Students work under guidance with a native speaker of a previously undescribed language, writing papers on some aspects of the grammar (syntax or phonology) of the language. Instruction is given in the methodogy of  linguistic fieldwork, including analysis and organisation of data, and the social dimensions of work with speakers of minority languages.

• Students will improve in the skills learned in earlier courses, and will have the chance to specialise in a subdiscipline, evaluating real data from language speakers.
• Students will acquire an appreciation of, and ability to manage, large amounts of data, learning databasing and formatting skills.
• Students will learn how to acquire information about the structure of a foreign language, by collecting oral data from a native speaker.

Graduate students attend joint classes with undergraduates but may expect more rigorous assessment and additional assignment work, tailored to the student's interests.

13 classes in a weekly block of 3 hours duration.  Students can expect to work 7 additional hrs/week.

Introduction to Syntax (Ling2003), Morphology (Ling2007) plus either Phonological Analysis (Ling 2019) or Phonetics: Sounds of the World's Languages (Ling 1010/2010).

Bowern, Claire. 2008. Linguistic Fieldwork: a practical guide. Palgrave Macmillan.

Healey, Alan, editor. 1975. Language learner's field guide. Ukarumpa: Summer Institute of Linguistics.

Payne, Thomas. 1997. Describing Morphosyntax: a guide for Field Linguists. Cambridge University Press.