theundergraduateschoo ls - Wake Forest University

Linguistics (LIN)
(Interdisciplinary Minor)
Coordinator Professor of Romance Languages (Spanish) M. Stanley Whitley
The interdisciplinary minor in linguistics requires LIN/ANT 150, Introduction to Linguistics,
and twelve additional hours. Students minoring in linguistics are strongly encouraged to study
foreign languages, achieving proficiency in at least one, and social and behavioral sciences. The
minor may be usefully combined with a major in a foreign language, English, anthropology (or
other social science), philosophy, or communication.
The twelve hours in addition to LIN 150 may be chosen from the following three groups:
linguistics courses, historical linguistics, and related topics. It is strongly recommended that at
least one course be from historical linguistics.
Linguistics Courses
150. Introduction to Linguistics. (3h) The social phenomenon of language: how it originated and
developed, how it is learned and used, its relationship to other kinds of behavior; types of language
(oral, written, signed) and language families; analysis of linguistic data; and social issues
of language use. Also listed as ANT 150. (CD)
301. Semantics and Language in Communication. (3h) Study of how meaning is created by sign
processes. Topics studied include language theory, semiotics, speech act theory, and pragmatics.
Also listed as COM 301.
310. Sociolinguistics and Dialectology. (3h) Study of variation in language: effects of regional
background, social class, ethnic group, gender, and setting; social attitudes toward language;
outcomes of linguistic conflicts in the community; evolution of research methods for investigating
language differences and the diffusion of change. P—LIN 150 or POI.
330. Introduction to Psycholinguistics and Language Acquisition. (3h) Psychological and linguistic
study of the mental processes underlying the acquisition and use of language; how children
acquire the structure of language and how adults make use of linguistic systems.
333. Language and Gender. (3h) Uses an anthropological perspective to examine relationships
between language structure, language use, persons, and social categories. Also listed as
ANT 333.
340. Topics in Linguistics. (3h) Interdisciplinary study of selected topics, such as morphology,
phonology/phonetics, syntax, historical linguistics, history of linguistic theory, semiotics, and
ethnolinguistics, issues in Asian linguistics, language and gender. P—LIN 150 or POI.
351. Comparative Communication. (1.5h, 3h) Comparison of communicative and linguistic
processes in one or more national cultures with those of the United States. Also listed as
COM 351. (CD)
351A Japan (CD) 351D Multiple Countries (CD)
351B Russia (CD) 351E China (CD)
351C Great Britain (CD)
L I N G U I S T I C S 172