IX. DEPARTMENT OF LINGUISTICS
Assistant Professor Leitch, Chair
Assistant Professor Arsenault
Linguistics, the study of human language, is a young and vibrant discipline. On the theoretical side,
understanding how language is structured and functions is part of the cognitive sciences. After all,
language is hosted in the human brain. Linguists work between actual sounds on the one end and
meaning on the other end, because it is known that language, at the very least, involves sounds that
convey meaning.
Phonetics is the study of the anatomy, physiology and physics of speech sounds; how the human vocal
apparatus produces the sounds that make language possible. Phonology is the study of how these
sounds are organized cognitively by the brain into a functioning system of consonants, vowels, tone,
intonation, etc., for each language. In Morphology, students learn how these basic sounds are then
combined to form morphemes and words. In Syntax, the world’s languages are studied, languages
that not only have different words, but also very different systems of arranging words into sentences
(syntax).
Beyond the differences, however, there are aspects of syntax that are common to all human languages.
A major theme in modern linguistics is discovering the characteristics of this universal grammar
(UG) that all humans are argued to share. While these core subject areas of phonetics, phonology,
morphology and syntax are a necessary base, linguists are also interested in psychological aspects of
language use (psycholinguistics), how language functions in society (sociolinguistics), how language
functions are distributed in the brain (neurolinguistics), etc.
At Tyndale, the curriculum focuses on core questions of language structure, mainly from the
“generative” perspective, but not uniquely. Beyond structural aspects of language, in keeping with
the liberal arts tradition, the Linguistics program seeks to relate “hard” empirical science to classical
concerns in the humanities about language use and meaning in literature, philosophy and theology.
Linguistics is therefore of interest to future teachers, speech pathologists, psychologists, and those
planning to work with unwritten or little-studied languages, or learn new languages. This training can
form the basis for graduate work in academic linguistics or for a variety of vocations where knowledge
of language is used and applied. Linguistics makes a wonderful dialogue partner for the companion
disciplines of English Literature, Philosophy, Psychology and Biblical Studies and Theology.
BA LINGUISTICS REQUIREMENTS
I. Core Requirements:
BSTH 101
(3) BSTH 102
(3) BSTH 201
(3) BSTH 270
(3) Two of :
ENGL 101 (3) ENGL 102 (3) ENGL 103 (3) Old Testament Scripture
New Testament Scripture
Hermeneutics
Introduction to Christian Theology
3 credit hours
3 credit hours
3 credit hours
3 credit hours
6 credit hours
Introduction to Literature: Western Classics I
Introduction to Literature: Western Classics II
Introduction to Literature: Fiction
Academic Calendar
143
ENGL 104 (3) Introduction to Literature: Poetry and Drama
ENGL 171 (3) Literature and Composition
One of:
HIST 101 (3) History of Western Civilization I
HIST 102 (3) History of Western Civilization II
INDS 101
(3) University Studies in Christian Perspective
INDS 475
(3) Christianity and Culture
PHIL 171
(3) Introduction to Philosophy
Fine Arts
elective
Natural Sciences elective
Social Sciences elective
Total Core Requirements:
II. Major Requirements:
LING 101
(3)
Introduction to Linguistics I
LING 102
(3)
Introduction to Linguistics II
LING 201
(3)
Phonetics
LING 202
(3)
Morphology
LING 203
(3)
Phonology I
LING 204
(3)
Syntax I
LING 2__
(3)
Linguistics course
LING 301
(3)
Language and Society
LING 3__
(3)
Linguistics courses
LING 4__
(3)
Linguistics course
Total Major Requirements:
Total Degree Requirements
3 credit hours
3 credit hours
3 credit hours
3 credit hours
3 credit hours
3 credit hours
3 credit hours
39 credit hours
3 credit hours
3 credit hours
3 credit hours
3 credit hours
3 credit hours
3 credit hours
3 credit hours
3 credit hours
9 credit hours
3 credit hours
36 credit hours
45 credit hours
III. Electives
120 credit hours
Notes:
1. At least 45 out of 120 credit hours must be taken at the 3000 or 4000 level.
2. Minimum cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.0 and a minimum of 120 credit hours.
BA LINGUISTICS MINOR REQUIREMENTS
LING 101
(3)
Introduction to Linguistics I
LING 102
(3)
Introduction to Linguistics II
LING 2__
(3)
Linguistics courses
LING 3__
(3)
Linguistics courses
Total Minor Requirements:
144
Academic Calendar
3 credit hours
3 credit hours
12 credit hours
6 credit hours
24 credit hours