USC offers two programs in the area of Computational Linguistics (also called Natural Language Processing and Human Language Technology):
- This program offers an MS degree. It is centered in the Department of Linguistics and focuses on issues in Linguistics. Its faculty are primarily experts in Linguistics.
- The other program (click here) offers MS and PhD degrees in Computer Science with an emphasis on Human Language Technology / Computational Linguistics, and focuses on all aspects of computational linguistics. Its faculty are primarily experts in Computer Science, and are members of the world-renowned Natural Language research groups at the Information Sciences Institute (ISI) and Institute for Creative Technology (ICT).
Joseph Aoun, Professor, Linguistics, USC
Michael Arbib, Professor, Computer Science, USC
Robert
Belvin, Computer Scientist, HRL Laboratories; Lecturer, Linguistics,
USC
Bonnie Glover Stalls,
Adjunct Professor, Linguistics, USC
Shrikanth
Narayanan, Assistant
Professor, Electrical Engineering, USC
Jean-Roger Vergnaud,
Professor, Linguistics, USC
Research
Areas
The faculty members
comprise a group of internationally renowned scholars from Linguistics.
Their areas of research help to shape research in the program. Within the field
of Linguistics, prevailing models of formal grammar have been shaped to a great
extent by these scholars whose expertise encompasses not only grammatical
theory but a wide range of languages and language families. Jean-Roger Vergnaud established the notion of
Abstract Case theory, which has remained one of the central concerns of formal
grammatical theory for more than two decades. Joseph Aoun pioneered the study of Generalized Binding and
has remained in the forefront of investigations of application of formal
grammatical models to East Asian and Semitic languages. Bonnie Glover Stalls is working on automated
information extraction for web-based resume text processing. She has developed
Arabic lexical, syntactic, and semantic resources for broad-coverage
Arabic-to-English machine translation system at ISI and has extensive
industrial experience in multilingual appliations including voice-to-voice
translation. n Computer Science Michael Arbib is active in computational and cognitive
neuroscience as well as neuroinformatics. A topic of current interest relates
the mechanisms of control of hand movements in monkeys to a new scenario for
the origin of human language. Shrikanth
Narayanan is a member of the Electrical Engineering Department after
working at AT&T Research. He focuses on automated speech recognition and
speech synthesis.
LING 530
Syntax (3 units,
Fall) An intensive
introduction to the principle and methods of grammatical analysis. The
structure of sample English clauses will be discussed, and the essential formal
notions and empirical results will be presented. In particular, the central
concept of multiplicity of representation will be developed in its various
forms. The concept is inseparable from that of lexical representation of rule.
Properties of relations between concomitant representations, as well as a
taxonomy of such relations, are discussed and exemplified. The central
grammatical relations are formalized and illustrated. A range of central
phenomena will be discussed and analyzed, with appeal to cross-linguistic
evidence and considerations.
LING 534
Logic and the Theory of Meaning (3
units, Spring) An introduction
to logic in preparation for advanced work in semantics and linguistic theory.
The language of first-order logic, and introduction to truth-theoretic
semantics for formal and natural languages. Compositionality. Predication, and
reference. Syntax and semantics of quantification. Generalized quantifiers and
their lexical properties. Proper Nouns, definite descriptions and descriptive
anaphora.
LING 585
Computational Linguistics (3
units, Fall) This course
presents an overview of computational systems that process natural language, in
particular examining the role of linguistic knowledge and the procedures that
implement it in working systems. Topics covered include speech recognition and
generation, computational lexicography, morphological analysis, natural
language parsing and its relation to syntactic theory, lexical classes and
lexical semantics, and computational ontology. The course includes both
hands-on and research components and emphasizes the expanding role linguistics
can play in this emerging field, as well as how computational tools and
techniques can contribute to linguistic research and theory.
LING 500
Structure of Language (3
units, Fall) Development of
analytical skills in syntax and semantics, with major attention to language
universals and language typologies and their relevance to theories of language
acquisition.
Breadth
Requirement Courses
LING 533
Language Universals and Typology (3
units) Introduction to
language universals and typology.
LING 538
Selected Topics in Romance Syntax (3
units) Overview of selected
topics in Romance Syntax within a comparative perspective and their
contribution towards the understanding of a general theory of grammar. Prerequisite: departmental approval.
LING 539
Japanese/Korean Syntax and Theoretical Implications (3 units) Critical discussion of selected papers and
dissertations on Japanese/Korean syntax and consideration of their theoretical
implications. Prerequisite: departmental approval.
LING 548
Lexical Semantics (3
units) The primary focus of
this course is on how meaning is constituted within the linguistic unit of the
word. Several proposals for Lexical Decomposition are examined with both
theory-internal and cross-linguistic empirical evidence being considered.
