Overview of Languages and Linguistics

The Languages and Linguistics discipline encompasses the Major, Minor, and Specialist Programs in Linguistics and the Specialist Program in Psycholinguistics, together with a number of language courses (LGG) which are not associated with a specific degree.

Overview of Linguistics

Linguistics is the scientific study of human language. It encompasses theories of linguistic structure in all domains: speech sounds (phonetics and phonology), words (morphology), sentences (syntax), meaning (semantics and pragmatics), and texts or conversations (discourse). Subfields of linguistics include sociolinguistics (language variation according to region, gender, class, etc., as well as the social functions of language); psycholinguistics (language acquisition and processing, and language disorders); historical linguistics (language change across time); and applied linguistics (e.g. second language learning, clinical linguistics).

The Major Program in Linguistics is designed to help students prepare for entry into professional programs in areas with a significant language component, such as speech-language pathology, education, and language teaching. Students with a particular interest in psycholinguistics can enrol in the Specialist Program in Psycholinguistics, which also provides the best preparation for entry into a graduate program in speech-language pathology. The Specialist Program in Linguistics is designed for students who are interested in a more intensive study of linguistics and for students who are interested in theoretical linguistics.

Overview of Languages

Current offerings in languages include Arabic, Hindi, Latin, Mandarin, Sanskrit, Spanish and Tamil. Registration in all language courses is subject to the approval of the instructor. Students will be assessed, in a manner to be determined by the instructor, at the beginning of the course. Students whose level of proficiency in the language is inappropriate for the level of the course will not be approved for enrolment. Students’ status will be listed as “interim” (INT) until they are approved (APP) for enrolment by their instructors.

For information about Mandarin, contact Prof. Helen Wu at helenxu@utsc.utoronto.ca. For information about Spanish and other LGG courses, contact Prof. Tamara Al-Kasey at talkasey@utsc.utoronto.ca. For information on Linguistics, contact Prof. Ron Smyth at smyth@utsc.utoronto.ca.

For French, please visit the French page by clicking here

Placement Test / Questionnaires:

Note 1: LGGA30, LGGA40, LGGA54, LGGA70 and LGGA74 are designed for students who have no prior study of the language in question. To enroll, you must complete the following steps:

1. Request the course on ROSI. Your status will be INT. You will not be officially enrolled until you complete the remaining steps (below). If you are on a waitlist, you must also complete these steps to be admitted to the course.

2. Download the student questionnaire (below) for your language, indicating that you have no prior study of the language. Sign the form and turn it into the Language Coordinator, Tamara Al-Kasey, Room H425 by September 2, 2008.

3. Check your status on ROSI. Your course status on ROSI should be changed from interm (INT) to approved within one week of turning in your completed quesionnaire.

Note 2: For Spanish courses LGGA31, LGGB32, LGGB33, LGGC34 and LGGC35, students must meet the prerequisites for the course to enroll

OR

If this is your first Spanish course at U of T (but you have prior Spanish experience) you must download the student questionnaire (below), detail your prior language study, then follow the link to the placement exam and record your score on the questionnaire.

The placement exam is MANDATORY;
Students must register in the course appropriate to their level of language skill, based on the results of a placement test. Sign the form and turn it into the Language Coordinator, Tamara Al-Kasey, Room H425 by September 2, 2008.
Students whose level of proficiency in the language is considered unsuitable for the course will not be permitted to take the course. Students are not permitted to take these courses in an incorrect sequence (for example, a B-level course after a C-level course). Email the language coordinator if you have questions about your placement: language-coordinator@utsc.utoronto.ca

Note 3: LGGA41H3, LGGA55H3, LGGA61H3, LGGA63H3, LGGA71H3, LGGA75H3, LGGB42H3, LGGB43H3, LGGB61H3, LGGB67H3, LGGC60H3, LGGC61H3, LGGC66H3: For courses in all other languages beyond introductory, students must have the prerequisite for the course or an assessment by the instructor of the student’s level of proficiency in the language during the first week of classes. Students whose level of proficiency in the language is considered unsuitable for the course will not be permitted to take the course. Students are not permitted to take language courses in an incorrect sequence (i.e., a lower level course after a higher level course).

Note 4: LGGA60H3, LGGA62H3, LGGB60H3, LGGB62 and LGGB66: Course enrolment is based on an assessment by the instructor of the student's level of proficiency in the language during the first week of classes. Students may select these courses but will not be officially enrolled until approved (normally during the first week of classes).

Arabic Questionnaire PDF WORD

Chinese Mandarin Questionnaire PDF WORD

Hindi Questionnaire PDF WORD

Sanskrit Questionnaire PDF WORD

Spanish Questionnaire PDF WORD PLACEMENT EXAM (password: W2008)

Tamil Questionnaire PDF

Please send your completed questionnaire to: mandarin-chinese-placement@utsc.utoronto.ca

Please send all your questions REGARDING MANDARIN CHINESE ONLY to the Bulletin Board on
http://link.library.utoronto.ca/easic
Username: questions
Password: answers