Linguistics at Berkeley?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of California - Berkeley
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<p>It's widely known that Berkeley's ling department is strong. Could anyone elaborate on the subject, what exactly that "strong" means? My D, who is interested in the subject and right now is deciding between Berkeley and Princeton, was somewhat confused recently by some graduate student there who told her about various linguistics theories and that Cal's linguists mostly pursue one of them, which might or might not be true or particularly interesting for her. </p>

<p>While I have no idea what it's all about :), I would be glad to have any inputs on the subject from knowledgeable people here, so that I'd give it to my D to read and decide.</p>

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<p>This is a difficult question to answer. First, I think it would be unwise to decide based on this issue. I don't think it should even be a factor in the decision at all. If you want to go on to do graduate work in Linguistics, there is no "better" place to be an undergrad than Berkeley. Berkeley offers an incredibly wide array of ancient and modern languages to study and the linguistics department is world-renowned.</p>

<p>That said, the "Chomsky" school if linguistics is the dominant one. Let's call that "generative grammar". It focuses on trying to create abstract rules to represent languages and describe what is going on in languages. Its goal is abstraction, to get as abstract as possible.</p>

<p>Berkeley has traditionally followed a different approach, focused more on studying individual language and language families, than trying to build very abtract formal systems. Berkeley also has strengths in sociolinguistics. In addition, there is a cognitive science strain a Berkeley championed by George Lakoff that is somewhat controversial, talking about metaphors and frames of reference. So Berkeley is somewhat out of the mainstream in some areas.</p>

<p>That said, for most of the linguistics classes you take, this will matter little. </p>

<p>If you daughter is really drawn to abstract, formal descriptions of syntax, then Berkeley might not be the best place. Otherwise, I wouldn't make my decision based on that.</p>

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<p>There is actually a book about the madness of linguistics. Dated now, but still on-topic:
The Linguistics Wars, by Randy Allen Harris</p>

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<p>Thank you, ken1234.</p>

<p>Right now, my D has no idea what exactly in linguistics she is drawn to. ;) She knows she is interested in all its possible directions and theories (so that she would be able to choose later which one she wants to pursue), but she has no time left to read the book you recommended before she makes her decision (in 3 days). :) Her alternative to Berkeley is Princeton which has no linguistics major, but certificate program in linguistics ... but she heard whatever linguistics they have is more "balanced", without any one dominating theory.</p>

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<p>When and where WILL it matter?</p>

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<p>You need to PM kyledavid....the guy is a beast in the ling dept.</p>

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<p>
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but she heard whatever linguistics they have is more "balanced", without any one dominating theory.

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<p>I tried to go on Princeton's linguistics website but it said under construction. It sounds like they don't have a strong linguistics program from what you said. Berkeley practically INVENTED "linguistics" as a discipline. </p>

<p>The theoretical bent of a department is not very important as an undergrad. As a grad student it might matter, by that time you will know what you want to study in particular and will be able to make an informed decision.</p>

<p>Berkeley is becoming more formalistic over time, actually, and less iconoclastic, let's say.</p>

<p>Honestly, I wouldn't make a decision based on this. I'm sure there are enough linguistics classes at Princeton to prepare her for grad school, if that is where she is headed. They obviously don't have the depth Berkeley has in linguistics, but it doesn't sound like she is necessarily going to go in that direction anyway.</p>

<p>I majored in linguistics at Berkeley, btw, so I have some idea of what I am talking about.</p>

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<p>That's what I thought. :) Thank you for your input.</p>

<p>Do some UC's budget issues affect ling department? Are classes easy to sign-up to, are they big, do students see their professors often, is undergraduate research easy to get?</p>

<p>There was a topic about budget cuts for East Asian lngiages department. Somebody told there they might end up letting Japanese majors only into Japanese classes. What about linguistics majors? Will they be able to study languages they want or equally affected by budget constraint?</p>

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<p>The specific email re: East Asian Languages wouldn't apply to linguistics students since they are in the college of l&s.</p>

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<p>Thanks vc08, for the introduction. =p</p>

<p>As a ling major who chose where to apply/attend based on strength in linguistics, I can tell you this:</p>

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My D, who is interested in the subject and right now is deciding between Berkeley and Princeton

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<p>Princeton does not have a linguistics major. That might be slightly important. =)</p>

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by some graduate student there who told her about various linguistics theories and that Cal's linguists mostly pursue one of them

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</p>

<p>Most definitely not. Berkeley has many faculty in linguistics, relative to other universities, and as such they are diverse both in the theories they prescribe to and the research they conduct. In fact, sometimes faculty members oppose one another--and engage in well-publicized debates. Such is true at Berkeley--someone recently told me that some of Berkeley's faculty are "Chomskyan" in their approach, but then again, Berkeley has Lakoff, a known Chomsky dissenter. (Definitely check out The Linguistics Wars, as kenf1234 suggested; Lakoff and Chomsky are prominently featured.)</p>

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Could anyone elaborate on the subject, what exactly that "strong" means?

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<p>I would evaluate strength on a few areas:</p>

<p>Breadth and depth of study within linguistics: Berkeley offers some 7,000 courses each year, and a whole ton of linguistics courses. All areas of linguistics--from theoretical (syntax, semantics, morphology, phonetics, etc.) to applied (cognitive, computational, social, etc.)--are covered. Berkeley has especial strength in historical/diachronic/synchronic linguistics and cognitive linguistics; it offers a very firm foundation in theoretical and has a lot to offer in applied (especially since many courses are cross-listed with other departments). Thus, Berkeley passes this test well--Princeton doesn't (they have neither breadth nor depth, simply because it's one of the very few top colleges that doesn't offer a ling major!).</p>

<p>Strength of faculty: Look at linguistics.berkeley.edu and see the profiles of the faculty. They are all top people--ones who graduated from top ling schools, who are very well known in their fields for their research and involvement (talks and expos and lectures...).</p>

<p>Strength of the library holdings: Berkeley's library has nearly 11 million volumes. Its linguistics holdings are excellent; in fact, the department itself also has its own linguistics holdings.</p>

<p>Facilities and opportunities: Berkeley has plenty to offer, with the phonology lab, the Berkeley Language Center, corpora of language projects (Yurok, Yahi, Sino-Tibetan, etc.), and has lots of events.</p>

<p>For what it's worth: Berkeley's linguistics department was the first in the Western Hemisphere (est. 1901). Berkeley has also been chosen to host the next Linguistic Institute, which is a huge linguistics event held every two years at different universities.</p>

<p>If linguistics is definitely your daughter's interest, Berkeley would be the best option; if not, then probably Princeton.</p>