LING 470S: Endangered Languages: Home

Welcome to the library guide for LING 470S: Endangered Languages. Use the tabs above to navigate from page to page, and contact me if you have questions about research. I would love to help you!

The following information is excerpted from the class documents distributed by Dr. Fallon. Please see the original documents for up-to-date information.

From the syllabus (emphasis added):

Students will present the findings of their research in a brief 4-5 minute presentation during the time for the final examination.... At the final, students will also turn in a 15-20 page paper of original research (approved by the professor). Students must use 15-20 or more peer-reviewed sources or reference works using LSA documentation for references. Generally, it is better to pick a smaller topic that is examined in greater depth. Find something you're excited about.

From the project description:

The project could take one of the following forms:  

• A case study of a particular endangered language 
• A comparison of two endangered language situations 
• A comparative assessment of: 
  • online dictionaries 
  • community language learning materials 
  • government policies on endangered languages and revitalization 
  • etc. 
• A study of revitalization efforts 
• A study of any topic covered in the Cambridge Handbook of Endangered Languages or in our other course readings. This topic could be  
  • technical, e.g. an update on the best audio recording hardware and software 
  • descriptive, e.g. the linguistic changes in an endangered language 
  • theoretical, e.g. models of factors that lead to (or from) language endangerment 
  • some other type not described above 

Due dates:

Topic Approval: 10 Nov. 2020 (or earlier) 

Annotated Bibliography:19 Nov. 2020 

Final Presentation: 8 Dec. 2020 12:00 p.m. Zoom class 

Final Paper: 8 Dec. 2020 11:59 p.m. file upload 

The library provides guides to doing research in every subject that's taught at UMW. Here is the guide to doing research in Linguistics:

Much of the content on this guide was originally created by Jack Bales, UMW Librarian Emeritus, who is enjoying his retirement and is missed by his colleagues at Simpson Library.