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 325. Introduction to Linguistics3 Units

Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer

Prerequisite(s): ENGL 102 or ENGL 105.

Description: Introduction to the basic assumptions, methods and concepts of studying language, focusing on the way language influences human experience and the organization of human behavior. Examines the nature, structure and use of language; may apply as elective in either Social Sciences or Humanities, meeting divisional or out-of-divisional requirements.

Note: Students with credit for LING 518/ENGL 518 may not take this course.
Note: Cross-listed with ENGL 325.

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

LING 327. Languages of the World - D2, AH3 Units

Term Typically Offered: Fall Only

Description: A comparative survey of languages from three contemporary critical perspecitves: 1) Language families, 2) Language areas, 3) Language types. Focus will be on language relationships, similarities and differences.

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

LING 328. Language Acquisition3 Units

Term Typically Offered: Occasionally Offered

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

Description: Drawing upon readings from psychology, anthropology, linguistics,and education, this course will explore aspects of both native and non-native language acquisition and development.

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

LING 330. Language and Culture - D1, AH3 Units

Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer

Description: An ethnographic perspective to the study of language, investigating how it is used to create and maintain social institutions and rituals, and how it is differentiated across genders and ethnicities.

Note: Cross-listed with ANTH 343 and ENGL 330.

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

LING 341. Philosophy of Language - WR3 Units

Term Typically Offered: Fall Only

Description: Examines the philosophical problems associated with meaning in language.

Note: Cross-listed with PHIL 341.
Note: Approved for the Arts and Sciences upper-level requirement in written communication (WR).

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

LING 390. Special Topics in Language3 Units

Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer

Description: Investigation of selected areas of the study of language from an interdisciplinary perspective. (Humanities or Social Sciences)

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

LING 490. Independent Study3 Units

Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring

Prerequisite(s): LING 325 or equivalent, and 9 additional semester hours in linguistics courses; minimum grade point average of 3.0 overall; minimum grade point average of 3.5 in linguistics courses.

Description: Guided independent study of topic in current linguistic theory or practice. Approval of Independent Study Proposal required before a student is permitted to register for this course. Contact Chair of Humanities.

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

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