Linguistic Studies Requirements

Linguistic Studies Minor

World Languages, Literatures, and Cultures 
Advisor: Richard E. Morris

The minor in Linguistic Studies exposes students to the many ways that humans use and interact with language. Students are presented with a comprehensive view of how linguistics is examined in the disciplines of anthropology, English, psychology, communication disorders, classical and modern languages, and philosophy. Courses are grouped into four categories: foundation, formation, language, and electives. Upon completing the minor, the student should have broad knowledge of linguistics and linguistic principles, as well as specific knowledge relating to a chosen language of focus. The minor requires 18 credit hours.

NOTE: Relevant directed readings, independent study, special topics, or internships in any pertinent department may be pursued towards the minor with prior approval of the minor advisor. Students with transfer credit in a modern or classical language not offered at Middle Tennessee State University may request a substitution from the advisor.

Interdisciplinary Minors

Interdisciplinary minors require the student to complete a minimum of 15 to 21 hours from a list of specific courses. Unless otherwise noted, a student may take no more than 6 hours of courses from a single department until he or she surpasses the required minimum number of hours necessary for completing the minor. Exceptions to this rule may be found within the discussions of several of the minors. In most cases, a student is also limited to just 3 hours of credit toward the minor in the same department or discipline in which he or she is taking a major. Students must fulfill all departmental prerequisites for any course within an interdisciplinary minor. In some cases, advisors may approve course substitutions within these program requirements.

Foundation (3 hours)

 

  • ENGL 3570 - Introduction to Linguistics  3 credit hours  
    (Should be taken during the first two semesters in the program.)(Should be taken during the first two semesters in the program.)  dotslash:(Should be taken during the first two semesters in the program.) title:(Should be taken during the first two semesters in the program.) 
    (Should be taken during the first two semesters in the program.) 

    ENGL 3570 - Introduction to Linguistics

    3 credit hours

    Prerequisite: Completion of 1000- and 2000-level English requirements with a grade of C- or better. Anatomy of sound production, levels of structure in language: phonological (sound), morphological (meaningful segments), syntactic (interrelation of words in a sentence). Various meanings of language.

Formation (9 hours)

 (Three different prefixes required.)

  • ANTH 3410 - Linguistic Anthropology

    3 credit hours

    Language in its anthropological contexts with a focus on language as one element of culture, including how a language fits into the cultural system, how language is distinguished from other components of culture, how culture and language interrelate, and what techniques and methods can be used to infer nonlinguistic facts from linguistic material.

  • CDIS 3260 - Language Acquisition and Analysis

    3 credit hours

    Language development and procedures for analyzing child language. Semantic, syntactic, and pragmatic development explored through examining child language transcripts.

  • ENGL 4520 - The Structure of English

    3 credit hours

    Prerequisite: Completion of 1000- and 2000-level English requirements with a grade of C- or better. Structure of modern English and overview of current syntactic theories.

  • ENGL 4570 - Special Topics in Linguistics

    3 credit hours

    Prerequisites: Completion of 1000- and 2000-level English requirements with a grade of C-  or better. Selected topic in theoretical linguistics. Content varies from semester to semester. May be repeated under a different subtitle.

  • FL 3100 - Methods and Issues in Translation

    3 credit hours

    Prerequisite: FREN 2020, GERM 2020, SPAN 2020, JAPN 3020, or ARAB 3010 or permission of instructor. Introduces the theories, contexts, processes, and emerging trends in translation. Topics include translation theories/approaches and the link between theory and practice, the various fields and subfields of translation, translation as a profession and the translation process, and new technologies and trends in translation. Conducted primarily in English.

  • HUM 3000 - Topics in Foreign Language Linguistics

    3 credit hours

    Prerequisite: ENGL 3570, PSY 4820, ANTH 3410, or SPAN 3120 or permission of instructor. Selected topic in theoretical linguistics focusing on languages other than English. Content varies from semester to semester. May be repeated under a different subtitle.

  • PHIL 4350 - Philosophy of Language

    3 credit hours

    Prerequisite: PHIL 2110 recommended. Introduces students to the most influential analyses of meaning, reference, and truth of early twentieth-century Anglo-American philosophy; explores how the work of Ludwig Wittgenstein transforms canonical accounts of language; considers the role of metaphor in human communication and understanding.

