Linguistics (LING)

Subject-area course lists indicate courses currently active for offering at the University of Louisville. Not all courses are scheduled in any given academic term. For class offerings in a specific semester, refer to the Schedule of Classes.

500-level courses generally are included in both the undergraduate- and graduate-level course listings; however, specific course/section offerings may vary between semesters. Students are responsible for ensuring that they enroll in courses that are applicable to their particular academic programs.

Course Fees

Some courses may carry fees beyond the standard tuition costs to cover additional support or materials. Program-, subject- and course-specific fee information can be found on the Office of the Bursar website.


LING 503. Syntax3 Units

Term Typically Offered: Fall Even Years

Prerequisite(s): LING 325 or LING 327 or graduate standing.

Description: Critical review of recent and current theoretical approaches to syntax and semantics. Focus on revisions of Chomsky's extended standard theory and emerging theories. Will survey contributions made by other approaches.

Note: Cross-listed with LING 603.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes

LING 506. Historical and Comparative Linguistics3 Units

Term Typically Offered: Spring Odd Years

Prerequisite(s): LING 325 or LING 327 or graduate standing.

Description: A historical study of phonological, morphological, and semantic changes in language through the comparative method and internal reconstruction; recent trends in diachronic linguistics.

Note: Cross-listed with LING 606.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes

LING 507. Morphology3 Units

Term Typically Offered: Spring Even Years

Prerequisite(s): LING 325 or ENGL 325 or equivalent.

Description: In Linguistics, Morphology focuses on the ways that words are related to meaning or grammatical function may also show similarities in their form. These similarities are seen especially in how the parts of words are put together (roots, prefixes, suffixes), but Morphology also considers many other marking systems found across the world's languages.

Note: Cross-listed with LING 607.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes

LING 510. Phonetics and Phonology3 Units

Term Typically Offered: Fall Odd Years

Prerequisite(s): LING 325 or LING 327 or graduate standing.

Description: An introduction to phonetics and phonological theory; study of nature and organization of sound language.

Note: Cross-listed with LING 610.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes

LING 522. Structure of Modern English3 Units

Term Typically Offered: Occasionally Offered

Prerequisite(s): Junior standing; ENGL 102 or ENGL 105.

Description: Examination of the structure of modern English language; emphasis on grammatical terminology and systems of classification. Students collect and analyze linguistic examples, spoken and written. Recommended for prospective English teachers.

Note: Cross-listed with ENGL 522.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes

LING 523. History of the English Language3 Units

Prerequisite(s): Junior standing; ENGL 102 or ENGL 105.

Description: The evolution of modern English in terms of social, historical, and linguistic forces which molded it. Emphases include: Indo-European origins, Germanic sources and Latin, French, and Danish influences; structural and lexical change; development of dialect differences; colonial spread of English; role of English in technology; emergence of World Englishes.

Note: Cross-listed with ENGL 523.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes

LING 524. Psycholinguistics3 Units

Term Typically Offered: Spring Only

Prerequisite(s): PSYC 307 or ENGL 325 or LING 325 or LING 518.

Description: Psychological aspects of language and their significance for analysis and understanding of cognitive and social processes.

Note: Cross-listed with PSYC 524.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes

LING 535. Topics in Applied Linguistics3 Units

Prerequisite(s): (Undergraduates) LING 325 or ENGL 325; Junior standing.

Description: This course will focus on one aspect of applied linguistics. Topics may include discourse analysis, ESL teaching, language change, gender and language, or other relevant topics in applied linguistics.

Note: May be repeated up to a maximum of three times on different topics.
Note: Cross-listed with ENGL 535.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes

LING 570. Language and Social Identity3 Units

Description: An introduction to the social systems and language varieties found across societies. Additionally, students will objectively explore both linguistic and social norms.

Note: Cross-listed with ENGL 570.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes

LING 590. Special Topics in Linguistics3 Units

Prerequisite(s): Junior standing.

Description: Intensive investigation of selected topics in current linguistic theory or practice.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes

LING 600. Independent Study3 Units

Prerequisite(s): 12 graduate hours in Linguistics and consent of chair.

Description: Guided independent in-depth study of a topic in linguistic theory or practice.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes

LING 603. Syntax3 Units

Term Typically Offered: Fall Even Years

Prerequisite(s): LING 325 or LING 327 or graduate standing.

Description: Critical review of recent and current theoretical approaches to syntax and semantics. Focus on revisions of Chomsky's extended standard theory and emerging theories. Will survey contributions made by other approaches.

Note: Cross-listed with LING 503.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes

LING 606. Historical and Comparative Linguistics3 Units

Term Typically Offered: Spring Odd Years

Prerequisite(s): LING 325 or LING 327 or graduate standing.

Description: A historical study of phonological, morphological, and semantic changes in language through the comparative method and internal reconstruction; recent trends in diachronic linguistics.

Note: Cross-listed with LING 506.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes

LING 607. Morphology3 Units

Term Typically Offered: Spring Even Years

Description: In Linguistics, Morphology focuses on the ways that words are related to meaning or grammatical function may also show similarities in their form. These similarities are seen especially in how the parts of words are put together (roots, prefixes, suffixes), but Morphology also considers many other marking systems found across the world's languages.

Note: Cross-listed with LING 507.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes

LING 610. Phonetics and Phonology3 Units

Term Typically Offered: Fall Odd Years

Prerequisite(s): LING 325 or LING 327 or graduate standing.

Description: An introduction to phonetics and phonological theory; study of nature and organization of sound language.

Note: Cross-listed with LING 510.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes

LING 620. Special Topics in Linguistics3 Units

Prerequisite(s): LING 325 or LING 327 or graduate standing.

Description: Intensive investigation of selected topics in current linguistic theory or practice.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes

LING 621. Sociolinguistics3 Units

Prerequisite(s): LING 325 or LING 327 or graduate standing.

Description: The nature of language in social context, presented within the theoretical framework of generative grammar.

Note: Cross-listed with ENGL 621.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes

LING 624. Language and Cognition3 Units

Prerequisite(s): LING 325 or LING 327 or graduate standing.

Description: Examination of the theory and research on the relationship between fundamental processes of cognition and linguistics processes, e.g., organization of thought, memory, discourse, and text.

Note: Cross-listed with PSYC 624.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes

LING 630. Language and Culture3 Units

Prerequisite(s): LING 325 or LING 327 or graduate standing.

Description: Introduction to the study of language and speaking as part of daily social life, viewed from an ethnographic perspective.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes

LING 640. Linguistic Anthropology3 Units

Prerequisite(s): LING 325 or LING 327 or graduate standing.

Description: This course provides an introduction to the field of linguistic anthropology. Topics include: the semiotic properties of human language; principles of linguistic and cultural categorization; language use in social interaction; markers of social identity and relationship; registers of social conduct; the textual organization of discourse; the role of discourse in the formulation of norms, and the institutionalization of modes of conduct.

Note: Cross-listed with ANTH 640.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes

LING 641. Recent Philosophy of Language3 Units

Prerequisite(s): LING 325 or LING 327 or graduate standing.

Description: Intensive study of current theory and research in the philosophy of language.

Note: Cross-listed PHIL 641.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes

LING 690. Seminar in Linguistics3 Units

Prerequisite(s): Graduate standing.

Description: Selected topics in applied or theoretical linguistics.

Note: Cross-listed with ENGL 682.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes