Language Revitalization - PHD

Workshop includes methods and techniques on how to describe a language in the four basis sub-areas of linguistics: phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics; terminology and general processes associated with the four sub-areas.

In-depth linguistic analysis of selected phonological, syntactic, and semantic problems in a non-Western language, concentrating on native languages of the Southwest area. Graduate-level requirements include a higher level of performance.

This course examines potential ways to avert the massive language endangerment and death the world is experiencing. A variety of approaches and methods are considered, including linguistic documentation, teaching language courses, immersion (pre)schools, and the master-apprentice program. The course also covers ethical issues, goals of communities, and the balance between linguists and communities. Graduate-level requirements include 2 additional writing assignments, additional readings, and a longer (25 page) research paper.

This course introduces students to the basic techniques for documentation, analysis and description of a language in the field. Topics will include (but are not limited to): ethical issues in language documentation, basic recording and transcription techniques, phonetic, phonological, morphological, syntactic and semantic elicitation, narrative and (if possible) discourse documentation. Students will work with a native speaker consultant of an unfamiliar language, both in a group setting and one-on-one.