  • PSY 4820 - Psychology of Language

    3 credit hours

    Prerequisite: PSY 1410. A cognitive approach to how people learn and use language to communicate. Covers basic and applied psycholinguistics (including language perception, language production, syntax, semantics, discourse comprehension, and language development).

Language (3 hours)

 

  • CHIN 1020 - Elementary Chinese II

    3 credit hours

    Prerequisite: CHIN 1010 or advanced placement. Continuation of CHIN 1010.

  • FREN 1020 - Elementary French II

    3 credit hours

    Prerequisite: FREN 1010 or advanced placement. Continuation of FREN 1010.

  • ITAL 1020 - Elementary Italian II

    3 credit hours

    Prerequisite: ITAL 1010 or advanced placement. Continuation of ITAL 1010. Increased emphasis on the acquisition of fluency in Italian.

  • JAPN 1020 - Elementary Japanese II

    3 credit hours

    Prerequisite: JAPN 1010 or equivalent. A continuation of materials introduced in JAPN 1010.

  • LATN 1020 - Elementary Latin II

    3 credit hours

    Prerequisite: LATN 1010 or equivalent. Continuation of materials introduced in LATN 1010. Increased emphasis on reading Latin texts.

  • PORT 1020 - Elementary Portuguese II

    3 credit hours

    Prerequisite: PORT 1010 or permission of instructor. Continuation of materials introduced in PORT 1010.

  • RUSS 1020 - Elementary Russian II

    3 credit hours

    Prerequisite: RUSS 1010 or advanced placement. A continuation of RUSS 1010.

  • SPAN 1020 - Elementary Spanish II

    3 credit hours

    Prerequisite: SPAN 1010 or advanced placement. A continuation of materials introduced in SPAN 1010.

Electives (3 hours)

 

  • CDIS 3150 - Phonetics  3 credit hours  

    CDIS 3150 - Phonetics

    3 credit hours

    Training in the recognition and production of the sounds of speech with an analysis of their formation; extensive practice in phonetic transcription.

  • ENGL 4510 - Modern English Grammar and Usage

    3 credit hours

    Prerequisite: Completion of 1000- and 2000-level English requirements with a grade of C- or better. Traditional English grammar and the principles upon which grammatical analysis is based. Satisfies teacher licensure grammar requirement.

  • ENGL 4530 - History of the English Language

    3 credit hours

    Prerequisite: Completion of 1000- and 2000-level English requirements with a grade of C- or better. Political, social, intellectual forces determining historical development of English; internal structural changes--sounds, inflections--resulting from those forces.

  • ENGL 4570 - Special Topics in Linguistics

    3 credit hours

    Prerequisites: Completion of 1000- and 2000-level English requirements with a grade of C-  or better. Selected topic in theoretical linguistics. Content varies from semester to semester. May be repeated under a different subtitle.

  • FREN 3140 - Introductory French-English Translation

    3 credit hours

    Prerequisites: FL 3100 and FREN 3010 or equivalent or permission of instructor. Introduces French translation through practical application of French to English translation skills using audiovisual, literary, legal, information technology, localization, commercial, business, medical, scientific, and technical texts, among others.

  • JAPN 3570 - Introduction to Japanese Linguistics

    3 credit hours

    Prerequisite: JAPN 3030 or permission of instructor. Introduces linguistic study of the Japanese language with emphasis on theoretical, social, and applied linguistic concepts and data in Japanese. Taught in Japanese.

  • SPAN 3090 - Spanish and Power

    3 credit hours

    Prerequisite: SPAN 3010 or SPAN 3020 or permission of instructor. Explores the Spanish language as an instrument of political, economic, and social power over the past 2000 years, with emphasis on the modern period and current events.

  • SPAN 3120 - Spanish Phonetics and Pronunciation

    3 credit hours

    Prerequisite: SPAN 2020 or equivalent or instructor permission. A practical introduction to phonetic principles involved in achieving native-sounding Spanish pronunciation, including sounds, stress, intonation, and smooth speech styles. Native Spanish speakers or students with native-like Spanish pronunciation may not take this course for credit without instructor permission.

  • SPAN 3140 - Introductory Spanish-English Translation

    3 credit hours

    Prerequisite: FL 3100, SPAN 3010, and SPAN 3020. Introduces Spanish translation through practical application of Spanish to English translation skills using audiovisual, literary, legal, information technology, localization, commercial, business, medical, scientific, and technical texts, among others.

NOTE:

Alternately the student may choose any formation course as an elective.