2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog
Linguistics
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609 Baldy Hall
North Campus
Buffalo, NY 14260-1030
716-645-2177
https://arts-sciences.buffalo.edu/linguistics.html
Rui Chaves, Ph.D.
Chair
Mitsuaki Shimojo, Ph.D.
Director of Undergraduate Studies
Linguistics Overview
Linguistics is the scientific study of the function and structure of language, and is concerned with language as a general aspect of human knowledge and behavior. The Linguistics department offers a range of degree options including a BA in Linguistics with the possibility to concentrate in Chinese, Japanese or Korean, a German BA with an optional concentration in German Language and Linguistics and finally a BS in Computational Linguistics. Students may also minor in Linguistics.
Students in the Linguistics BA receive training in many skills, including analytical thinking, hypothesis formulation, experiment design, and corpus analysis. Linguistics interdigitates with many other disciplines, such as computer science, FL instruction, anthropology, speech and hearing sciences, forensics, and neuroscience. Because of this multifaceted nature, career opportunities arise in industry (artificial intelligence, speech recognition), education (ESOL, teacher training), research (as university professor), language documentation and fieldwork, government (defense and security, diplomatic agencies), and business (advertising, marketing).
The Chinese, Japanese and Korean Language and Linguistics concentrations of the Linguistics BA are unique options which combine studies in linguistics and advanced-level studies in the specific language. These concentrations are intended for students who wish to pursue the study of linguistics as well as achieve advanced-level proficiency and gain linguistic understanding of the relevant language. Majors in one of these concentrations develop appreciation of general properties of language and the target as well as develop competence in linguistic analysis in Chinese, Japanese or Korean.
With more than 100 million speakers in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and throughout the world, German is a major international language of business, diplomacy, science, and popular culture, with an extraordinarily rich heritage in literature, philosophy and music. Germany is the largest and wealthiest country in the European Union, and the importance of German in Europe continues to grow with the integration of Eastern European countries where German has always played an important role.
The German Language and Linguistics concentration of the German BA offers a unique program which combines studies in linguistics and advanced-level studies in German and is intended for students who wish to pursue the study of linguistics as well as achieve advanced-level proficiency and gain linguistic understanding of German. Majors in this concentration develop appreciation of general properties of language in general and German in particular, and develop competence in linguistic analysis of German.
Finally, the BS in Computational Linguistics provides undergraduates with a solid grounding in the linguistic approach to the study of languages, the background in computer science that is necessary to successfully make use of human language technologies, and foundational knowledge of computational linguistic methods. This program includes offerings in both the Department of Linguistics and the Department of Computer Science and Engineering. The field of Computational Linguistics is rapidly expanding due to the increased need for improved natural language processing in software applications of all kinds. An important aspect of the design of this program is that students take courses from both departments, taught by specialists. So, they will receive the same kind of training in computer science and linguistics that majors in each area receive.
Academic Advising
Students obtain academic advice and guidance from the academic advisors in the College of Arts and Sciences Student Advisement & Services office (275 Park Hall) and from faculty in their program of study. The CAS Student Advisement and Services Office assists undergraduate students in the College of Arts and Sciences to plan their academic trajectory, develop goals and successfully complete their college careers.
Academic Advising Contact Information
College of Arts & Sciences Student Advisement & Services
275 Park Hall, North Campus
North Campus, Buffalo, NY 14260-4140
Phone: 716-645-6883
Email: cas-advisor@buffalo.edu
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