National Renowned Linguist Kicks Off ‘Language Matters’ Speaker Series at WSU
OGDEN, Utah — Linguist Doug Biber likes to combine a study of academic linguistics with a healthy dose of fun. He will visit Weber State University Feb. 3, at 5:30 p.m. in Elizabeth Hall Room 229 to discuss how language is affected by social factors such as class, gender, region and occupation.
In addition, Biber will speak to WSU classes Feb. 4, at 9 a.m. in Social Science Building Room 378. The public is welcome to attend any of the presentations. Each talk will be followed by time for questions and discussion.
When Biber was young, language was not his strong suit. “I was the kid who got Cs in French and couldn’t produce a trill to save my life,” he said. He spent years avoiding language classes at school.
So how did he end up a linguist? Biber credits a technical writing class for teaching him that writing could be a medium for people to learn new things, and after tentatively taking an English syntax course, he found himself hooked on the study of language structure.
Biber worked and studied as a geophysicist before finding his place in the linguistics field. Aside from his study of English, Biber coordinated a Somali mother-tongue literacy program in Kenya for three years, which he said shaped his worldview and gave him the chance to experience linguistic fieldwork. He was especially interested in studying Somali phonology and dialect variation. He is now working on a 30-year study of how computers allow linguists to effectively study linguistic trends and changes.
“Weber State is lucky to have a linguist of Dr. Douglas Biber’s stature inaugurate our ‘Language Matters’ speaker series,” said Mark LeTourneau, a WSU English professor. “His presentations should be particularly interesting to students and faculty in English, foreign languages and computer science as well as community members who are curious about language, linguistics and how linguists work.”
WSU offers a 21-credit-hour linguistics minor consisting of 18 credit hours of course work and a three-hour capstone class. The goal of the program is to give students a thorough understanding of the field and provide them with relevant experience for their careers.
The linguistics minor, started in 2008, is an interdisciplinary minor involving eight departments – anthropology, English, psychology, teacher education, foreign language, communication, computer science and philosophy – from four WSU colleges. The program is open to all WSU students and complements many majors because of its wide applicability.
“Linguistics is sought-after by law schools and graduate programs because of its interdisciplinary nature,” LeTourneau said. “Linguistics enters into every conceivable intellectual or cultural endeavor.”
Linguistics students often pursue careers in education, computer science, technology development, business, marketing and anthropology.
Visit weber.edu/wsutoday for more news about Weber State University.
For a high-resolution photo, please visit the folliwng link:
wsuucomm.smugmug.com/Press-Release-Photos/2016-photos/January-2016/i-kMzwhhs/0/L/DougPhoto-L.jpg
Ivonne Dabb, marketing specialist
801-626-7439 • ivonnedabb@weber.edu- Contact:
Mark LeTourneau, English professor
801-626-6386 • mletourneau@weber.eduJohn Trimble, Spanish professor
801-626-6780 • jtrimble@weber.edu