Linguistics
Programs and courses in Linguistics are administered by the Linguistics Coordinator.
An undergraduate degree in linguistics provides opportunities to study the formal, functional and systemic nature of language and languages as both social and cognitive phenomena. Although a discipline in its own right, linguistics has cognate relationships with many disciplines, suggested by the interdisciplinary nature of many of the courses in the program. Faculty members from:
- Anthropology
- English
- French
- Philosophy
- Psychology
- Sociology
and other disciplines participate.
The Bachelor of Arts (BA) is a well-established, foundational degree and requires the requirements listed below alongside general graduation requirements.
Major in Linguistics
A major in linguistics requires a minimum of thirty-nine (39) credit hours, including:
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| LING 1200 | Introduction to Linguistics | 6 |
| LING 2309 | Phonetics | 3 |
| LING 2310 | Sound Patterns in Language I | 3 |
| LING 2330 | Syntax | 3 |
| LING 2340 | Semantics: Meaning in Language | 3 |
| Select at least 6 credit hours from the following: | 6 | |
| Sound Patterns in Language II | ||
| Morphology | ||
| Advanced Syntax | ||
| Select 15 additional credit hours at the 2000 level or above in LING, of which at least 12 must be at the 3000 level or above | 15 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 39 | |
Concentration in Linguistics
A Concentration in linguistics requires a minimum of twenty-four (24) credit hours in linguistics including:
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| LING 1200 | Introduction to Linguistics | 6 |
| Select at least 6 credit hours from the following: | 6 | |
| Phonetics | ||
| Sound Patterns in Language I | ||
| Syntax | ||
| Semantics: Meaning in Language | ||
| Select 12 additional credit hours at the 3000 level or above in LING or from the list of approved courses below | 12 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 24 | |
Honours in Linguistics
An honours degree requires a minimum of sixty (60) credit hours including:
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| LING 1200 | Introduction to Linguistics | 6 |
| LING 2309 | Phonetics | 3 |
| LING 2310 | Sound Patterns in Language I | 3 |
| LING 2330 | Syntax | 3 |
| LING 2340 | Semantics: Meaning in Language | 3 |
| Select at least six credit hours of the following: | 6 | |
| Sound Patterns in Language II | ||
| Morphology | ||
| Advanced Syntax | ||
| Select at least six credit hours of the following: | 6 | |
LING 4420 - LING 4432 | Topics in Linguistic Theory | |
LING 4510 - LING 4520 | Topics in Applied Linguistics | |
| Select six credit hours at the 2000 level or above in a language other than English, or at any level in the Mi’kmaw language | 6 | |
| Select 24 additional credit hours at the 2000 level or above in LING, of which at least 6 must be at the 3000 level or above | 24 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 60 | |
Minor in Linguistics
A minor in linguistics requires a minimum of twenty-four (24) credit hours in linguistics including:
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| LING 1200 | Introduction to Linguistics | 6 |
| Select at least six credits from the following: | 6 | |
| Phonetics | ||
| Sound Patterns in Language I | ||
| Syntax | ||
| Semantics: Meaning in Language | ||
| Select 12 credit hours selected from courses at or above the 2000 level from the LING or cross-approved courses listed below | 12 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 24 | |
Approved Saint Mary’s University Courses
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ANTH 1290 | Introducing Language and Society | 3 |
| ANTH 2392 | Linguistic Anthropology | 3 |
| ANTH 3308 | Signs and Symbols | 3 |
| ANTH 3391 | Learning a Field Language | 3 |
| ANTH 3395 | ||
| ANTH 3396 | Language Use and Issues in Canada | 3 |
| ANTH 4491 | Language and Culture | 3 |
| ANTH 4492 | Ethnography of Communication | 3 |
| ENGL 2311 | Modern English Language | 3 |
| ENGL 2326 | Language and Gender | 3 |
| ENGL 3402 | History of the English Language | 6 |
| ENGL 4493 | Doing Discourse Analysis | 3 |
| ENGL 4494 | Approaches to Discourse Analysis | 3 |
| FREN 3320 | French Phonetics | 3 |
| FREN 4440 | Canadian French: Sociolinguistic Perspectives | 3 |
| IRST 2346 | A Sociolinguistic History of Ireland | 3 |
| LING 2309 | Phonetics | 3 |
| LING 2310 | Sound Patterns in Language I | 3 |
| LING 2330 | Syntax | 3 |
| LING 2340 | Semantics: Meaning in Language | 3 |
| LING 3310 | Sound Patterns in Language II | 3 |
| LING 3320 | Morphology | 3 |
| LING 3330 | Advanced Syntax | 3 |
| LING 3350 | Interdisciplinary Perspectives in Linguistics | 3 |
| LING 3826 - LING 3849 | Special Topics in Linguistics | |
| LING 4420 - LING 4432 | Topics in Linguistic Theory | |
| LING 4510 - LING 4520 | Topics in Applied Linguistics | |
| LING 4826 - LING 4849 | Special Topics in Linguistics | |
| LING 4876 - LING 4899 | Directed Reading in Linguistics | |
| PHIL 3402 | Philosophy of Language | 3 |
Certificate in Linguistics
The Certificate in Linguistics provides an opportunity to explore the structure and function of languages and how their systematic nature makes human communication possible. The Certificate in Linguistics is designed to provide a foundation in linguistics to complement study in related fields, such as:
- language teaching
- anthropology
- sociology
- business
- computer studies
The program consists of thirty (30) credit hours and is intended primarily for students already holding degrees in any discipline.
