Courses

This course explores issues at the syntax-semantics interface. It covers quantificational structures, event semantics and structural encodings of discourse related properties such as topic-comment, theme-rheme, and focus-presupposition structures in various languages

This course is a practical introduction to sociolinguistic research, including methods of data collection and quantitative analysis. Students gain experience in all stages of sociolinguistic research and write an original research paper. Prerequisites: an upper level half-course (3000 or 4000-level) in syntax and an upper level half-course (3000 or 4000-level) in phonology or equivalent.

A graduate-level introduction to the analysis of sound production and sound systems in human language, focusing on core aspects of phonetic and phonological analysis. Prerequisite: An undergraduate introductory course in Linguistics

This course explores current research across the various fields of Psycholinguistics, including speech perception and production, word recognition, syntactic processing, discourse and inference, multilingualism, and language acquisition. Students engage with primary research literature addressing a variety of topics in the psychology of language. Special attention is given to the variety of behavioural and neurophysiological methods framing the research as well as models of language processing. Students propose their own research questions and design experimental approaches to answering them.

Examines the historical, theoretical, ethical, social, political and practical dimensions of second-language (L2) assessment; theoretical models of L2 ability and use; and the processes of designing, evaluating and using L2 assessments for various contexts and purposes.

Examines current perspectives in English for Specific Purposes (ESP) with particular emphasis on academic and occupational contexts. Course themes include content-based language instruction, corpus linguistics, genre studies, critical EAP, and intercultural communication as they relate to ESP.

This course critically examines key relevant areas in second/additional language (L2) teacher education that include teacher cognition, identity and experience. Theoretical and pedagogical perspectives of teacher experience, reflection and professional development are discussed in both pre-service and in-service contexts. Topics focus on the needs of L2 teachers working in a range of educational contexts with varied types of learners.

Multimodal literacies examines the changing face of literacy in our networked worlds, exploring contemporary literacy shapes, sites and practices. The course invites diverse theoretical and pedagogical perspectives on multimodal literacies, and contemplates new basics in twenty-first century literacy education.

A survey of language contact. Topics include multilingualism, diglossia, pidginization and creolization, language continua, interlanguage, language maintenance and language shift, language death. The educational and social issues arising from the phenomena will be discussed.

Critically examines the potential and limitations of technology-mediated language teaching and learning (TMLL) in varied language learning contexts. Learning theories, the design of learning environments and instructional approaches are reviewed in relation to language teaching methodology, curriculum design and second language acquisition theories. Web-enhanced, blended and distance language learning environments are explored through a blended learning approach.

A graduate-level survey of language policy and planning, using a representative range of case studies from around the world, with special emphasis on the Canadian context.

The objective of this course is to develop students' awareness of the nature of research in general, and of the various approaches to research in applied linguistics in particular. Through readings, discussion, and assignments, students are equipped with the tools necessary to create their own research projects, and the skills to critically evaluate research in the field.