Linguistic Anthropology
The Department of Anthropology at OU has a strong commitment to the study of language and its relationship to culture, society, and cognition.
Our particular strengths lie in
language endangerment and revitalization, with a collaborative approach to working in endangered language communities
ethnographic and discourse-centered approaches to language, culture, and society
verbal art and performance, including narrative, poetics, and ceremonial speaking
documentation and descriptive linguistics, and the role of museums in this work
endangered language instruction and acquisition
anguage and identity
linguistic relativity (language and worldview)
language ideologies (cultural conceptions of language)
language contact, change, and societal multilingualism
historical linguistics and grammaticalization
Oklahoma and related Native languages and families, especially Athapaskan, Kiowa, Euchee (Yuchi), Siouan, Muskogean, and Algonquian
Degree Programs in Linguistic Anthropology
MA in Applied Linguistic Anthropology
The MA in Applied Linguistic Anthropology focuses on revitalizing endangered languages of the Americas. Students receive a strong foundation in documentary and descriptive linguistics, with an emphasis on working collaboratively with endangered language communities. The degree prepares students to analyze and describe linguistic data. Depending on the choice of guided electives, the degree also prepares students in language instruction, curriculum and materials development, and formation of language policy, among other applications.
Requirements: 30 hours including:
ANTH 5363 (Linguistic Anthropology)
ANTH 5223 (Theories of Culture)
ANTH 5013 (Phonetics and Phonemics)
ANTH 5613 (Morphosyntax)
ANTH 5623 (Descriptive Linguistics Methods I)
ANTH 5633 (Descriptive Linguistic Methods II)
ANTH 5980 (Master’s Thesis)
Proficiency in a language for the student’s research
MA in Linguistic Anthropology
The MA in Linguistic Anthropology is a four-field, anthropology degree emphasizing the relationship of language as it shapes and is shaped by social life. Students receive a strong foundation in ethnographic methods and skills, through which students may study language performance, language and identity, and discourse analysis, among other topics.
Required Courses: 30 hours including:
ANTH 5223 (Theories of Culture)
ANTH 5363 (Linguistic Anthropology)
ANTH 6633 (Method & Theory in Biological Anthropology)
ANTH 6713 (Archeological Theory)
ANTH 5980 (Master’s Thesis)
Proficiency in a language for the student’s research
PhD Program
Students interested in pursuing a PhD in linguistic anthropology may do so through the PhD in Socio-Cultural Anthropology with an emphasis in Linguistic Anthropology.
Requirements: 90 hours, including:
Those courses required for the MA in Linguistic Anthropology and
ANTH 5213 (Ethnographic Methods)
ANTH 5123 (Socio-Cultural II – Contemporary Theory)
ANTH 5543 (Research Design)
ANTH 6980 (Dissertation)
Comprehensive exam
Proficiency in a language for the student’s research
Research Opportunities
Students in Linguistic Anthropology at OU have unique research opportunities that extend beyond the classroom.
Instructors in the Native American Languages Program at OU teach Cherokee, Choctaw, Maskoke (Creek), Kiowa, and Cheyenne. Students may use these classes to fulfill their language requirement, and students have worked with the instructors to develop teaching materials. In addition, students who speak or are learning to speak one of these languages may have the opportunity to teach beginning level courses under the tutelage of a fluent speaker/instructor.
The Department of Native American Languages at the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History offers students several research opportunities in Native languages of Oklahoma. The archives house over 6,000 media and print resources in languages of Oklahoma and North America. Students may use the recording facilities and equipment. They have the opportunity to participate in language programming at the museum, including the annual Oklahoma Native American Youth Language Fair and museum exhibits. The department has a two-year Graduate Research position for students in Linguistic Anthropology.
Oklahoma Native Language Association is a Native-run organization of language teachers in state. Several faculty are members of the ONLA Teaching Team, which gives workshops in linguistics for Native communities, teaching methodology, language acquisition, and curriculum and materials development. Students may gain experience in teacher training with the ONLA Teaching Team as well as experience in organizing the annual conference and training workshops.
Faculty
Core Faculty
Gus Palmer, Associate Professor
Sean O’Neill, Assistant Professor
Mary S. Linn , Assistant Professor
Circe Sturm , Associate Professor
Morris Foster, Professor
Marcellino Berardo, Visiting Assistant Professor
Affiliated Faculty
Marcia Haag, Associate Professor, Modern Languages, Literature, and Linguistics
Teresa Bell, Associate Professor, Modern Languages, Literature, and Linguistics
Dylan Herrick, Assistant Professor, Modern Languages Literature, and Linguistics
