Linguistics
Director of undergraduate studies: Jason Shaw; ling.yale.edu
Linguistics is the systematic study of human language. Linguistics studies how language works: how it is produced and processed in the mind, how it develops in children, how it is used in society, and how it changes over time. Linguistics also looks at the structures of the thousands of spoken and signed languages used throughout the world. The undergraduate major in Linguistics introduces students to many of the key areas of linguistics and offers a program of study leading toward an understanding of phonological, grammatical, and semantic structure and various approaches to descriptive, experimental, computational, and historical linguistics. Majors take a flexible combination of courses across subfields of linguistics and go into depth in one or more areas. Students learn about the many ways that language interfaces with questions in the social sciences, humanities, and sciences, and they often take complementary coursework in other departments or programs. All students write a senior essay and many make use of their linguistics work in future careers. Interested students should consult the director of undergraduate studies (DUS).
Courses for Nonmajors and Majors
Students with no previous background in linguistics are encouraged to approach the field by taking a 1000-level course. All 1000-level courses are accessible to students with no prior background.
Requirements of the Major
See Links to the attributes indicating courses approved for the Linguistics major requirements.
The major requires twelve term courses in linguistics and related areas, distributed as follows:
- Breadth requirement (five courses). To provide exposure to a broad range of linguistic subfields, all majors must take four of the following ten courses: LING 1179, LING 2120, LING 2200, LING 2270, LING 2320, LING 2530, LING 2630, LING 2750, LING 2790, and LING 3610. In addition, students must take one additional course to complete the breadth requirement. This course can be either one of the ten listed above or a course that covers several linguistic subfields, such as Introduction to Linguistics (LING 1100) or Cognitive Science of Language (LING 1160). Courses outside of the lists above can be substituted with approval of the DUS.
- Depth requirement (two courses). In one of the eight areas of linguistics (historical, computational, phonetics, phonology, syntax, semantics, morphology, language and mind/brain), students must take two courses beyond the introductory level.
- Electives (three courses). Three additional courses relating to linguistics are required, at least one of which must be at the 2000 level or above. Electives may be chosen from courses offered by the Linguistics department or, with approval of the DUS, from related courses in programs such as Anthropology, Classics, Cognitive Science, Computer Science, English, Philosophy, Psychology, or foreign languages. No more than two foreign language courses may count toward the major without specific DUS approval.
- Senior research requirement (one course). LING 4900, Research Methods in Linguistics, is required and is typically taken in the fall term for those students graduating in the spring. Students graduating in the fall may take it in the fall term of their junior year. This course prepares students for the senior essay.
Credit/D/Fail No courses taken Credit/D/Fail, Pass/Fail, or any scale other than the standard letter-grade scale, may be applied toward the requirements of the major without specific DUS approval.
Outside credit Courses taken at another institution or during an approved summer or term-time study abroad program may count toward the major requirements with DUS approval.
Senior Requirement
Senior requirement (one course). Students attend a research colloquium and write a senior essay in LING 4910 during the final spring term of the senior year.
Advising
Simultaneous B.A./M.A. degree program Exceptional students may be able to structure their undergraduate programs to become eligible for a simultaneous master’s degree in selected graduate programs. Students must successfully complete relevant graduate course requirements and earn qualitative grades of Honors, High Pass, or Pass. At least two grades of Honors are required, and all grades must average High Pass in order to fulfill requirements for the master’s degree.
Interested students should consult with both the DUS and DGS prior to submitting the online application, which is due no later than the last day of classes in their fifth term of enrollment in Yale College. Students should also review the GSAS Degree-Granting Departments and Programs page and select the relevant program for specific requirements and application information.
SUMMARY OF MAJOR REQUIREMENTS
Prerequisites None
Number of courses 12 term courses (incl senior req)
Specific courses required LING 4900
Distribution of courses 5 courses in distinct areas of linguistics (breadth req), as specified; 2 addtl courses beyond intro level in 1 area (depth req); 3 electives, at least 1 at the 2000 level or above
Substitution permitted Electives from related programs with DUS approval
Senior requirement LING 4910
Requirements
12 courses (12 credits), including the senior requirement
- 5 courses to fill the breadth requirement, 4 of which are chosen from:
- 2 courses in 1 of the 8 areas of linguistics (see Overview) beyond the introductory level to fulfill the depth requirement
- 3 electives with at least 1 of the courses at the 2000 level or above
- LING 4900
- LING 4910
The scientific study of language is fundamental to the understanding of the human mind. The Department of Linguistics offers several courses open to students with no previous training in the field. These courses provide a general introduction to the subject matter and technical methods of linguistics, both for students who do not plan to major in Linguistics and for prospective majors:
- LING 1100 Language: Introduction to Linguistics introduces the goals and methods of linguistics, emphasizing the development of analytic techniques for various types of linguistic data.
- LING 1120 Language and Society provides a general introduction to the ways in which languages change over time.
- LING 1160 Cognitive Science of Language explores the study of language in the context of cognitive science and the relationship between linguistic and nonlinguistic cognition.
- LING 1179 Language and Mind studies knowledge of language as a component of the structure of the mind, including the nature of mental grammar and its neural implementation.
The department also offers more specialized introductions to the field, including:
By the end of sophomore year, prospective majors should have completed one introductory linguistics course. Ideally, they will also have begun to explore the foundational areas of the field through one or more 2000-level courses in phonetics, phonology, syntax, or semantics.
The study of language builds on a range of disciplines that Linguistics majors are encouraged to explore. Courses in anthropology, biology, computer science, mathematics, philosophy, and psychology can inform and contribute to a student’s major program.
FACULTY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF LINGUISTICS
Professors Claire Bowern, Veneeta Dayal, Robert Frank, Laurence Horn (Emeritus), †Frank Keil, †Joshua Knobe, Maria Piñango, Fernando Rubio (Adjunct), †Jason Stanley, †Zoltán Szabó, Raffaella Zanuttini (Chair)
Associate Professors Athulya Aravind, Simon Charlow, Jason Shaw, Jim Wood
Assistant Professors Tom McCoy, Augustina Owusu (Visiting), Natalie Weber
Lector Julia Silvestri
Lecturer Lydia Newkirk
†A joint appointment with primary affiliation in another department.
See the Roadmap Library for a visual representation of the major.