Linguistics Program - Princeton University

Professor Robert A. Freidin

MW 10:00-10:50am

 

Introduction to the major areas, problems and techniques of modern linguistics, providing an overview of what is known about human language: its unique nature, structure, universality and diversity.

 

 

Professor Joshua T. Katz

MW 1:30-2:50pm

 

This course provides an introduction to the study of language change and linguistic relationship. We will describe and analyze change in the building blocks of language (sounds, morphemes, and words), discovering, accounting for, and extrapolating from regular patterns manifested in numerous ancient and modern languages the world over.

 

 

Professor Edwin W. Williams

MW 1:30-2:50pm

 

This course will treat the structure of words and the structure of the overall lexicon for human languages.  Topics included will be: the rules of word formation; the relation between syntax and the lexicon; the psychology of the lexicon, including an examination of studies of the storage and access of lexical items; the semantics of complex words; the phonology of word formation; lexical redundancy and the learning of the lexicon.  Students will prepare one short class presentation on a topic in consultation with the instructor.

 

 

Professor Christiane D. Fellbaum

TTh 3:00-4:20pm

 

The course covers the linguistic, psycholinguistic, neurolinguistic, and sociolinguistic aspects of bilingualism.   We examine language acquisition in monolingual and bilingual children, the notion of "critical age" for language acquisition, definitions and measurements of bilingualism, and the verbal behavior of bilinguals such as code-switching.  We consider the effects of bilingualism on other cognitive domains, including memory, and examine neurolinguistic evidence comparing the brains of monolinguals and bilinguals.  Societal and governmental attitudes toward bilingualism in countries like India and the U.S. are contrasted.

 

 

Professor Leonard H. Babby

MW 3:00-4:20pm

 

The study of human language from the perspective of linguistic universals.  This course will demonstrate that, contrary to initial impressions, languages of the world do not differ arbitrarily and without limit.  All human languages share a common core (universals).  We must explain why there are linguistic universals and how languages can differ (diversity).

 

 

Professor Edwin S. Williams

MW 11:00-12:20pm

 

Advanced issues in linguistic semantics.  Topics will include quantification, vagueness, presupposition, implicature, genericity, information structure, and event structure.