Department of Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

Open the door to new cultures and bridge divides by learning or improving your language skills.
The Department of Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics teaches 17 languages, offers nine majors, three master's degrees (one each in French, Spanish and Linguistics), as well as a master's of science degree in computational linguistics. Our majors are interdisciplinary and many of our courses are cross-listed with other departments and colleges.
LLL reaffirms its anti-bias and anti-racist commitment, acknowledges and values differences, and seeks to exemplify anti-bias and anti-racist education. LLL stands against any system that supports racism and privilege.
Languages
أهلاً وسهلاً
Arabic
欢迎
Chinese
Bienvenue
French
Willkommen
German
δέχομαι
Greek
ברוך הבא
Hebrew
स्वागत
Hindi
Benvenuti
Italian
ようこそ
Japanese
환영합니다
Korean
gratissimum
Latin
Witajcie
Polish
Benvindos
Portuguese
Добро пожаловать
Russian
Bienvenidos
Spanish
Hoş geldiniz
Turkish
Modern Foreign Language
Spanish Education Program
Linguistics
Linguistic Studies
Computational linguistics
Classics
Classics and Classical Civilization
English to/for Speakers of Other Languages
ESOL
TESOL
Building first- and second-language literacy has become a matter of national urgency.
In today's globalized world, you can be a leader in your chosen field by having the skills you can acquire only through studying language and literature.
Russell Berman, former President of the Modern Language Association stated, "Languages mean career skills for the workforce, but they also contribute to each person’s cognitive growth. Without sufficient language learning, American students will suffer from diminished educational opportunities, and we sabotage their prospects in the global economy."
To these ends, Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics is committed to excellent and innovative scholarship and teaching and to the promotion of diversity and trans-cultural understanding. The department as whole:
- Promotes the knowledge of languages.
- Facilitates the study of literary and other cultural texts.
- Facilitates the study of language on a theoretical, scientific level.
- Promotes critical thinking.
Unlimited Career Opportunities
There is no one given career path following graduation. Teaching, translating, and interpreting are obvious career options, but your degree also has exciting potential in areas such as:
- Foreign civil service
- Airline services
- Advertising
- Editing and publishing
- Subtitles and voice-overs
- Event management
- Hotel management
If you have a master’s degree in French, Spanish, or Linguistics you will be prepared to excel in a wide variety of professional and research areas. Many of our students go on to pursue doctoral degrees at top institutions or move directly into professional careers, as consultants, teachers, translators, editors, writers, or find work in the diplomatic corps, international marketing, the performing arts and more. No doubt, your advanced degree will give you an edge in an increasingly competitive world.
Study Abroad
Enhance your oral and written language proficiency with an international experience through Syracuse Abroad, which features more than 100 programs in 60 countries. Choose semester, summer, short term, and yearlong options for international study.
Events
Events
There are no events in this category right now, but please check the University calendar for many other options.
Upcoming Events
Ongoing Events
Books by our Faculty
Department News

Mona Eikel-Pohen Wins Outstanding German Program Development and Advocacy Award
The award was presented by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages Small Undergraduate German Program Special Interest Group.

LLL Professor Awarded Honorary Doctorate for Contributions to Linguistic Theory and Turkish Linguistics
The honor was conferred to Professor Jaklin Kornfilt by the University of Cyprus.

Preserving African Language and Culture
LLL Professor Christopher Green receives prestigious National Endowment for the Humanities fellowship.

LLL Professor Tej Bhatia Interviewed by The New York Times
Bhatia contributed linguistic expertise for an article about contemporary Bhangra.
Recent Publications by LLL Faculty
Occhino, C., Hill J. C., Hochgesang, J. A., Shaw, E., Fisher, J. N., & Tamminga, M. (2021). New Trends in ASL Variation Documentation. Sign Language Studies 21 (3), 350-377. doi:10.1353/sls.2021.0003
Brown, A. (2021). Monolingual versus multilingual FLT: French and Arabic at beginning levels. Language Teaching Research. Online FirstView:https://doi.org/10.1177/1362168821990347
Occhino, C., Anible, B., & Morford, J. P. (2020). The role of iconicity, construal, and proficiency in the online processing of handshape. Language and Cognition 12(1), 114-137. https://doi.org/10.1017/langcog.2020.1
Brown, A. & Kamiya, M. (2019). Gesture in contexts of scopal ambiguity: Negation and quantification in English. Applied Psycholinguistics, 40(5):1141-1171.