Subject Librarian: Adam Taves
Academic Programs Supported
The aim of the collection is to provide adequate support for study and research leading to the B.A. degree in Ordinary and Honours programs and to the M.A./Ph.D. degree in the graduate program in both theoretical and applied linguistics.
With the assistance and participation of the appropriate subject librarians, the collection provides support for cognate programs of study such as French and foreign languages, education, speech therapy, English language, philosophy, psychology, sociology, anthropology, communication, and computer science. These programs include courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
Description of the Current Collection The discipline of linguistics is concerned with discovering and articulating the principles of language organization and applying these principles to the description and analysis of individual languages, sometimes with and eye to specific social, psychological, and intercultural contexts and influences. Language mediates and accompanies all forms of human endeavour. The study of language can therefore provide new perspectives on many topics of inquiry proper to the humanities and social sciences. Linguisitics has its most obvious and direct applications in areas such as education, speech therapy, communication, and computer science.
Our collection aims to support both undergraduate and graduate study with emphasis on first and second language acquisition, semantics, morphology, phonetics, phonology and syntax. Emphasis is also placed on developing interdisciplinary strengths in common with education, psychology, and sociology for the support of teaching and research in applied linguistics. Journals are essential for research in this field. Every effort is made to maintain existing subscriptions as well as, when funds permit, acquire new subscriptions in both print and/or electronic formats.
Related Collections at York As mentioned, linguistics as a discipline interacts with other subjects in the humanities, social sciences and sciences. Where practicable, material is selected and funded by the subject librarian in the appropriate core discipline. For example, anthropological linguistics, animal communication, neurolinguistics, psycholinguistics and sociolinguistics are selected and funded primarily by the sociology, psychology, and anthropology librarians. In other instances, overtly interdisciplinary material is selected and funded by groups of subject librarians from allied disciplines. For example, material in applied linguistics and language acquisition is acquired and funded by both the education and linguistics librarians in mutual consultation.
Emphasis is on English language publications, followed by French, Italian and German. French and Italian language publications are required for the respective programmes with the French language publications funded to French. German language publications are obtained when they are of significance to the discipline and no translation is available. Translations of significant works from other languages into English are usually acquired.
Geographical Coverage Most important are publications from North America, Great Britain, the Low Countries and Germany. Publications from other countries are acquired selectively.
Chronological Coverage Linguistics is one of the disciplines where current research is very important. Taking this into account, the collection is mainly contemporary in nature.
Date of Publications Emphasis is on the acquisition of current publications. However, filling some of the gaps is done retrospectively when funds are available.
Duplication with Frost is minimal, but as such is desirable. Frost selects more basic, practical texts which are most commonly used by the students. This provides for additional copies which can circulate in the whole system. Research material is usually collected in Scott Library, but is available to Frost on request.
The need for added copies for Scott is identified through two channels - faculty requests or circulation lists.
Gifts Gifts are accepted providing they fit into the teaching interests of the faculty, the direction of the academic programs at York, and plans for space availability.
Relegation and Weeding As the material in our collection becomes mutilated or unusable, every attempt is made to have it repaired or replaced. If this is impossible it may be returned to the stacks as is or removed from the holdings and discarded.
- Monographs -- Preferred format is soft-cover books, as these are significantly cheaper. Therefore when reviewing, a decision must be made as to whether binding is desirable. The criteria used is usually the projected duration of the value of and the anticipated popular use of the book. Reprints of well recognized scholarly texts appropriate to the programme at York are acquired as they and the funds become available.
- Journals -- As stated earlier, current research is very important in this discipline; therefore, a good strong journal collection is essential. Where possible, electronic journals are acquired as adjuncts to or in place of print journals.
- Microforms -- Microforms are used to acquire periodical backruns, dissertations and monographs available only in this format. The preferred format for our collection is microfiche.
- Theses and Dissertations -- Significant theses and dissertations are acquired, usually on the recommendation of the faculty. Unless there is a demonstrated need for a paper copy, theses and dissertations are acquired in microformat.
- Other Materials -- Reference material - bibliographies, guides, dictionaries, indexes, CD-ROM files, etc., are acquired by the Reference Bibliographer and located in the appropriate location.
Resources Elsewhere in the Toronto Region
The Metro Toronto Reference Library has a general collection which can be useful to the students living in that area.
The University of Toronto Robarts Library, being a well recognized research library in this area, has a greater depth than the York collection, e.g. their collection on African languages is much more comprehensive than the one at York.
Collecting Levels
| Description | Current Level | Desired Level |
| Amerindian languages | 3 | 3 |
| Animal communication | 3 | 3a |
| Anthropological linguistics | 3a | 3b |
| Bilingualism | 4- | 4 |
| Computational linguistics | 3a | 3a |
| Dialectology | 3b | 3b |
| Discourse analysis | 3 | 3a |
| Evolution of language | 3 | 3a |
| First language acquisition | 4- | 4 |
| Historical linguistics | 3a | 3a |
| History of linguistics | 3a | 3a |
| Language death | 3 | 3a |
| Language topology | 3 | 3a |
| Lexicography and lexicology | 3a | 3a |
| Linguistic semantics | 3a | 3b |
| Mathematical linguistics | 3 | 3 |
| Morphology | 3b | 3b |
| Neurolinguistics | 3a | 3b |
| Philosophy of language | 3b | 3b |
| Phonetics | 3b | 4- |
| Phonology | 3b | 3b |
| Pragmatics | 3a | 3a |
| Psycholinguistics | 3b | 4- |
| Reading | 3b | 3b |
| Second language acquisition | 4 | 4 |
| Sign language | 2 | 3 |
| Sociolinguistics | 3b | 4 |
| Speech perception | 3a | 3a |
| Structure of English | 3b | 3b |
| Stylistics, Poetics | 3a | 3a |
| Syntax | 3b | 4- |
| Writing systems, orthography | 3b | 3b |
Last updated 2003