Academics

Languages

Grant Li
Rosario M. de Swanson

Grant Li (Chinese & Linguistics)

China is one of the world’s oldest and richest continuous cultures, over 5000 years old. It is the most populous nation in the world, with over one billion people. The study of the Chinese language opens the way to different important fields such as Chinese politics, economy, history, archaeology, etc. Knowing Chinese language greatly facilitates our understanding of Chinese culture and people. At Marlboro, courses at all levels of Chinese are offered to help students acquire proficiency in the Chinese language. The first-year linguistics and second-year Chinese courses are offered regularly every year. The higher-level Chinese courses are offered as tutorials as needed.

Language is one of the most fundamental human instincts. It is an extraordinarily intricate system that all of us master as young children without special teaching, and that gives us the ability to communicate, tell stories and express our deepest feelings. Linguistics is the scientific study of this human language ability. It is concerned with describing languages and with understanding our knowledge of language as speakers and how we come to have that knowledge. It is connected to many other fields of study, including psychology, anthropology, sociology, biology, physics, mathematics, computer science, philosophy and literature. At Marlboro, I teach the theoretical and formal approach to the nature of language, focusing on core areas of syntax, morphology and semantics. My own research area centers on syntactic theory interfacing with semantics and morphology.

Areas of Interest for Plan-level Work:

Chinese

Chinese Language (proficiency)

Linguistics

Syntax
Morphosyntax
Syntax-Semantics Interface
Chinese Linguistics
Comparative Linguistics

Starting Points (Basic and Introductory Courses)

Chinese

Elementary Chinese I and II (HUM1357 and HUM1362)
This course is for beginners. It is designed to help students develop communicative competence in the basic skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing. Students will learn basic vocabulary and sentence structures used in everyday situations through various forms of oral practice. Pinyin (the most widely used Chinese phonetic system) will be taught as a tool to learn the spoken language. Students will also learn Chinese characters in order to be able to communicate effectively in real situations. While linguistic aspects of the Chinese language are the primary focus, introduction to the social and cultural background of the language will also form an important part of the course. (Introductory, Elementary Chinese I in every fall semester, Elementary Chinese II in every spring semester)

Linguistics

Grammar as Science (HUM1413)
This course is an introduction to syntax as an exercise in scientific theory construction. It engages general intellectual themes present in all scientific theorizing as well as those arising specifically within the modern cognitive sciences. It covers such core topics in syntax as phrase structure, constituency, the lexicon, inaudible elements, movement rules and transformational constraints, while emphasizing scientific reasoning skills. (Introductory)

Linguistic Introduction to English Words
Where do new words come from? How are words put together? How do we assign meaning to words? These are among the most compelling questions for students of language and linguistics. This course is a comprehensive and accessible introduction to the study of English words from a theoretically informed linguistic perspective. It approaches the study of words from several directions, including phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, historical linguistics and psycholinguistics, giving students a command of the basic theory in each area, skill in analyzing and understanding English words and the foundation needed for more advanced study in linguistic theory. (Introductory)

Semantics
This is an introduction to the study of the literal meaning of words and the meaning of the way words are combined. It aims to provide a good understanding of a range of semantic phenomena and issues in semantics. (Introductory)

Pursuing Interests (Intermediate and Thematic Courses)

Chinese
Intermediate Chinese I and II (HUM1358 and HUM1363)
This course is the continuation of Elementary Chinese II. Students will continue to learn more skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing for daily communication. A broad variety of expressions and complicated sentence structures will be taught so that students can participate in conversations on various topics related to modern Chinese society. While equal emphasis will still be given to both characters and structures, students will be guided to write more Chinese essays. (Intermediate, Intermediate Chinese I in every fall semester, Intermediate Chinese II in every spring semester, prerequisite: Elementary Chinese)

The following courses are offered as tutorials:

Linguistics

Introduction to Syntactic Theory
This course provides a comprehensive introduction to the major issues in syntactic theory, including phrase structure, the lexicon, case theory, binding, movement, locality conditions and logical form. It aims to strengthen students’ foundational knowledge of linguistic theory and prepares them for more advanced study. (Intermediate, prerequisite: Grammar as Science)

Good Foundation For Plan

Chinese

Advanced Readings in Chinese gives you a jump-start toward a final Plan. Plan work should demonstrate adequate proficiency in the Chinese language.

Linguistics

To embark on a Plan in linguistics, students need to take Topics in Linguistic Theory.

