Linguistics Program

Linguistics is the scientific study of language. Linguists endeavor to understand the nature of human language by examining its underlying structures, from the smallest units, such as phonemes in human speech, to much larger properties such as the ways in which people use language in society. Studying linguistics not only satisfies your academic interests but is also beneficial to your career paths in many ways. Currently, we offer a Linguistics Certificate Program (12 credits) with two different tracks: Track A, General Linguistics; and Track B, Language Processing.

Upcoming Event!

The School of Modern Languages, Ivan Allen College Dean's Office, and the College of Interactive Computing are sponsoring exciting lectures by Dr. Lucy Pickering (U of Texas A&M university commerce) entitled "Computational Language Processing:  The Phonetic Aspects of Speaker Recognition " on March 29th, 2012, from 13:35-14:25 at Swann 325. PSVP by March 22 Dr. Masuda (km210@gatech.edu)

Abstract: With the rise in popularity of television shows such as NCIS and Criminal Minds, it seems as though we have cracked the code of voice identification by simple extrapolation from a voiceprint.  But is that really true?  In this presentation we will look at the components of speech that form of basis of speech and speaker recognition and how this is applied to areas of computational language processing including speech recognition software and forensic speech analysis.

A public talk on Corpus Linguistics will be also delivered at Swann 325 from 11:05-11:55 on March 29th.  Please join us!   

Track A:

The Linguistics Certificate in General Linguistics is a joint effort of the School of Modern Languages, the School of Psychology, and the School of Interactive Computing.   The 12-credit track is designed for ALIS  majors who have an interest in applied linguistics, culture, and psychology. However, credits taken for the completion of the linguistic certificate cannot count towards the completion of another program including major ALIS, minor, or certificate.

The requirements of the certificate will be fulfilled by completing the following courses:

Required Course (3 credits):

• LING 2100 - Introduction to Linguistics

 Electives Chosen from the Course List (9 credits):

• SPAN 4165 - Bilingualism in the Spanish-Speaking World
• SPAN 4170 - Spanish Applied Linguistics
• JAPN 4150 - Japanese Grammar and Discourse
• JAPN 4750 - Japanese Applied Linguistics
  
• FREN 3030 - French Phonetics
• FREN 4813 - Creole Cultures of New Orleans and the Caribbean

Note: Spanish/Japanese/French courses may have prerequisites.  Consult the instructor. 

• PSY/LING 2760 - Human Language Processing
• PSY 3011 - Cognitive Psychology
• PSY/CS 3790 - Introduction to Cognitive Science
• PSY 4200 - Advanced Topics in Cognitive Science
• LING 3813, 4813 - Special Topics

The School of Modern Languages will also accept one linguistics course on the 3000- or 4000-level taken at Emory, Georgia State, or other accredited universities. Students wanting to take a course at either university would have to get approval from the Linguistics Advisor at Georgia Tech before registering for a course. A 2000-level course may be accepted by the GT Linguistics Advisor if its contents are based upon examples from Chinese or Korean, given the extra difficulty involved in having enough command of one of these languages to deal with more complex materials. 

A Track A student who wishes to use credit for a linguistics course the s/he takes abroad is required to petition the Advisor and submit a copy of the syllabus of the course to the Advisor prior to travelling abroad for approval.  If the course level meets the expectation (3000 or 4000 level), it will be approved.

Special Topics courses should have a focus on the linguistic systems of selected languages (Track A) in order to be considered for LING certificates; these courses shall require the approval of the Linguistics Advisor.

Newly approved LING courses maybe counted with approval of the Advisor.

Track B:

The Linguistics Certificate in Language Processing is a joint effort of the School of Modern Languages, the School of Interactive Computing, and the School of Psychology. The 12-credit track is designed with computer science majors in mind who have an interest in linguistics and natural language processing. However, credits taken for the completion of the linguistics certificate cannot count towards the completion of another major, minor, or certificate. The requirements of the certificate may be fulfilled by completing the following courses:

Required Course (3 credits):

• LING 2100 - Introduction to Linguistics

Electives Chosen from the Open Course List/Thread* (9 credits)

• CS 3240 - Language and Computation
• CS 3600 - Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
• CS 4635 - Knowledge-based AI
• CS 4641 - Machine Learning
• CS 4650 - Natural Language

• PSY/LING 2760 - Human Language Processing
• CS/PSY 3790 - Introduction to Cognitive Science
• CS 3803, 4803 - Special Topics
• LING 3813, 4813 - Special Topics

Only 3 credits of Special Topics count towards the certificate.  Not all CS 3803/4803 count toward the certificate. Consult the Advisor.

LING Special Topics courses should have a focus on natural language processing (Track B) in order to be considered for LING certificates; these courses shall require the approval of the Linguistics Advisor.

Other courses listed under the AI thread or in Linguistics may also count with prior approval from the Linguistics Advisor.  Some of the CS courses may have prerequisites established by the College of Computing.  Consult the Georgia Tech catalog and the College of Computing website first (AI Thread).

Faculty Contact Person:

Dr. Kyoko Masuda, Professor of Japanese and Linguistics. Advisor for the Certificate in Linguistics and Language Processing.  

Faculty and Collaborators

College of Interactive Computing

Dr. Aaron Bobick, Professor and Chair of the School of Interactive Computing. 
Dr. William E. Underwood, Principal Research Scientist. Georgia Tech Research Institute (ITTL). 
Dr. Jacob Eisenstein, Assistant Professor, School of Interactive Computing. 
Dr. Charles Isbell, Assistant Professor, School of Interactive Computing. UCC Chair. 

College of Psychology

Dr. Dan Spieler, Associate Professor. 
Dr. Jeeny L. Singleton, Professor.

School of Modern Languages

Dr. Rumiko Shinzato-Simons, Professor (Japanese and Linguistics).
Dr. Angela Labarca, Professor (Spanish and Linguistics).
Dr. Kyoko Masuda, Associate Professor (Japanese and Linguistics).
Dr. Cecilia Montes-Alcala, Associate Professor (Spanish and Linguistics).
Dr. Rajaa Aquil, Assistant Professor (Arabic and Linguistics).
Dr. Jin Liu, Assistant Professor (Chinese and Linguistics).