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Central concepts of linguistics: linguistic categories and structure (phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics). Note: May not be taken by students with credit in LING 111.
An introduction to cross-disciplinary and applied areas in linguistics (e.g. language change, language acquisition, language in society). Pre/corequisite: LING 101.
Effective: 2026-09-01 LING 102 - Linguistics in Action
An introduction to cross-disciplinary and applied areas in linguistics (e.g. language change, language acquisition, language in society). Prerequisite: LING 101.
Central concepts of linguistics: linguistic categories and structure (phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics) with special attention to Canadian Indigenous languages. Restricted to CILLDI program students. Note: Not to be taken by students with credit in LING 101.
A study of recent developments in particular sub-areas of linguistics. Can be repeated twice when topics vary.
Exploration of morphological and syntactic phenomena found in English and other languages of the world. Prerequisite: LING 101.
Effective: 2026-09-01 LING 204 - Syntax of the World's Languages
Examination of syntactic structures of natural languages from a descriptive-typological perspective, including parts of speech systems, clause types, sentence structure, grammatical relations, and syntactic processes. Students will learn how languages organize their syntax and how syntax is both the same and different across languages. Prerequisite: LING 101.
Recognizing, transcribing, and producing speech sounds using the International Phonetic Alphabet; problems in phonetic analysis; elementary acoustic phonetics; techniques for describing the sound system of an unfamiliar language. Sections may be offered at an increased rate of fee assessment; refer to the Tuition and Fees page in the University Regulations sections of the Calendar. Prerequisite: LING 101.
Effective: 2026-09-01 LING 205 - Phonetics
Introduction to practical skills and the conceptual framework to study in phonetics. Students will obtain fundamental knowledge of the articulatory, perceptual and acoustic characteristics of speech sounds used in the world's languages, and of transcription using the International Phonetic Alphabet. Sections may be offered at an increased rate of fee assessment; refer to the Tuition and Fees page in the University Regulations sections of the Calendar. Prerequisite: LING 101.
Recognizing, transcribing, and producing speech sounds using the International Phonetic Alphabet; problems in phonetic analysis; elementary acoustic phonetics; techniques for describing the sound system of Canadian Indigenous languages. Prerequisite: LING 101 or 111. Restricted to CILLDI program students. Note: Not to be taken by students with credit in LING 205.
Morphological structure and meaning in Canadian Indigenous languages, including how best to represent lexical meaning and form in a dictionary, how new words might be coined, and how these languages with their complex morphology and verb systems might be taught to adult learners. Prerequisite: LING 101 or LING 111. Restricted to CILLDI program students. Note: Not to be taken by students with credit in LING 308 or 309.
Types of sentence and discourse patterns in Canadian Indigenous languages; attention to real language use across different genres (e.g. traditional stories, conversation, personal narratives, oratory and ceremony) so that CLC students can go on to collect and transcribe samples of language in context rather than word lists or sentences in isolation. Prerequisite: LING 101 or LING 111. Restricted to CILLDI program students. Note: Not to be taken by students with credit in LING 308 or 309.
Effective: 2026-09-01 LING 222 - Slang
Examination of the motivations and meanings of slang, or creative, nonstandard language, involving content from linguistics and the psychology of language. Students will explore why slang is used, how it functions as a form of communication, and why it has the meanings it does.
An examination of local and global factors affecting the vitality of languages: how language endangerment arises, how linguistic and cultural diversity suffers, and how linguists can respond. Students cannot receive credit for both LING 224 and 324.
Effective: 2026-09-01 LING 224 - Endangered Languages
Examination of local and global factors affecting the vitality of languages today. Students will learn about how language endangerment arises, how linguistic and cultural diversity suffers, and how linguists can respond.
Effective: 2026-09-01 LING 230 - Sounds of English
Examination of how the sounds of English are pronounced, in which contexts they occur, and how they interact with each other. Students will be introduced to the essentials of acoustic phonetics to understand English pronunciation and perception. Not open to students with credit in LING 205.