Admission
Admission to the certificate program requires a formal application for admission. Students taking the certificate while completing a bachelor’s degree must obtain official approval of the Coordinator for Linguistics. Students majoring in Linguistics at Saint Mary’s University are not eligible for this program.
Program Courses
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| LING 1200 | Introduction to Linguistics | 6 |
| Select six credits of the following: | 6 | |
| Phonetics | ||
| Sound Patterns in Language I | ||
| Syntax | ||
| Semantics: Meaning in Language | ||
| Morphology | ||
| Select three credit hours at the 3000 level or above from the approved list below | 3 | |
| Select 15 additional credit hours from the approved list below | 15 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 30 | |
With the permission of the Coordinator for Linguistics, one of these courses can be other than a Linguistics course. Typically, this course would be one suitable for the student’s objectives, such as an upper level class in a second language, formal logic or computing studies.
Fifteen (15) of the thirty (30) credit hours must be completed at Saint Mary’s University. A minimum GPA of 2.00 out of 4.3 in this Certificate Program is required for graduation.
Teacher Certification
In September 2002, the Provincial Department of Education’s Minister’s Advisory Committee on Teacher Certification approved the Certificate in Linguistics program in general for teacher certification purposes. Any teacher interested in pursuing this certificate program for teacher certification purposes must request individual approval of the program from the Registrar - Teacher Certification prior to registration in this program.
Approved Saint Mary’s University Courses
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ANTH 1290 | Introducing Language and Society | 3 |
| ANTH 2392 | Linguistic Anthropology | 3 |
| ANTH 3308 | Signs and Symbols | 3 |
| ANTH 3391 | Learning a Field Language | 3 |
| ANTH 3396 | Language Use and Issues in Canada | 3 |
| ANTH 3395 | Language Issues in the Artic | |
| ANTH 4491 | Language and Culture | 3 |
| ANTH 4492 | Ethnography of Communication | 3 |
| ENGL 2311 | Modern English Language | 3 |
| ENGL 2326 | Language and Gender | 3 |
| ENGL 3402 | History of the English Language | 6 |
| ENGL 4493 | Doing Discourse Analysis | 3 |
| ENGL 4494 | Approaches to Discourse Analysis | 3 |
| FREN 3320 | French Phonetics | 3 |
| FREN 4440 | Canadian French: Sociolinguistic Perspectives | 3 |
| IRST 2346 | A Sociolinguistic History of Ireland | 3 |
| LING 2309 | Phonetics | 3 |
| LING 2310 | Sound Patterns in Language I | 3 |
| LING 2330 | Syntax | 3 |
| LING 2340 | Semantics: Meaning in Language | 3 |
| LING 3310 | Sound Patterns in Language II | 3 |
| LING 3320 | Morphology | 3 |
| LING 3330 | Advanced Syntax | 3 |
| LING 3350 | Interdisciplinary Perspectives in Linguistics | 3 |
| LING 3826 - LING 3849 | Special Topics in Linguistics | |
| LING 4401 - LING 4409 | Topics in Linguistic Theory | |
| LING 4501 - LING 4509 | Topics in Applied Linguistics | |
| LING 4826 - LING 4849 | Special Topics in Linguistics | |
| LING 4876 - LING 4899 | Directed Reading in Linguistics | |
| PHIL 3402 | Philosophy of Language | 3 |