My primary focus in teaching is the department’s Language Program (English Language Major, and also Graduate Program). I usually teach the undergraduate courses listed below, but also Majors seminars (Engl 489) and graduate seminars (Engl 508). For current offerings, with descriptions, check the English Department faculty listing here.

ENGL 330A The Structure of Modern English: Sounds and Words

This course presents a descriptive analysis of English pronunciation and the processes responsible for the emergence of the meaning and form of words. We begin with a study of the sounds of English and rules governing pronunciation. We turn next to the analysis of the structure of English words, discussing the mechanisms which make the emergence of new words possible, while also reviewing theoretical approaches to lexical meaning. Through the remainder of the term, we consider the grammatical categories of English and we learn how grammatically relevant information is encoded in various forms. The emphasis throughout the course is on the description of English as it is now used rather than on any linguistic theory in particular.

ENGL 331 The Structure of Modern English (Sentences and their Usage)

In this course, we look at the descriptive analysis of English sentences and the use of linguistic forms in actual discourse. The course focuses on a detailed analysis of English sentential forms and functions, in simple and complex sentences. In the final month, we study the principles which allow English speakers to adjust the form of expression to the context or to chose an appropriate level of politeness. The emphasis throughout the course is on the description of English as it is now used rather than on any linguistic theory in particular.

ENGL 328 Metaphor, Language, and Thought

The course introduces students to recent theories which view our understanding of the meaning of language expressions and other forms of communication in the broader context of the nature of human thought. We rely on recent theories of meaning and cognition to show how underlying cognitive concepts structure our understanding of language, literature, and art, but also artifacts of popular culture, advertising, media, or film.