About the program
Linguistics is the scientific study of language and covers a variety of subjects from theories of grammar and how we produce language to applications of linguistic knowledge in areas such as language teaching. The program offers undergraduate and graduate courses and seeks to give an overview of the discipline to make students aware of the many aspects of that uniquely human phenomenon, language.
The M.A. in Applied Linguistics at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, the only post-baccalaureate linguistics degree program in Alaska, provides advanced training in the field of applied linguistics, broadly defined to include second language acquisition and language documentation. The M.A. in Applied Linguistics emphasizes the training of language teachers for indigenous language revitalization programs and the documentation of the Alaska's twenty endangered indigenous languages.
Contacts
For general information about the Linguistics Program please contact the program chair.
- Program Chair: Sabine Siekmann
907-474-6580, ssiekmann@alaska.edu
- Administraive Assistant: Jamie Dechambeau
907-474-7876, jadechambeau@alaska.edu
Announcements
Linguistics Colloquium April 16
Documenting Alaska' Indigenous Astronomy
Presenter: Chris Cannon
Abstract: In this presentation I provide an overview of Alaska’s indigenous astronomy and identify themes shared across languages for a diversity of objects and phenomena in the sky. I also describe an approach to documenting traditional astronomy knowledge which draws on the existing linguistic archival record, ethnographic interviews and a thorough understanding of scientific astronomy. While a diversity of languages and cultures are found in Alaska, my results largely focus on recent fieldwork documenting Northern Dene astronomy; a group of cultures largely forgotten and misrepresented in the field of ethno astronomy. The Athabaskan system of mapping the sky is uniquely northern and to my knowledge is not repeated in any other world culture. My findings reveal shortcomings in the current documentation and demonstrate the rich astronomical knowledge among the Northern Dene.
Location: Eielson 304 (Note room change)
Time: 1:00-2:00 PM
New Summer 2013 Courses
- ANTH 295: Culture, Communication, and the Family
May 28 - July 3. Counts as a Linguistics elective. CRN 53444
New Fall 2013 Courses
- ANTH 383: Athabascans of Alaska and Adjacent Canada, MWF 1:00-2:00 PM.
Counts as a Linguistics elective [website]
Student Travel Funding
A limited amount of travel funding is available for students participating in conferences. Contact the program chair for more information.
Welcome new Linguistics faculty!
We welcome two new faculty members this year: Wendy Martelle and Robin Shoaps. Dr. Martelle will be teaching courses in linguistics and applied linguistics, while Dr. Shoaps will be teaching courses in linguistics and linguistic anthropology.
Linguistics Colloquia
Colloquium meetings for 2012-2013 will be 1st Tuesday of the month from 1:00-2:00 pm, location Brooks 108.
Everyone is welcome.
- February 5: Robin Shoaps
- February 19: Gary Holton
- March 5: Sabine Siekmann
- March 19: Michael Walsh
- April 2: Grad student presentations
- April 16: Chris Cannon