Effective: 2026-09-01 LING 240 - Metaphor in the Language and Mind
Examination of metaphor, the use of words meaning one thing to talk about something else, using insights from linguistics and psychology. Students will explore metaphor not only in language and thought, but also in image, music, and other human creations, as well as in abstract domains like morality, social relationships, love, and life. Course is cross-listed as ENGL 240. Credit will only be granted for LING 240 or ENGL 240.
Effective: 2026-09-01 LING 260 - Language and the Internet
Examination of digital language use on social media platforms, in digital media, and elsewhere. Students will learn about the many sides of digital language such as digital slang and emojis, as well as the descriptive and analytical tools used by linguists to understand them. Course is cross-listed as MST 260. Credit will only be granted for LING 260 or MST 260.
A study of recent developments in particular sub-areas of linguistics. Can be repeated twice when topics vary.
Basic principles of word formation and structure across languages. Prerequisites: LING 101, 204, and 310.
Effective: 2026-09-01 LING 308 - Morphology
The study of the shapes of words, the processes used to form them, and the meanings expressed by words and their parts. Focus on the description of morphological systems and their underlying organization. Prerequisites: LING 101, LING 204, and LING 310.
Basic principles of syntactic analysis and an introduction to theoretical approaches. Prerequisites: LING 101 and 204.
Effective: 2026-09-01 LING 309 - Syntax
Approaches to describing and modelling syntactic structure and the formalisms used for this purpose. Students will learn the methods and rationales for syntactic theories and apply them to the analysis of data. Prerequisites: LING 101 and LING 204.
Basic principles of phonological analysis across languages: representation of sounds and sound changes. Prerequisites: LING 101 and 205.
Effective: 2026-09-01 LING 310 - Phonology
An introduction to phonological description and analysis. Students will become familiar with the basics of phonological theory and will also learn how to work with phonological data to discover ways that sound systems can be structured. Prerequisites: LING 101 and LING 205.
A study of recent developments in particular subareas of linguistics with special attention to the Indigenous languages of Western Canada. Prerequisite: LING 111 or consent of Department. Restricted to CILLDI program students.
Analysis of selected approaches to the study of discourse including conversational analysis, narrative structure, text analysis. Prerequisite: LING 101. Not offered every year.
Effective: 2026-09-01 LING 314 - Discourse Analysis
Exploration of the relationship between language and its social contexts to understand how discourse shapes meaning, identity, and power. Prerequisite: LING 101. Not offered every year.
An examination of phonological, syntactic, lexical, and semantic variation in language systems in connection with extra-linguistic factors such as individual, social, or demographic differences. Prerequisite: LING 101. Not offered every year.
Effective: 2026-09-01 LING 316 - Sociolinguistics
Examination of the social and linguistic factors that influence how people use language, such as age, gender, and ethnicity. Students will consider how different ways of speaking can shape social interactions and identities. Prerequisite: LING 101. Not offered every year.
Basic issues in first language acquisition: theories, research methods, and major findings. Sections may be offered at an increased rate of fee assessment; refer to the Tuition and Fees page in the University Regulations sections of the Calendar. Prerequisite: LING 101, LING 204 and 205 recommended. Not open to students with credit in CSD 211 or 311.
Effective: 2026-09-01 LING 319 - Child Language Acquisition
Introduction to the study of the development of all aspects of language from birth through adolescence, including a review of theories and current research as well as practice with analyses of children's language. This course provides students with a foundation in the development of speech perception, phonology, lexicon/semantics, pragmatics, and morphosyntax. Sections may be offered at an increased rate of fee assessment; refer to the Tuition and Fees page in the University Regulations sections of the Calendar. Prerequisite: LING 101. Not open to students with credit in CSD 211 or 311.
Application of linguistics to theoretical issues in second-language acquisition: properties of language, problems of languages in contact, psycholinguistic aspects of bilingualism. Prerequisite: LING 101. Recommended: LING 204.
