Student Experience

A language enthusiast’s dream come true

As a university with a prestigious Research 1 designation, Indiana University offers an abundance of unique features to students of languages and linguistics. Language-specific departments such as Germanic Studies, French and Italian, and Spanish and Portuguese offer classes on a wide range of topics. Several language centers broaden linguistic horizons even further, with classes that include languages such as Swahili, Yoruba, Zulu, and Wolof.

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Field methods in African & Asian languages

The opportunity to become familiar with a regional African or Asian language can be a huge asset if you engage in field research, and we build that familiarity with a sequence of two field methods courses each year, typically alternating between African and Asian languages. This sequence gives you experience with a language previously unknown to you. During the first semester, you approach the language broadly, building an understanding of its grammar. In the second semester, you dive deeply into a particular phenomenon of the language.

IU Linguistics Club

We host the IU Linguistics Club, a student organization supporting student activity in Linguistics and related fields, such as the IULC Colloquium Series and IULC Working Papers.

Learn more about IU Linguistics Club

Student spotlight: Feier Gao

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Feier Gao is an advanced doctoral student.

Perception of Mandarin Full Tone Realization and Indexical Meaning

Feier's research focuses on an area of growing interest — variation and sociolinguistic meaning in Mandarin Chinese. In her research, she aims to investigate the indexical association between the Mandarin full tone realization and the “cute” social persona.

Learn more about Feier's work

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