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Linguistics Courses

Key to Course Descriptions.

For Distribution Requirement purposes, all LIN courses are classified as HUMANITIES or SOCIAL SCIENCE courses; check individual course listings below.

| Course Winter Timetable |

HUM199H1/Y1
First Year Seminar        52S

Undergraduate seminar that focuses on specific ideas, questions, phenomena or controversies, taught by a regular Faculty member deeply engaged in the discipline. Open only to newly admitted first year students. It may serve as a Humanities course; see page 45.


LIN100Y1
Introduction to General Linguistics       52L, 26T

Lectures on fundamental principles with illustrations from English and from a broad spectrum of other languages. Practice in elementary analytic techniques.
This is a Humanities course


LIN200H1
Introduction to Language        26L 13T

A general-interest course on language. Possible topics include: the structure of language; how language changes over time, the social and psychological aspects of language, language and culture, the origin of language, writing systems, and language acquisition. (This course cannot be used as an entrance to programs in linguistics, and cannot be used be used as a Prerequisite to any linguistics courses unless otherwise indicated.)

Exclusion: LIN100Y1
This is a Humanities course


LIN201H1
Canadian English        26L

A study of the structures of several dialects of English spoken in Canada, and of their history and affiliations. (Not offered every year)
Prerequisite: LIN100Y1/LIN200H1
This is a Humanities course


LIN203H1
English Words        26L

English has a rich vocabulary. We will learn how it has developed over time, and investigate aspects of the meaning and pronunciation of words. Most of all, we will study how words are put together, so that students will be able to recognize and analyze unfamiliar words.

Exclusion: LIN202Y1
This is a Humanities course


LIN204H1
English Grammar        26L

How the English language works: students analyze a wide variety of English grammatical structures and learn how they vary across dialects and change through time.

Exclusion: LIN202Y1
This is a Humanities course


LIN205H1
East Asian Languages and English        26L

The course is a linguistic exploration of issues that arise as English comes into contact with three major East Asian Languages (Chinese, Japanese, and Korean). Topics include a comparative introduction to the basic structures of the languages, writing systems, transformations English words undergo when borrowed into these Asian languages, and typical mistakes made by ESL speakers of East Asian linguistic background.

Exclusion: HUM199H1/Y1Y, L0241 (2005-2006)
This is a Humanities course


LIN228H1
Phonetics        26L, 13T

Investigation of the sounds most commonly used in languages from an articulatory and acoustic point of view, with practice in their recognition and production.
Recommended preparation: LIN100Y1/LIN200H1
This is a Humanities course


LIN229H1
Sound Patterns in Language        26L, 13T

The nature and organization of phonological systems, with practical work in analysis.
Prerequisite: LIN100Y1, LIN228H1
This is a Humanities course


LIN231H1
Morphological Patterns in Language       26L, 13T

The nature and organization of morphological systems, with practical work in analysis.
Prerequisite: LIN100Y1
This is a Humanities course


LIN232H1
Syntactic Patterns in  Language      26L, 13T

The nature and organization of syntactic systems; their relation to semantic systems and the linguistic organization of discourse; practical work in analysis.
Prerequisite: LIN100Y1
This is a Humanities course


LIN256H1
Sociolinguistic Patterns in  Language      26L, 13T

An introduction to linguistic variation and its social implications, especially the quantitative study of phonological and grammatical features and their correlations with age, sex, ethnicity, and other social variables.
Prerequisite: LIN100Y1
This is a Humanities or Social Science course.


LIN299Y1
Research Opportunity Program

Credit course for supervised participation in faculty research project. See page 45 for details.


