Quantitative Methods in Linguistics

  • BU Course Number: GRS LX795
  • Prerequisites: Graduate standing in Linguistics; or consent of instructor.
  • Offered at the graduate level only.

Course Description. [Sample SyllabusModern linguistic research is increasingly making use of quantitative methods to analyze linguistic behavior, including aspects that were (or still are) considered to be categorical. Quantitative methods are helping us answer longstanding questions about the way language works and are also shaping the formulation of new questions. This course will guide students through quantitative approaches to examining linguistic data, including various types of data visualization, hypothesis testing, and data modeling. Along the way, students will gain proficiency in R, an open-source statistical environment. By the end of the course, students will know the logic behind a wide range of data science techniques and the practical skills required to use them appropriately.