  Marcus Paroski
Linguistics Faculty Advisors: Emily Feuerherm, Kazuko Hiramatsu

The goal of the linguistics program is to advance our understanding of the fundamental, unconscious knowledge that all speakers have of their language and the ways that language impacts and shapes everyday life.

Courses in linguistics will provide students with strong analytic skills as we explore the complex structure of human language, the mental structures that contribute to the acquisition of language, and the way that language functions in social and cultural contexts.

Through these courses, students can expect to: 

• Apply critical thinking and analytical skills to the study of language
• Develop an understanding of the mental processes that govern the acquisition of language
• Understand the social and cultural aspects of the use of language in everyday life
• Develop an awareness of the place of English within global and local contexts
• Participate in community engagement projects that allow for the application of linguistics concepts to the understanding of everyday language use in the community

The study of language is broad and intersects with a variety of disciplines including anthropology, education, English, foreign languages, philosophy, and psychology, among others.

Programs in Linguistics

• English Program with a Specialization in Linguistics (BA) (Currently in Moratorium)     
• Linguistics Minor   
• Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages Certificate