LING 100: Introduction to Linguistics
Summer 2024
LING 100 serves as a foundational course for students new to the scientific study of language. It introduces the major subfields of linguistics, including phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, and pragmatics. Students explore how languages are structured, used, and acquired, and they critically examine common myths and misconceptions about language. The course provides analytical tools to study linguistic phenomena across different languages and fosters appreciation for linguistic diversity. Through interactive lectures and hands-on exercises, students develop their ability to think systematically about language structure and use in real-world settings. [Syllabus]
LING 200: Linguistic Theory and Analysis I (Phonetics and Phonology)
Summer 2022, Fall 2022, Summer 2023
LING 200 introduces students to core concepts in phonetics and phonology—the study of speech sounds and sound systems in human language. The course begins with articulatory and acoustic phonetics, teaching students how speech sounds are produced and measured. It then moves into phonological theory, covering phonemic analysis, rule-based derivations, and the basics of Optimality Theory. Students gain experience analyzing linguistic data from a range of languages, identifying patterns, and proposing theoretical explanations for sound distributions. The course emphasizes analytical reasoning and provides foundational skills that prepare students for upper-level linguistics courses and research. [Syllabus]
STAT 203: Statistical Methods
Fall 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 (Co-taught)
This course introduces students to fundamental statistical techniques used in data analysis across the sciences and humanities. It covers descriptive and inferential statistics, including techniques for summarizing quantitative and categorical data, understanding probability, and analyzing relationships using correlation and regression. Key concepts such as the Central Limit Theorem, sampling distributions, and hypothesis testing are explored in both theoretical and applied contexts. Students gain hands-on experience using statistical software and interpreting real-world data. The course emphasizes statistical reasoning and evidence-based decision making, preparing students for more advanced courses in quantitative research and for interpreting data in their academic and professional lives.
LING 209: Clinical Topics in Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences
Spring 2020, 2021, 2022
LING 209 introduces students to the clinical dimensions of speech, language, and hearing sciences. It provides foundational knowledge about communication disorders, speech and hearing anatomy, and the typical milestones of language development. Students learn about various disorders affecting speech, language, fluency, and swallowing, as well as conditions such as aphasia, traumatic brain injury, and dementia. The course also explores the principles and practices of speech-language pathology and audiology. Through lectures, readings, and case studies, students gain a deeper understanding of the biological, cognitive, and social factors affecting communication health. [Syllabus]
LING 313: Introduction to Linguistic Phonetics and Speech Science
Spring 2022, Fall 2024
This course introduces students to the physical and perceptual properties of human speech sounds. It covers the basics of articulatory, acoustic, and auditory phonetics, with an emphasis on acoustic analysis using digital tools. Students learn how speech sounds are generated by the human body, how they are represented in waveforms and spectrograms, and how listeners perceive them. The course also explores topics such as airstream mechanisms, the physics behind different speech sounds (e.g., vowels, stops, fricatives), and the structure of the human auditory system. By the end of the course, students are equipped with the skills to analyze and interpret speech data scientifically and are familiar with foundational concepts in speech science that connect phonetics to broader areas of linguistics and communication studies. [Syllabus]
LING 314: Instrumental Phonetics
Spring 2024, 2025, 2026
This hands-on course provides an in-depth examination of speech production through instrumental and imaging techniques. It covers the anatomical and physiological bases of speech, including detailed study of the respiratory, laryngeal, and supralaryngeal systems. Students explore how speech articulators such as the tongue, lips, velum, and vocal folds are involved in sound production, and learn how to visualize and analyze these movements using tools such as ultrasound, MRI, endoscopy, EEG, EGG, and more. The course combines lecture-based learning with practical training, using the textbook Articulatory Phonetics by Gick, Wilson, and Derrick as a guide. It is designed for students interested in experimental phonetics, clinical applications, and speech technology, offering foundational knowledge for more advanced research in speech sciences. [Syllabus]
LING 333: Research Methods in Linguistics
Fall 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025
This course provides a comprehensive introduction to designing, conducting, and analyzing linguistic research, with a particular focus on experimental methods in phonetics and phonology. Students learn how to formulate research questions, design experiments, and collect and analyze data using both descriptive and inferential statistics. A major component of the course is training in R programming for linguistic data analysis, including data wrangling, visualization, and hypothesis testing. The statistical techniques covered include t-tests, Wilcoxon tests, ANOVA, linear regression, and linear mixed-effects models. Emphasis is placed on reproducible and transparent research practices. By the end of the course, students are equipped to carry out independent research projects and critically evaluate empirical studies in linguistics. [Syllabus]
LING 447F: Undergraduate Phonetics Seminar
Spring 2021, 2025, 2026
This course explores the phenomenon of articulatory transfers in bilingual speakers, focusing on how speech articulation patterns from a first language (L1) influence the production of sounds in a second language (L2) and vice versa. While language transfer in speech is often discussed in the context of phonological features and acoustic characteristics, this course emphasizes the articulatory nature of such transfers. At a more general level, we will aim to understand how general bodily physiology can relate to the transferability between L1 and L2 in bilinguals. As part of the course, students will engage in collaborative research projects related to the course topics, completing a full project cycle from conceptualization to pre-publication manuscript preparation. As part of the course requirement, you’ll be collaborating in small teams to work on a Capstone Project.[Syllabus]
LING 508: Phonetic Theory and Analysis (Graduate Course)
Spring 2020
This graduate-level course offers an in-depth exploration of phonetic theory and methodology, focusing on the physical and cognitive aspects of speech production and perception. Topics include articulatory phonetics, acoustic analysis, and models of speech perception. Students engage with primary literature and current debates in the field, while also learning to use experimental and analytical tools to study phonetic phenomena. The course includes a major research project, providing students with the opportunity to develop and refine their research skills in preparation for advanced academic or applied work in speech sciences.