Learning Goals

The department holds the following expectations of all linguistics department graduates. Students may also work towards learning goals particular to their sub-discipline of linguistics.

Knowledge of…

• Foundational readings and approaches related to the analysis of language 
• The equality of languages and language varieties and commonly held misconceptions about them
• The complexity and underlying systematicity of language
• The role of variation (within and across languages) in linguistic theory and analysis
• The relationships between language and a variety of social contexts
• How first and second languages are learned
• How languages are structured and how they convey referential and social meaning
• How language is processed, cognitively and computationally

Ability to…

• Analyze linguistic data at various levels of structure and use
• Analyze, critically evaluate, and integrate classic and current research in linguistics and
• Apply that understanding to contemporary theoretical and practical issues
• Craft clear and coherent linguistic analytic arguments
• Design, carry out, and report a small original research project on a current topic in linguistics
• Relate linguistic constructs to other academic fields