LIN305H1
Quantitative Methods in Linguistics        39L

Principles of research design, data collection, and a wide variety of statistical techniques for research in various subfields of linguistics.
Prerequisite: LIN100Y1 and one full course in LIN/JAL/JFL/JLP
This is a Social Science course


LIN306H1
Language Diversity and  Language Universals      26L

This course examines cross-linguistic typological features found in the languages of the world. Special attention is given to describing morphological and syntactic patterns found cross-linguistically. The goal of the course is to draw on the range of variation in order to uncover language universals. (Not offered every year)
Prerequisite: LIN231H1, LIN232H1
This is a Humanities course


JLP315H1
Language Acquisition        39L

Infants’ abilities at birth, prelinguistic development, the first words, phonological, syntactic and semantic development. Social variables influencing development of language, bilingualism, models of development, language play. (Given by the Departments of Linguistics and Psychology)
Prerequisite: One full course equivalent at the 200-level in LIN/JAL/JUP/PSL/PSY/UNI Cognitive Science
This is a Science course


LIN322H1
Phonological Theory        39L

Basic issues in current phonological theory. Problems focusing on analysis and theory. (Students who want to pursue graduate studies in linguistics are strongly advised to include this course in their program.)
Prerequisite: LIN229H1
This is a Humanities course


LIN323H1
Acoustic Phonetics        26L

Introduction to acoustics, with particular reference to the vocal tract; acoustic properties of speech; instrumental techniques for speech analysis.

Exclusion: LIN321H1
Prerequisite: LIN228H1
This is a Science course


JAL328H1
Writing Systems        26L

Introduction to writing systems: their historical development, their relationship to language, and their role in culture and society. (Given by the Departments of Anthropology and Linguistics)
Prerequisite: ANT100Y1/LIN100Y1/LIN200H1
This is a Social Science course


LIN331H1
Syntactic Theory        39L

An introduction to the foundations and formal framework of current generative grammar, concentrating on Chomsky’s Minimalist theory. (Students who want to pursue graduate studies in linguistics are strongly advised to include this course in their program.)
Prerequisite: LIN232H1
This is a Humanities course


LIN341H1
Semantics        26L

The study of meaning within linguistics. Areas of interest include word meaning, the interpretation of syntactic units such as the sentence, the logic of semantic properties, and the interaction of meaning and the use of language. (Not offered every year)
Prerequisite: LIN232H1
This is a Humanities course


JAL355H1
Language and Gender        26L

Ways in which women and men differ in their use of language and in their behaviour in conversational interaction; ways in which language reflects cultural beliefs about women and men. (Given by the Departments of Anthropology and Linguistics)
Prerequisite: Two full course equivalents at the 200-level in LIN/ANT/JAL/SOC
Recommended preparation: ANT204Y1/JAL253H1/254H1/NEW261Y1/SOC200Y1/ 202Y1/SOC214Y1/SOC215Y1
This is a Social Science course


LIN356H1
Language Variation and Change: Theory and Analysis        26L

The theory and practice of sociolinguistics. The inter-relationship between language and society from the perspective of collecting, organizing, and analyzing patterns in natural speech data, including field methods and quantitative methods for correlating linguistic and social variables.
Prerequisite: LIN256H1
This is a Humanities or Social Science course


LIN362H1
Historical Linguistics        39L

An introduction to diachronic linguistics. Theories of language change; the comparative method, internal reconstruction, linguistic geography, the origin of languages; language death. (Not offered every year)
Prerequisite: LIN229H1
This is a Humanities course


JLP374H1
Psychology of Language        39L

Experimental approaches to the comprehension and production of languages. Topics include perception of speech sounds, storage and retrieval of words from the mental lexicon, processing of grammatical information, discourse comprehension and memory, models of language production, and the role of cognitive and perceptual systems. (Given by the Departments of Linguistics and Psychology)
Prerequisite: One full course equivalent at the 200-level in LIN/JAL/JUP/PSY/PSL/UNI Cognitive Science
This is a Science course


LIN398H0/399Y0
Independent Experiential Study Project

An instructor-supervised group project in an off-campus setting. See page 45 for details.


JAL401H1
Field Linguistics        52P

Practice in language analysis based on elicited data from a native speaker of a foreign language, emphasizing procedures and techniques. (Given by the Departments of Anthropology and Linguistics) (Students who want to pursue graduate studies in linguistics are strongly advised to include this course in their program.)
Prerequisite: Completion of LIN231H1, LIN322H1, LIN331H1, except for students in their final year where LIN331H1/332H1 is a corequisite.
This is a Social Science course


LIN409H1
Structure of a Specific Language        26L

Topics may include: the phonological, morphological, syntactic, and semantic systems; the writing system; a brief diachronic sketch; variation and sociolinguistic aspects.
Prerequisite: LIN228H1, LIN229H1, LIN231H1, LIN232H1 + 1 FCE at the 300+ level in LIN/JAL/JFL/JLP/JLS


