The bulk of Dr. Rivas´s research has been in the field of syntax, mainly on the study of grammatical relations, complementation, word order, and discourse markers. Most of his work focuses on syntactic variation, syntactic change, and grammaticalization. Dr, Rivas approaches language from a functionalist perspective, according to which grammar is motivated by discourse and cognitive patterns (information flow, iconicity, and economy). Grammatical patterns are the result of highly conventionalized discourse patterns that arise in local contexts of use. In this process of conventionalization, frequency plays a major role. As a result of his approach, Dr. Rivas´s studies are corpus-based and make use of both qualitative and quantitative methods.
keywords
usage-based grammar, morphosyntactic variation and change, Hispanic linguistics
SPAN 2110 - Second-Year Spanish 1
Primary Instructor
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Summer 2018 / Summer 2019
Grammar review. Emphasizes reading, writing, and speaking skills. Attendance at the language laboratory may be mandatory. Department enforced prerequisite: SPAN 1020 (min. grade C-). Degree credit not granted for this course and SPAN 2150.
SPAN 3050 - Spanish Phonology and Phonetics
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2018 / Spring 2019
Designed to teach some of the methods, techniques, and tools of descriptive linguistics as they apply to articulatory phonetics. Students analyze important contrasts between sounds of Spanish and English bymeans of phonetic transcription.
SPAN 4215 - Spanish in the United States
Primary Instructor
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Fall 2018
Describes the linguistic characteristics of U.S. Spanish, Spanish-English bilingualism and direct contact, including the study of borrowing, code switching, phonological and grammatical convergence, leveling, accommodation and attrition, among other linguistic phenomena. Discusses the relationships between language and identity, as well as the role of Spanish in U.S. education, media and social institutions.
SPAN 5440 - Seminar: Trends in Hispanic Linguistics
Primary Instructor
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Fall 2018
Provides an overview of major trends and issues in Hispanic linguistics, including phonology, syntax, dialectology, sociolinguistics, discourse analysis, text linguistics, semiotics, history of the Spanish language, language acquisition and applied linguistics. May be repeated up to 6 total credit hours. Same as SPAN 7440.
SPAN 7440 - Seminar: Trends in Hispanic Linguistics
Primary Instructor
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Fall 2018
Provides an overview of major trends and issues in Hispanic linguistics, including phonology, syntax, dialectology, sociolinguistics, discourse analysis, text linguistics, semiotics, history of the Spanish language, language acquisition and applied linguistics. May be repeated up to 6 total credit hours. Same as SPAN 5440.
