An interdisciplinary introduction to the study of situated language use, with an emphasis on natural, spontaneous dialogue. Students will interpret recordings and transcripts of naturally occurring conversation to identify key discourse events and linguistic features of interactional import. Focus will be placed on how linguistic resources are mobilized both to regulate the flow of information and to implement social actions, and how these practices vary across communities and cultures.

Traditional methods of historical linguistics are reviewed, with examples from several different language families. Various kinds of possible phonological and syntactic changes are investigated in relation to modern linguistic theory.

Continued studies in both the synchronic and diachronic grammar of classical Sanskrit.

The phonology, morphology, and syntax of the classical Sanskrit language, emphasizing the position of Sanskrit within the Indo-European language family and its importance for Indo-European linguistics.

Formal semantics for sentential and first-order predicate logic, including both soundness and completeness results for first-order logic. Additional topics may include Goedel's incompleteness results, the Skolem-Lowenheim theorem, or possible world semantics for modal logics.

Symbolic-mathematical logic, examining the propositional and predicate calculi, with emphasis on problems in translation and formalization and topics in the philosophy of logic and mathematics.

Identification and examination of the salient structural similarities and differences between German and English.

Topics such as formal and ordinary languages, meaning, reference, truth, definition, analyticity, ambiguity, metaphor, symbolism, and the uses of language.

The Indo-European language family: the various early Indo-European dialects, their grammatical structures, and the evolution of those structures from the proto-language.

A special topic not otherwise offered in the English curriculum. Topics and instructors vary from semester to semester.