LIN423H1
Phonetic Analysis        26L

Theoretical discussion of the acoustic correlates of various types of sounds found in language. Practical experience in the acoustic analysis of speech. (Not offered every year)

Exclusion: LIN321H1
Prerequisite: LIN323H1
This is a Humanities course


LIN432H1
Advanced Morphology: Morphosyntax        39L

Current research involving morphology, including the role of morphology in the grammar, the nature of inflectional paradigms, affixes affecting grammatical relations. Each year one topic will be a special focus and will be dealt with at length. (Not offered every year)
Prerequisite: LIN231H1
Co-requisite: LIN331H1
This is a Humanities course


LIN451H1
Urban Dialectology        26L

Ways in which urban sub-cultures differ in their use of language. How speakers’ dialects reflect their ethnicity, group affiliation, and other social categories. Practice in dialect analysis based on data from the speech community, emphasizing procedures and techniques.
Prerequisite: LIN256H1 plus 2 FCE at the 200+ level in LIN/JAL/JLP
This is a Humanities or Social Science course.


LIN458H1
Revitalizing Languages        26L

A study of language endangerment and language revitalization efforts, focusing on Aboriginal languages of Canada. Topics include language classification and a survey of major features of the languages, what it means for a language to be endangered, the factors that contribute to language shift, and efforts to reverse language shift, including discussion of literacy and dictionaries.
Prerequisites: LIN100Y1Y plus at least two full course equivalents drawn from LIN/JAL.
This is a Humanities or Social Science course.


JLP471H1
Advanced Psycholinguistics        39L

Seminar in advanced topics in psycholinguistics. Content will vary from year to year. (Given by the Departments of Linguistics and Psychology) (Not offered every year)
Prerequisite:JLP374H1, LIN322H1/LIN331H1
This is a Science course


JLS474H1
Disorders of Speech and Language        39L

Normal and deviant development of speech and language; a survey of the disorders of human communication; an overview of intervention for disorders of speech, voice, language, swallowing and hearing; the effects of human communication handicaps on the individual, family, and community; theoretical and philosophical aspects of disordered communication. (Given by the Departments of Linguistics and Speech Pathology)
Prerequisite: JLP315H1/JLP374H1
This is a Science course


JFL477H1
Issues in French and Linguistics I        26S

An advanced seminar on issues of current theoretical relevance in linguistics with special reference to French. This course is taught in English.
Prerequisite: Any 300+series FRE or LIN course


JFL478H1
Issues in French and Linguistics II        26S

An advanced seminar on issues of current theoretical relevance in linguistics with special reference to French. This course is taught in English.
Prerequisite: Any 300+series FRE or LIN course


LIN479H1
Current Issues in Linguistics        26S

An advanced seminar in current issues of theoretical relevance.
Prerequisite: LIN228H1, LIN229H1, LIN231H1, LIN232H1 + I FCE at the 300+ level in LIN/JAL/JFL/JLP/JLS
This is a Humanities course


LIN480H1
History of Linguistics         26L

A survey of linguistic thought from Panini to the present, focussing primarily on the 20th century. Three approaches are used: linguistic schools, major personalities and their works, and concepts. (Not offered every year)
Prerequisite: LIN100Y1
Recommended preparation: Reading knowledge of another European language
This is a Humanities course


LIN481H1
Introduction to Analysis and Argumentation       39L

Argumentation, practice in constructing and evaluating hypotheses, and critical evaluation of representative articles. Emphasis on the structure of arguments rather than on the analysis of a particular language.
Prerequisite: LIN322H1/LIN331H1
This is a Humanities course


LIN495Y1/497Y1
Individual Project        TBA

A research or reading project undertaken by the student under the supervision of a staff member. Open only when a faculty member is willing and available to supervise.
Prerequisite: Permission of the Department


LIN496H1/498H1/499H1
Individual Project        TBA

A research or reading project undertaken by the student under the supervision of a staff member. Open only when a faculty member is willing and available to supervise.
Prerequisite: Permission of the Department