Topics in Linguistic Theory
This is a research-oriented tutorial with topics varying with individual student’s interest. (Prerequisite: Syntactic Theory, Linguistic Introduction to English Words, and Semantics)

Rosario M. de Swanson (Spanish Language and Literature)

Aside from being a very beautiful language with many registers and nuances, a large body of the best literary work has been, and continues to be, written in Spanish; meanwhile Spanish-language films continue to receive praise from the film critics and viewers. Spanish is the second-most widely spoken language in the United States today and one of the three most spoken languages in the world. As such, Spanish has become an integral part of civic engagement and of global citizenship. Spanish is an important component of one’s career whether one's interests include government, law, business, international affairs, education, journalism, medicine or the performing arts.

Here at Marlboro College we offer a course of study intended both to facilitate language proficiency and to contextualize and analyze issues relevant to Spanish speakers abroad and in the U.S.—such as migration, cultural differences and imperialism. Learning Spanish at Marlboro College is fun because it is supplemented by study abroad and by many local trips and engagement with nearby Latino communities. Engagement of the larger college community in the interests of our students and faculty through lectures, films, Spanish conversation and other extracurricular activities is also central to our program. In addition to providing opportunities for learning on campus, we strongly recommend that students study off campus in a Spanish-speaking context in order to enhance their language skills and to forge their own connections to place through language. Intermediate and advanced-level courses adopt a variety of disciplinary and interdisciplinary approaches, including literary studies, film and media studies, social history, political analysis and gender perspective.

Starting Points (Basic and Introductory Courses)

Elementary Spanish I (HUM1346)
This course offers a dynamic and interactive introduction to Spanish and Spanish American cultures. The course covers the basic grammar structures of the Spanish language through extensive use of video, classroom practice and weekly conversation sessions with a student assistant. The course assumes no previous study of Spanish.

Elementary Spanish II
Offers a dynamic and interactive introduction to Spanish and Spanish American cultures. The course covers the basic grammar structures of the Spanish language through extensive use of video, classroom practice, and weekly conversation sessions with a native-speaking language assistant. It is a continuation of Spanish I.

Intermediate Spanish I
Strives for mastery of complex grammatical structures and continues work on writing and reading skills. Frequent compositions, selected literary readings, class discussions and debates on films and current events. Prerequisite: At least two consecutive semesters of college Spanish.

Intermediate Spanish II
Intermediate Spanish II is a course for students who have completed Intermediate Spanish I or have been deemed to be proficient enough for this class after taking a placement test and talking to the professor about prior course work. Intermediate Spanish II builds on and expands the language skills acquired in Intermediate Spanish I. It combines an extensive grammar review while focusing on all relevant language skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing. Culture is integrated in all aspects of the program; therefore, we will have critical discussions about the culture of different countries of the Spanish-speaking world. Frequent compositions, selected literary readings, class discussions and debates on films and current events. It meets two times a week as a class and an extra 50 minutes section with a language assistant, to be arranged at a later date. Prerequisite: Two consecutive semesters of college Spanish or equivalent.

Pursuing Interests (Intermediate and Thematic Courses)

Spanish American Civilization and Culture
This course presents an overview of the cultural heritage of the Spanish American peoples from the pre-Columbian period to the present. We will begin the course by studying the indigenous cultures and the Spanish conquest of the Americas. We will then examine the wars of independence and the process of nation building. The course ends by revisiting the Spanish American nations in the age of globalization and provides information about the Hispanic population living in the United States. Readings from the textbook Latinoamérica: Su civilización y su cultura will provide an overview of Spanish American histories. Videos, films, art and music will supplement the readings and enable us to more closely examine important concepts that have shaped Spanish America through the centuries: cultural and religious syncretism, the artist’s role in society, social class and ethnicity, civilization vs. barbarism and the resistance of cultural minorities. (Intermediate)

Spanish Composition, Conversation & Culture (HUM735)
Although this course is centered on written expression in Spanish, conversation and discussion of short stories—from selected Latin American and Spanish writers that will serve as models for writing styles—is essential. The course briefly reviews difficult grammatical structures or idiomatic usages, sentence and paragraph structure, making smooth transitions through writing. Using the selected literary texts, we will write short descriptions and narratives, learn how to incorporate dialogue in a short story as well as styles for personal or business correspondence. At the same time we will analyze texts, do library research and draft and complete research papers. Students will comment on each other’s work in the classroom to practice techniques of self-editing and self-criticism. Prerequisite: at least three semesters of college Spanish or equivalent. (Intermediate)

Preparation for Advanced Studies
This course will equip students of Spanish with a variety of skills that prepare them for upper-division courses. Specific areas of study will include: introduction to literary genres and movements; practice in critical reading and writing; study of figures of speech, rhetoric, and style; presentation of oral reports; use of library resources. In addition, students acquire basic knowledge of the geography, history and culture of the Hispanic world.

