Department of Linguistics
Events
College of Arts and Humanities Events Calendar
Western Conference on Linguistics (WECOL)
November 16-17, 2024 at Fresno State
The Western Conference on Linguistics (WECOL) is an international conference on any aspect of theoretical and descriptive linguistics.
North American Computational Linguistics Open Competition (NACLO)
NACLO 2025 Open Round Competition | January 23, 2025 at Fresno State
NACLO Invitational Round | March 13, 2025 at Fresno State
NACLO is a contest in which high-school students solve linguistic problems. In solving these problems, students learn about the diversity and consistency of language, while exercising logic skills. No prior knowledge of linguistics or second languages is necessary.
News
Washington Monthly ranks Fresno State amoung top 30 universities for fifth consecutive year
Washington Monthly, a Washington, D.C.-based magazine, announced today that Fresno State ranked No. 26 out of 389 private and public universities for best serving the country in the areas of social mobility, research and civic engagement.
For the fifth straight year, Fresno State is the only California State University in the top 30, along with six Ivy League institutions, seven University of California campuses, MIT and top-ranked Stanford University.
2019 MA Student of Distinction Trevor Driscoll heads to MIT
In April of 2019, Trevor Driscoll was recognized at Arts in Motion as a Masters Student of Distinction from the Department of Linguistics.
Wanting to continue his education, he applied to the University of Massachusetts Amherst and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He was accepted to both programs — two of the top schools for Linguistics in the world according to Top Universities.
He will be attending MIT, pursuing his interest in theoretical phonology.
Free Spanish course at Fresno State helps medical workers communicate with patients amid COVID-19
“I respond to 911 emergency calls in a very busy system,” said Travis McSherry, a critical care transport paramedic. “I provide a wide range of medical emergency care to people such as childbirth, mental health issues, multi-system trauma, general medical, respiratory and cardiac issues.”
Fresno State students help police decode secret language used by inmate (ABC30)
A secret code used by an inmate to communicate with people outside of the jail was proving to be a puzzle for police.
Fresno State ranks fifth nationally for advancing economic opportunities for students
Fresno State has proven year over year that it is a key driver in social mobility, providing a high-quality education at an affordable price to create opportunities for students to move from one socioeconomic class to another.
Linguistics students learn to ‘Act Like a Teacher’ (video)
TESOL graduate program partnered with Agriland Farming Company in Chowchilla
In Spring 2019 Agriland Farming Company in Chowchilla hired one of our TESOL graduate
students, Crystal Enqiquez, to teach ESL to some of their immigrant workers. They
also agreed to partner with our grad students in LING 244 Curriculum Design and Assessment
(taught by Dr. Jaydene Elvin, our TESOL Coordinator) so that they could develop a
curriculum that specifically meet the needs of the employees at Agriland. The final
curriculum was presented to both the owner and HR director at Agriland, where it was
very well received.
Linguistics students present at conferences around the world
2018 Study Abroad in Shanghai
Our Study Abroad program in Shanghai was a big success! Students were immersed in the Chinese language and culture in the biggest city of China, at the University of Shanghai for Science and Technology (USST). They made friends with local Chinese students, toured the best of China's traditional architecture and gardens, museums, and galleries, and witnessed the amazing development of China's modernization. Check out some pictures and testimonies here:
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A group picture in front of the USST Library -
Teachers, students, and Chinese student buddies at USST -
Welcome meeting with USST teachers and Deans -
Calligraphy class -
Paper cutting class -
Table of dumplings -
Making dumplings -
Presenting dumplings -
Learning about Chinese opera -
Practicing Chinese Kung Fu -
Group Practicing Kungfu -
A thank you note from our student
Linguistics Department research helps preserve endangered languages
At U.C. Santa Barbara’s Workshop on American Indigenous Languages (WAIL) conference in May, Fresno State Linguistics Department faculty and students (current and former) dominated the program, delivering 10 of the 36 talks.
Research studies across campus apply to real-world issues
From preserving indigenous languages in the College of Arts and Humanities, to drone research in the Lyles College of Engineering, to air pollution research in the College of Health and Human Services, Fresno State faculty and students are tackling some of the region’s most pressing issues and developing new ideas and solutions every day.
Linguistics students rise to Bold Ideas challenge
Across the University, eight teams – consisting of about 60 students – are working on various challenges designed to Touch the Community beyond Fresno State. Each team has a faculty or staff supervisor, as well as a community benefit agency supervisor.
New forensic linguistics textbook is the first of its kind
Dr. Gerald R. McMenamin, a professor emeritus from the Department of Linguistics at Fresno State, has written a course book that is the first of its kind.