Graduate Study
in
Native American Linguistics

Have you wondered about...

• the future of the indigenous languages of the Americas?
• how many of these languages are endangered, or no longer spoken?
• the age of the speakers of the so-called healthy languages?
• how to begin a project on describing an indigenous language?
• where you would look for teaching materials or guides?
• where you can learn about indigenous languages of the Americas?
• where you would find assistance in Native languages curriculum development and methods?

Program Overview

The Linguistics Department at the University of Arizona offers a Master of Arts in Native American Linguistics. The program's chief objective is to provide best practices in Native American Linguistics and languages.

The foci of this degree are indigenous languages and communities. Due to the rapid decline in the use of heritage languages tribal communities pressed for practical linguistic training to:

• maintain, restore, and document indigenous languages;
• provide skills and expertise for Native American linguists to develop teaching grammars and other materials;
• promote understanding of indigenous peoples' educational issues at every level of policy making;
• enhance and promote understanding of complex factors leading to language choice, language shift and language loss;
• locate talented students to advance to the Ph.D. level in linguistics or related disciplines.

Course Work

Master of Arts option in Native American Linguistics: This program is designed to be completed in 1 year and trains members of Native American Communities to do descriptive research on their languages, and to prepare for careers teaching these languages and related fields. NOTE: for the M.A. option in Native American Linguistics, the GRE exam is recommended but not required. This program does not automatically lead into the Ph.D. program. A total of 26 units of course work is required along with a 6 unit thesis. Courses include LING 500, 597a, 545a, 545b, LRC 510, and electives. Some course work is taken during the summer months at the American Indian Languages Development Institute (AILDI).

Sample Course Schedule

* Independent Study units are scheduled with approval of an advisor and students may work with a faculty member whose expertise is in the student's language or related topic.

A thesis is required and is evaluated by the student's committee. The topic of the thesis must also be approved by the committee.

Course List

Faculty with A Primary emphasis in Native American Linguistics

• Coordinator of Program: Mary Willie. Associate Professor (UArizona) Navajo Linguistics and American Indian Studies, Navajo language and linguistics, morphology and syntax.
• Andrew Carnie. Associate Professor (MIT) Nez Perce linguistics, Syntactic Theory, Morphosyntax, Verb initial languages, Celtic linguistics
• Heidi Harley. Associate Professor (MIT) Yaqui morphology, Syntax, morphology, lexical semantics, formal semantics
• Natasha Warner. Associate Professor (UC Berkeley) Mutseng Language, Phonetics, Experimental Phonology, Language Maintenance
• Ofelia Zepeda. Professor (UArizona) Tohono O’odham Linguistics, AILDI Co-director, Lexicography, Language Maintenance
• Amy Fountain. Lecturer (UArizona) Navajo linguistics, Phonology, Phonetics, general American Indian survey course
• Carol Uentillie. Adjunct Lecturer in Navajo language.

Other Faculty with Native American Linguistic Interests

• Mary Carol Combs. Language Planning and Policy, Indigenous Language Revitalization, Bilingual Education Law and Policy.
• Perry Gilman. Language and Cultural Revitalization, Language and Identity, Literacy in Sociocultural Context.
• Jane Hill. (Regents’ Professor) Uto-Aztecan, Language & Culture, Language Endangerment
• Tsianina K. Lomawaima. Ethnohistory, History of American Indian Education, Federal Indian Policy
• Norma Mendoza-Denton. Sociolinguistics, Language & Ethnicity, Language & Gender
• Susan Penfield. Mohave Language and Technology, Documentation and Revitalization.
• Muriel Saville-Troike. Ethnography of Communication, Language Attrition, Second Language Acquisition
• Emory Sekaquaptewa. Hopi Language in Culture, Hopi Language Lexicography
• Rudy Troike. Plains-Texas Ethnohistory, Languages of Texas & Northern Mexico, Quechua
• Leisy Wyman. Indigenous Education, Yup'ik Language and Culture, Language Planning and Policy.

For more information, please contact

Mary Willie or Ofelia Zepeda