For a full list of undergraduate courses in linguistics offered in recent years, see: CAS – Linguistics Courses.

Language and Artificial Intelligence

CAS LX 130

This course is an accessible introduction to Artificial Intelligence (especially contemporary developments), focusing AI systems’ ability to produce, comprehend, and communicate with us in natural language. We will cover questions such as: “What is under the hood of current AI systems that seem to produce fluent language?” “How do these systems learn language?” “Is AI language different from ours?” “What are current limitations in their capacity?” and “How do we evaluate such questions in an empirically rigorous way?”.

BU Hub areas: Pending.

 Language and A.I. Kim TR 12:30-1:45 TBA

 

Introduction to Linguistics

CAS LX 250 / MET LX 250

Properties that languages share and how languages differ with respect to structure (sound system, word formation, syntax), expression of meaning, acquisition, variation, and change; cultural and artistic uses of language; comparison of oral, written, and signed languages. Also offered through Metropolitan College as MET LX 250. (Students must also register for a discussion section.)

BU Hub areas: Scientific Inquiry I, Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy, Critical Thinking.

Introduction to Linguistics (also MET LX250 A1) TBA TR 11:00-12:15 TBA
Discussion Section S1 TBA F 9:05-9:55 TBA
Discussion Section S2 TBA F 10:10-11:00 TBA
Discussion Section S3 TBA F 11:15-12:05 TBA
Discussion Section S4 TBA F 12:20-1:10 TBA
Discussion Section S5 TBA F 1:25-2:15 TBA
Discussion Section S6 TBA F 2:30-3:20 TBA
Discussion Section S7 (also MET LX 250 A2) TBA F 2:30-3:20 TBA

Syntax: Introduction to Sentential Structure

CAS LX 321

Systematic examination of how meaning is encoded in words and sentences, and how it can emerge from the complexity of the grammar. Also touches on various aspects of pragmatics–the study of how meaning is shaped by context.  (Students must also register for a discussion section, CAS LX 322.)

Prerequisite: CAS LX 250, or consent of instructor.

BU Hub areas: The Individual in Community, Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy, Critical Thinking.

Syntax: Introduction to Sentential Structure Hagstrom TR 11:00-12:15 TBA
Discussion Section S1 (LX322) TBA M 3:35-4:25 TBA
Discussion Section S2 (LX322) TBA M 4:40-5:30 TBA
Discussion Section S3 (LX322) TBA W 3:35-4:25 TBA

Sociolinguistics

CAS LX 341

Introduction to language in its social context. Methodological and theoretical approaches to sociolinguistics. Linguistic variation in relation to situation, gender, socioeconomic class, linguistic context, and ethnicity. Integrating micro- and macro-analysis from conversation to societal language planning.

Prerequisite: CAS LX 250 or CAS AN 351, or consent of instructor.

Sociolinguistics Ngom MWF 2:30-3:20 TBA

Languages in Contact

CAS LX 345

Examines the mechanisms and outcomes of language contact by surveying cases around the globe from the past and present. Topics include lexical-borrowing, code- switching, pidgins and creoles, language death, and the emergence of entirely new language systems.

Prerequisite: CAS LX 250 or consent of instructor.

Languages in Contact Erker MWF 12:20-1:10 TBA

Psycholinguistics

CAS LX 351

Language allows us to understand others’ thoughts and express our own—but how does it work? This course explores the cognitive and neural systems underlying human language and provides hands-on training in psycholinguistic research methods, quantitative analysis, and scientific communication.

Prerequisites: CAS LX250 or consent of instructor.

Psycholinguistics Yacovone TR 9:30-10:45 TBA

History of French

CAS LX 375

Overview of socio-historical and linguistic factors underpinning the emergence, development, and spread of the French language over time. Study of historical, societal, and political events, along with phonetic, morphological, syntactic, and orthographic changes. Representative texts demonstrate stages of language change. Conducted in English.

Prerequisite: CAS LX 250, or consent of instructor.

BU Hub areas: Historical Consciousness, Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy.

History of French Matthieu MWF 12:10-1:10 TBA

Topics in Linguistics

CAS LX 390 A1 – Advanced Child Language Acquisition

This advanced seminar builds on Introduction to Child Language Acquisition, digging deeper into the theories and empirical evidence behind how kids learn language. Each week, we read classic literature and explore cutting-edge research that has shaped, and continues to challenge, what we know. Class time is built around lively discussions, visits from scholars in language development, and, depending on interest, opportunities for hands-on data collection with families from our community.

Pre-requisites: Intro to Child Language Acquisition (previously a Topics class) or instructor approval.

Topics in Linguistics: A1 Yacovone TR 2:00-3:15 TBA

CAS LX 390 B1 – Intermediate Morphophonology

Investigation of what morphology and phonology are, how they may or may not be distinct, and how they interact. Can be counted in place of LX 403/LX703 Phonological Analysis, or as an advanced phonetics, phonology, or morphology course for the purposes of the breadth requirement in the PhD program.

Prerequisite: CAS LX 302 Phonetics and Phonology

Topics in Linguistics: B1 Myler MWF 2:30-3:20 TBA

Intermediate Semantics: The Grammatical Construction of Meaning

CAS LX 432

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.

Prerequisite: CAS LX 331, or consent of instructor.

Intermediate Semantics: The Grammatical Construction of Meaning Coppock MWF 1:25-2:15 TBA

Computational Linguistics

CAS LX 496

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.

Prerequisite: CAS LX 250 and either CAS CS 112 or CS LX 394, or consent of instructor.

BU Hub areas: Quantitative Reasoning II, Research and Information Literacy.

Computational Linguistics Hao TR 12:30-1:45 TBA
Discussion Section S1 Qin W 4:40-5:30 TBA

Advanced Topics in Computational Linguistics

CAS LX 497

Covers advanced topics in computational linguistics. Topics vary. May be taken for credit as topics change. Topic for Spring 2027: Contemporary Research in Neural Network Models of Language. This seminar discusses contemporary research in computational linguistics and cognitive science, focusing on neural network models. We aim to survey new research directions enabled by recent technological advances, contrasting things possible e.g., in the second wave of connectionism.

Prerequisite: CAS LX 496/796 or CAS CS 505, or consent of instructor.

Advanced Topics in Computational Linguistics Kim TR 3:30-4:45 TBA