Phone: (845) 257-2745
Location: JFT 412
Web address: www.newpaltz.edu/linguistics
Linguistics is the scientific study of language. Contemporary linguistics is a dynamic field that bridges the humanities, social and cognitive sciences, and data sciences. It investigates how language is structured and used, how it is acquired, how it is represented and processed in the brain, how it varies by speaker and situation, and how it changes over time. Linguists seek to understand both the immense diversity of human languages and the universal, common patterns that underlie them all. Today, linguistics increasingly intersects with neuroscience, artificial intelligence, and computational technologies, informing the design of large language models, voice-recognition systems, and natural language processing applications. Through this multidisciplinary lens, the field provides a critical bridge between human linguistic capacity and technological innovation.
The 18-credit interdisciplinary minor in Linguistics introduces students to the core concepts, empirical foundations, and analytical methods of contemporary linguistics. Students from any academic background interested in deepening their theoretical understanding of language alongside practical applications may wish to consider the Linguistics minor. By fostering versatile skills in analytical and scientific reasoning, problem solving, and data-driven argumentation, the Linguistics minor lends a distinct professional advantage to any modern career.
For more information about the Linguistics Program at SUNY New Paltz, please contact:
Professor Oksana Laleko
Program Director
Office: JFT 412
E-mail: lalekoo@newpaltz.edu
LIN201. Intro To Linguistics. 3 Credits.
Linguistics is the scientific study of language. Students will be introduced to the fundamental principles of linguistic analysis by examining the main components of language, including the patterning of sounds (phonetics and phonology), the structure of words and sentences (morphology and syntax), the ways linguistic structure and context give rise to meaning (semantics and pragmatics), and how social practices shape and are shaped by language use (sociolinguistics).
Attributes:
- Liberal Arts
- Systematic Inquiry
- GE4: Social Science
- GE5: Social Sciences
- GE3: SSCI
Restrictions:
- Must have the following level: Undergraduate
LIN293. Linguistics Selected Topic. 3-12 Credits.
Selected topics courses are regularly scheduled courses that focus on a particular topic of interest. Descriptions are printed in the Schedule of Classes each semester. Selected topics courses may be used as elective credit and may be repeated for credit, provided that the topic of the course changes.
LIN295. Indep Study Linguistics. 0 Credits.
LIN364. Syntax. 3 Credits.
Introduction to the linguistic discipline of syntax, the study of sentence structure, with a focus on the Generative Grammar framework of Noam Chomsky and followers. Considers data from English and other languages.
Attributes:
- Liberal Arts
Restrictions:
- Must have the following level: Undergraduate
- Must not be enrolled in the following class: Freshman
Prerequisites:
- LIN201 Minimum Grade of D-
LIN365. Semantics. 3 Credits.
Semantics is the study of meaning in natural language. The course surveys various topics in linguistic semantics, and pragmatics, including word definition, sentence meaning, predication, quantification, logic connectives, the tense and aspect of verbs events, thematic roles and conversational implicature.
Attributes:
- Liberal Arts
Restrictions:
- Must have the following level: Undergraduate
- Must not be enrolled in the following class: Freshman
Prerequisites:
- Math Placement Level Minimum Score of 3
- LIN201 Minimum Grade of D-
LIN380. Etymology and Morphology. 3 Credits.
Study of the origins and development of words. Study of patterns of the internal structures of words within and across languages. Theories of word origins and grammatical structure. Lecture/discussion with exercises and Powerpoint.
Attributes:
- Liberal Arts
Restrictions:
- Must have the following level: Undergraduate
- Must not be enrolled in the following class: Freshman
Prerequisites:
- LIN201 Minimum Grade of D-
LIN393. Linguistic Selected Topic. 3-12 Credits.
Selected topics courses are regularly scheduled courses that focus on a particular topic of interest. Descriptions are printed in the Schedule of Classes each semester. Selected topics courses may be used as elective credit and may be repeated for credit, provided that the topic of the course changes.
Restrictions:
- Must have the following level: Undergraduate
- Must not be enrolled in the following class: Freshman
LIN399. Modular Course. 0 Credits.
Restrictions:
- Must have the following level: Undergraduate
- Must not be enrolled in the following class: Freshman
LIN413. Sociolinguistics. 3 Credits.
This course will examine the relationships between language and society, and language and culture. It will investigate how language varieties interact with other social characteristics such as class, gender, ethnicity, race, and age. To accomplish this the course will have an interdisciplinary focus. Students will explore topics on regional and social variation in language usage; language change, maintenance and shifts; boundary markers and identity formation; language usage in multilingual communities; the nature of speech and discourse communities; and discourse analysis. In addition, the course will examine specific topics in macro-sociolinguistics such as national languages and language planning, as well as applied issues such as the relationships between sociolinguistics and education.
Attributes:
- Liberal Arts
Restrictions:
- Must not be enrolled in the following class: Freshman
LIN493. Linguistic Selected Topics. 3-12 Credits.
Selected topics courses are regularly scheduled courses that focus on a particular topic of interest. Descriptions are printed in the Schedule of Classes each semester. Selected topics courses may be used as elective credit and may be repeated for credit, provided that the topic of the course changes.
Attributes:
- Liberal Arts
Restrictions:
- Must not be enrolled in the following class: Freshman
LIN494. Fieldwork in Linguistics. 1-12 Credits.
Restrictions:
- Must not be enrolled in the following class: Freshman
LIN495. Indep Study Linguistics. 3-12 Credits.
Restrictions:
- Must not be enrolled in the following class: Freshman