Lexicalization Patterns form a major part of this evidence (that is, different
ways in which languages group meaning elements together to form words). Other
important topics include the question of how the meaning of a word (especially
verbs) is related to its syntactic properties (mapping hypotheses), which in
turn brings in the topics of Thematic/Semantic Roles, Selectional features and
Verb Classes.
LING 576
Psycholinguistics (3
units, Fall) Theories of
acquisition; sentence and discourse processing; language and thought. Prerequisite: departmental
approval.
EE 519
Digital Speech Processing (3
units, Fall) Graduate
introductory course on speech processing and speech recognition.
EE 599 Advanced
Topics in Speech Recognition and Spoken Language Engineering (3 units, Spring)
CSCI 561a
Artificial Intelligence (3
units, Fall or Spring)
Foundations of symbolic intelligent systems. Agents, search, problem solving,
representation, reasoning and symbolic programming. Prerequisite: CSCI455x. Since this is in Computer Science,
this course requires permission from the instructors.
CSCI 544
Natural Language Processing (3
units, Spring) This course
covers the basic techniques of processing human language by computer. These
include morphological analysis, parsing, semantic interpretation, and
generation. We examine symbolic algorithms as well as some ways of acquiring
linguistic knowledge automatically through statistical analysis. Techniques are
presented in the context of applications like machine translation, text
summarization, and information retrieval.
Pre or co-requisite: CSCI 561a.
Since this is in Computer Science, this course requires permission from
the instructors.
CSCI 562
Empirical Methods in Natural Language (3
units, Fall) Acquiring
computer-tractable linguistic knowledge has always been a bottleneck in
building automatic translation, speech recognizers, summarizers, grammar
checkers, and information management systems. Some of this knowledge can now be
statistically extracted from large texts. We will examine the state-of-the-art
in statistical modeling, supervised training, and bootstrapping. The approach
will be experimental; software tools will allow students to build their own
applications and measure performance. Prerequisite: CSCI 561a. Since this is in
Computer Science, this course requires permission from the instructors.
Who should
apply:
-
Graduates in linguistics
or related fields, or college seniors, interested in seeking a career in computational
linguistics.
-
Professional
linguists interested in computational methods.
-
Students looking to
build a research-oriented resume before entering industry or a PhD program.
Admissions
requirements:
Admissions to the
Master's Program in Computational Linguistics requires:
-
a completed
bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in linguistics, mathematics, or a related
field from an accredited institution
-
a GPA of 3.0 or
higher
-
satisfactory GRE test
scores
-
-TOEFL test, for
international students
-
the ability to
program, with expertise in such computer languages as LISP, C++, PROLOG, PERL,
or JAVA
-
proficiency in basic
linguistics (phonology, morphology, syntax) and expertise in linguistics data
analysis.
-
advanced knowledge or
the equivalent of at least two years of study at the college level of a human
language other than English.
Applicants also need
letters of evaluation from at least three professors or co-workers and a one or
two-page statement of purpose. A major or work experience in a closely related field,
such as Linguistics, Computer Science, or a particular language, is helpful but
not required.
Students interested in the
program who have not fulfilled the linguistics requirements (basic phonology,
morphology, and syntax, and linguistic data analysis) or the recommended
language requirement are strongly encouraged to fulfill them before entering
the program. To help strengthen students' backgrounds in these areas, it may be
possible to take a prerequisite course in Computer Science (Introduction to
Programming Systems Design) and one in Linguistics (Structure of Language).
Students should be aware, however, that the breadth requirements or elective
courses may require additional prerequisites.
Admissions
procedure:
Prospective students
should apply to the Office of Graduate Admissions for the Master's
Program in Computational Linguistics (through the Department of Linguistics).
Please submit the following:
1) The original application and a $55.00 fee. Your
application will not be processed until the fee is paid.
2) GRE scores (must be sent to USC by the testing
agency).
3) One official transcript from all academic
institutions and universities attended, and a certified English translation if
the transcript is from an international institution.
You must also submit the
following documents to the Department of Linguistics:
1) A copy of the original application
2) A copy of your GRE scores
3) Copies of all transcripts as well as English
translation of courses and degree,
4) A detailed Statement of Purpose showing clarity of
expression and organization, and specific information about interests and goals
5) 3 academic letters of recommendation, and
6) A research paper, if possible
Please note that new
students are admitted to the program in the Fall semester only and that we do
not accept any documents by email.
Contact
Bonnie Glover
Stalls
Adjunct Professor
Department of Linguistics
University of Southern
California
Los Angeles, CA 90089-1693
Tel: +1-213-740-2986
Fax: +1-213-740-9306
email: bstalls@isearch.com