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Department of Linguistics | Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Simon Fraser University Calendar | Spring 2025

Indigenous Languages and Linguistics

Master of Arts

Through this MA students receive training for careers as language researchers, post-secondary educators, and material developers, gaining expertise in communicative skills, language documentation, and analysis of a particular Indigenous language. Emphasis is placed on the language in its socio-cultural and educational setting. The learning model integrates Indigenous ways of knowing with linguistic analysis and documentation, featuring mentorship and participation in projects in addition to formal lectures and paper writing. Courses are taught by teams of Elders and knowledge holders, and academic experts on the language.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must satisfy the University admission requirements as stated in Graduate General Regulation 1.3 in the SFU Calendar. In addition, applicants must be proficient speakers of the language (as assessed by a panel of speakers or community-appointed experts), or be advanced learners who have, at minimum, completed the SFU certificate in Indigenous language proficiency and/or the SFU diploma in Indigenous language proficiency or equivalent with a CGPA of at least 3.0.

Applicants who do not meet the minimum academic admission requirements, but can demonstrate significant knowledge and experience in Indigenous languages and linguistics may be considered for conditional admission.

Program Requirements

This program consists of course work and a project or thesis for a minimum of 32 units.

Students must complete one of

LING 804 - Field Methods (3)
LING 810 - Topics in Linguistics I (3) *

and all of

LING 830 - Phonetics and Phonology of an Indigenous Language (4)
LING 831 - Morphology and Syntax of an Indigenous Language (4)
LING 832 - Narrative and Discourse Structure of an Indigenous Language (4)
LING 833 - Socio-cultural and Cognitive Aspects of an Indigenous Language (4)
LING 834 - Effective Pedagogies and Materials Development for Indigenous Language (4)

and three units of graduate seminar from

LING 890 - Graduate Seminar I (1) **
LING 891 - Graduate Seminar II (1) **

and the requirements from either the course work, project, or thesis option

Course Work Option

and two of

LING 810 - Topics in Linguistics I (3) **
LING 811 - Topics in Linguistics II (3) **
LING 812 - Topics in Linguistics III (3) **
LING 813 - Topics in Linguistics IV (3) **
LING 896 - Directed Research (3) **

Project Option

and a project

LING 893 - Linguistics MA Project (6)

Thesis Option

and a thesis

LING 898 - MA Thesis (18)

* With a topic focused on methods in language documentation.

** All repeatable for credit where topic is different. Graduate seminars will provide workshops on graduate project writing and organization, research design, and research ethics.

Program Length

Students are expected to complete the program requirements in six terms.

Other Information

Project Option

The MA Project for this degree is examined by two examiners. A student who fails may be permitted a second submission based on recommendations by the Examining Committee followed by a re-examination. Students present their projects individually or at a cohort project symposium and submit their projects to the Library. Examples of suitable projects are: a linguistic analysis of some aspect of the language, a practical grammar of an aspect of the language; analysis of language revitalization projects in communities (adult learning, language nest, enhancing language use); the production and presentation of a video that documents use of the language; a digital media project that integrates visual, audio, and textual resources in the language; an educational module for teaching the language; a museum exhibit that incorporates the language, or an annotated narrative or set of narratives transcribed, glossed, and translated into English.

Thesis Option

The MA Thesis complies with GGR 1.9-1.11 including submission to the library. Students also present the thesis research at a cohort project symposium.

Academic Requirements within the Graduate General Regulations

All graduate students must satisfy the academic requirements that are specified in the Graduate General Regulations, as well as the specific requirements for the program in which they are enrolled.