Effective: 2026-09-01 LING 320 - Second Language Acquisition
Introduction to the study of the acquisition of second or additional languages. Students will learn about psycholinguistic, sociolinguistic, and other factors which influences second language learning, as well as sources of individual learner differences and topics in bilingualism. Prerequisite: LING 101.
A neurolinguistic approach to the representation and processing of linguistic structures in the brain; patterns of language breakdown resulting from damage to the brain. Prerequisites: LING 101 and 204, or consent of Department. Not offered every year.
Effective: 2026-09-01 LING 321 - Neurolinguistics
Introduction to modern cognitive neuroscience of language. Students will learn about acquired language disorders, behavioural and neurocognitive factors in language processing, and how different brain structures and networks contribute to language processing. Prerequisites: LING 101 and either LING 204 or LING 205, or consent of Department. Not offered every year.
The role of language and linguistics in the understanding of human information processing and the nature of mental representations. Prerequisite: LING 101.
Effective: 2026-09-01 LING 323 - Linguistics and the Mind
Examination of the relationship between language and its sociological and cognitive underpinnings. Students will learn about the motor and sensory processing involved in gesture production and comprehension, as well as the neurologically driven social imperatives that language has evolved to fulfill. Prerequisite: LING 101.
History and typology of writing systems and how different writing systems influence the reading process. Prerequisite: LING 101.
Effective: 2026-09-01 LING 325 - Writing Systems
Overview of current and historical writing systems, and how writing systems have come into existence and evolved over time. Students will learn about the basic principles underlying the organization of writing systems and the range of ways in which language and speech can be represented as written symbols. Prerequisite: LING 101.
An introduction to Indigenous languages of North, Central and South America, including linguistic, cultural and sociopolitical aspects. Prerequisite: LING 101.
Effective: 2026-09-01 LING 360 - Indigenous Languages of Canada
An introduction to Indigenous languages of Canada, including linguistic, cultural and sociopolitical aspects. Prerequisite: LING 101.
Issues and methods in the revitalization of endangered languages in Canada and around the world. Prerequisite: LING 101 and 224.
Issues and methods in the documentation of endangered languages, from community collaboration, to recording speakers, to the preparation and deposit of documentary data in permanent collections. Prerequisite: LING 204 and 205.
The theories and methods used in making dictionaries and describing lexical items, including the creation of bilingual lexica for language documentation. Prerequisite: LING 101.
Independent study of a particular sub-area of linguistics. Normally offered as a reading course and directed research practicum through special prior arrangement. Prerequisite: Consent of Instructor.
Effective: 2026-09-01 LING 375 - Linguistics Directed Research I
Experiential learning-based introduction to particular areas of linguistic research. Students will gain practical research experience by working on ongoing research in the department. Prerequisite: Consent of Instructor.
A study of recent developments in particular sub-areas of linguistics. Prerequisite: consent of Department. Normally offered only as a reading course through special arrangement.
Issues and methods involved in the experimental study of language production, comprehension, and acquisition. Prerequisites: Any two of LING 308, 309 or 310. Recommended: a course in elementary statistics.
Effective: 2026-09-01 LING 400 - Psycholinguistics
Overview of central theoretical approaches, findings, experimental techniques, and recent trends in how language is processed in the mind. Students will learn about lexical, sentence and discourse processing, as well as how individual differences affect language processing. Prerequisites: Any two of LING 308, LING 309 or LING 310.
An overview of natural language semantics across languages at both the lexical and clause levels. Topics covered include sense, reference, features, compositionality, semantic roles, logical form, categorization, and conceptualization. Prerequisite: LING 309. Not offered every year.
Research relating to a student's honors project in linguistics. Normally offered as a research practicum through special prior arrangement. Note: Required for and restricted to BA Honors students in Linguistics in their final year.
Principles and methods in the study of language change. Prerequisite: LING 310. Not offered every year.
A survey of similarities, differences, tendencies, and universals in the phonological, morphological, and syntactic patterns of different languages. Prerequisite: LING 309. Not offered every year.