Introduction to Literary Genres
Designed as an introduction to drama, poetry and prose fiction of 20th-century Spain and Spanish America, this course familiarizes students with literary analysis and further develops their oral and written skills. Recommended for students who have completed Spanish Composition, and Conversation & Culture and a course in Hispanic culture. Advanced (Spanish) literature students should not enroll in this course. Conducted in Spanish.

Introduction to Latin American Literature I
This course explores the diversity of cultures and writings of Latin America, from pre-Columbian indigenous texts through the 19th century. Readings will include the Popol Vuh and other chronicles as well as the works of Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, Ricardo Palma and José Martí, among others. Class discussions and assigned papers based on literary analysis and research.

Survey of 20th-Century Latin American Literature II (HUM1420)
An introduction to Latin American texts from Modernismo to the present. Different cultural movements and their sociopolitical contexts are examined through representative works. Class discussions and assigned papers are based on literary analysis and research.

Creative Writing Workshop in Spanish
Do you like to write poetry or short fiction in Spanish? Then this workshop is for you. This workshop will offer students an opportunity to write short fiction and poetry, as well as dramatic scripts for the stage. Examining the student’s own writing alongside sample published works, the workshop will present instruction in the essential elements of literary forms, while providing each participant a community of readers to respond to his or her work. Each student will develop a project for the final portfolio and for presenting or performing their final piece in a recital.

Modern Spanish American Narrative
Explores the response of several modern Spanish-American writers to the following questions: What is fiction? What are the roles of the author, the narrator and the reader? Special attention is given to such outstanding novelists of the “Boom” as Rulfo, Cortázar, Cabrera Infante and García Márquez, and to the development of their works within the context of the modern novel. Conducted in Spanish. Prerequisite: Advanced courses in Spanish American literature and a semester of survey or Introduction to Latin American Literature I.

Gender Trouble: Women Writers Of Latin America and The Afro-Hispanic Diaspora (HUM1389)
Ever since feminists called attention to women’s lives, the question of what it means to be a woman has been the subject of much academic debate. However, despite improvement in women’s lives and shared similarities, the experience of being a woman differs markedly. Issues such as gender, race, ethnicity, class, nationality, and sexual orientation seem to account for these differences. We will examine these issues in the work of selected writers, considering the ways in which gender, race and historical and cultural specificity shape and complicate these categories of inquiry. We will also read poetry, short stories and essays by women writers. Prerequisite: Prior survey course and ability to read and write well in Spanish.

Topics In Spanish-American Culture & History (HUM1404)
Latin America is a vast region, diverse in geography and culture, tied together by a shared historical experience and a language. The Spanish-speaking countries are as rich and varied in their culture and historical development as they are in their geography and in the mix of peoples that inhabit them. In this course we will examine some of the most important issues in Latin America from a cultural and historical perspective: from nation building in the 19th century, to revolution and dictatorship, to indigenista and testimonial narratives. We will read essays and novels, and also watch films and discuss works of art. Prerequisite: Courses in Latin American literature. (Advanced)

U.S. Latino/a literature: Cartographies of the Self, Borders, Exiles (HUM1402)
After centuries of invisibility and marginalization, Latino culture and literature exploded on the American scene in the ’60s. Chicanos, Cubans, Nuyoricans and lately Dominicans and Central Americans have all contributed to create a diversified body of literature characterized by its bilingualism, biculturalism and hybridity. This course will center on how U.S. Latino/a literature bears witness to identity formation, self-representation and celebration of Latino culture and its people. It will explore a series of critical issues that define “latinidad” in the U.S., including language (bilingualism, Spanglish, code-switching and “dialect”), race/ethnnicity/color, gender migration, racism and difference. The texts in the course are representative of a great body of oral and written literature that articulates the experience of being Latino/a in the U.S. Although the course is taught in English, familiarity with Spanish is useful. This course requires the careful reading of the assigned materials, therefore, class participation, attendance and preparation is of utmost importance, continued absences and lack of preparation will reflect negatively in the grade. Prerequisite: None

Marlboro College also offers basic language courses in Arabic, classical Greek and Latin.
Marlboro supports Arabic through its participation in the Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant program. Every year through this program a fellow from an Arabic-speaking country comes to Marlboro to offer introductory and intermediate courses in Arabic. Advanced work in tutorial can be done; see Amer Latif if you are interested in this. For Greek and Latin, see classics.