Linguistics

• CAS LX 391: Linguistic Field Methods
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: CAS LX 250; or consent of instructor.
  A team-based in-depth investigation of the phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, and lexicon of an African or other non-Indo-European language. Bi-weekly sessions with language consultant. Weekly trainings on methodology, ethics, analysis, and presentation of results. Effective Spring 2021, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Ethical Reasoning, Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy, Teamwork/Collaboration.
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  • Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
  • Ethical Reasoning
  • Teamwork/Collaboration
• CAS LX 394: Introduction to Programming for Computational Linguistics
  Introduction to computational techniques to explore linguistic models and test empirical claims. Serves as an introduction to programming, algorithms, and data structures, focused on modern applications to Natural Language Processing (NLP). Topics include tagging and classification, parsing models, meaning representation, and information extraction. (Not intended for students with a background in programming or computer science.) Carries MCS divisional studies credit in CAS. Effective Fall 2018, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Quantitative Reasoning II, Research and Information Literacy.
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  • Quantitative Reasoning II
  • Research and Information Literacy
• CAS LX 403: Phonological Analysis
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: CAS LX 301 (formerly CAS LX 510), or consent of instructor.
  Survey of phonological theory and analysis, with focus on cross-linguistic typology of phonological systems. Phonological reasoning and argumentation skills are developed. Empirical coverage includes contrast, distinctive features, rules and constraints, opacity, tone, syllabification, stress, and interactions with morphology and syntax. Also offered as GRS LX 703. This course cannot be taken for credit in addition to the course entitled "Introduction to Phonology" that was previously numbered CAS LX 513.
• CAS LX 405: Prosody
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: CAS LX 301 (formerly CAS LX 510), or consent of instructor.
  Exploration of the melodic and rhythmic aspects of the languages of the world. Emphasis on theoretical and experimental approaches to cross-linguistic typology. Specific topics include syllables and syllable-weight, rhythm and speech timing; stress and metrics; tone and intonation. Also offered as GRS LX 705. This course cannot be taken for credit in addition to the course with the same title that was previously numbered CAS LX 525.
• CAS LX 422: Intermediate Syntax: Modeling Syntactic Knowledge
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: CAS LX 321 (formerly CAS LX 522), or consent of instructor.
  Using linguistic data drawn from a wide variety of languages, students develop a precise model of syntactic knowledge through evaluation of hypotheses and arguments. Exploration of major discoveries and phenomena from the linguistic literature. Also offered as GRS LX 722.
• CAS LX 423: Advanced Syntax: Issues in Modern Syntactic Theory
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: CAS LX 422; or consent of instructor.
  Exploration of advanced topics in syntax, chosen in part based on student interest, through reading and critical discussion of both foundational and recent literature. Also offered as GRS LX 723. This course cannot be taken for credit in addition to the course entitled "Syntax II" that was previously numbered CAS LX 523.
• CAS LX 432: Intermediate Semantics: The Grammatical Construction of Meaning
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: CAS LX 331 (formerly CAS LX 502).
  Systematic development of a semantic theory of natural language, using the tools of model-theoretic semantics. In-depth study of the relation between meaning and grammar, and the relation between meaning and context. Also offered as GRS LX 732. This course cannot be taken for credit in addition to the course entitled "Semantics II" that was previously numbered CAS LX 503.
• CAS LX 433: Experimental Pragmatics
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: CAS LX 331 (formerly CAS LX 502), or consent of instructor.
  Covers recent developments in the theory of pragmatics and related empirical findings obtained through a variety of experimental methods. Topics include scalar implicature and its relation to vagueness and imprecision, hyperbole, metaphor, irony, politeness, and the pragmatics of reference to objects in visual scenes. This course cannot be taken for credit in addition to the course entitled "Topics in Pragmatics" that was previously numbered CAS LX 504. Effective Fall 2019, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Quantitative Reasoning II, Digital/Multimedia Expression, Creativity/Innovation.
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  • Quantitative Reasoning II
  • Digital/Multimedia Expression
  • Creativity/Innovation
• CAS LX 453: Acquisition of Phonology
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: CAS LX 301.
  Surveys current knowledge about how children acquire phonology during the first years of life. Topics include biological foundations; perceptual and vocal development; word learning; phonological universals; implicit and explicit learning mechanisms; formalist and functionalist models; and individual variation. Also offered as GRS LX 753. This course cannot be taken for credit in addition to the course entitled "Phonological Development" that was previously numbered CAS LX 541.
• CAS LX 454: Acquisition of Syntax
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: CAS LX 321.
  Exploration of the character and course of acquisition of syntactic knowledge in both first and second language contexts. Covers methodological principles for conducting studies and analyzing data, and topics such as development of verb movement, binding theory, and tense. Also offered as GRS LX 754. This course cannot be taken for credit in addition to the course with the same title that was previously numbered CAS LX 540.
• CAS LX 496: Computational Linguistics
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: CAS LX 250; and CASCS112 or CASLX394); or consent of instructor.
  Introduction to computational techniques to explore linguistic models and test empirical claims. Serves as an introduction to concepts, algorithms, data structures, and tool libraries. Topics include tagging and classification, parsing models, meaning representation, corpus creation, information extraction. Effective Spring 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Quantitative Reasoning II, Research and Information Literacy.
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  • Quantitative Reasoning II
  • Research and Information Literacy