Linguistics

Linguistics at Harvard is counted among the humanities. Much research in linguistics, however, lies in the area of linguistic theory, which seeks to develop a theory of language that accounts for interlanguage variation while uncovering the general laws and principles that govern all languages. Such work resembles research in the social and behavioral sciences. Recently, advances in biology and neuroscience have led to the emergence of a kind of linguistic scholarship that closely parallels research in the life sciences. Thanks to its unique field- and methodology-straddling quality, Linguistics is able to offer three distinctively contoured secondary field pathways:

• Language History and Language Structure
• Language and Linguistic Theory
• Language, Mind and Brain

Other Information

Subject to the Head Tutor's approval, linguistics summer school courses and linguistics study abroad courses will be allowed to count towards the secondary field requirements. One course may be taken Pass/Fail towards the course requirements; this may be, but need not be, one of the two designated Freshman Seminars.

Advising Resources and Expectations

The primary adviser and contact person for the secondary fields in Linguistics will be the Head Tutor, Dr. Dianne Jonas (617-495-2549; djonas@fas.harvard.edu).