Mar 29

Bert Vaux Lecture on “Linguistic Profiling”

April 12 @ 7pm in KCB (565 Comm Ave) Room 101.
Recent scientific studies have shown that humans are able to reliably identify features such as gender, race, age, and even sexual orientation from just a short sample of speech. (Test subjects also consistently infer attributes such as height, intelligence, attractiveness, and reliability from speech samples, but the accuracy of these inferences has not been investigated.) Such judgments have further been shown to influence individuals’ decisions in matters of social import such as housing applications and legal trials.

In this talk Vaux will survey the range of such effects, consider how and why the human brain is able to draw such inferences so accurately and quickly, and ask what (if anything) can be done to combat their harmful effects, given that linguistic profiling happens automatically and subconsciously.

Sponsored by the BU undergraduate Linguistics Association (BULA) with support from the CAS Academic Enhancement Fund. Followed by a reception. See the Event Flyer.

Mar 29

General Meeting and English Dialects Discussion

cakeJoin us for our General Meeting at 7 pm on Wednesday April 6th in CAS B20, where we’ll be doing Officer Selection for the coming academic year. After the meeting, we’ll have our monthly discussion group. This month’s theme is “Dialects of English.” RSVP on Facebook

Mar 02

Linguistics Extravaganza, March 2

The Linguistics program is having a “Linguistics Extravaganza” on Wednesday, March 2 in STH 325, 4-6pm.

At 4pm there is an information session on study abroad programs of particular interest to students of linguistics (including reports from at least Dresden, Geneva, Haifa, Istanbul, Paris, Quito, Rabat, Burgos, and Madrid), followed by the annual Linguistics open house from 4:30 to 6:00. Featuring refreshments! And information, conversation, and refreshments. Also, there will be refreshments.

A good opportunity to hear about study abroad, learn more about Linguistics, and Linguistics & Philosophy, at BU, and to have refreshments.

RSVPing can be accomplished at the Facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=202706453078081.

Looking at the poster can be accomplished here: http://www.bu.edu/linguistics/UG/Ling_OH11.pdf.

Feb 05

Linguistics Opportunities at BU

If you’re a current Linguistics major or minor, or just interested in what’s going on around campus, please join us on Feb. 24th at 6:30 pm in CAS 203 for this Panel on Linguistic Opportunities at BU. We will be discussing research on campus, upcoming undergraduate linguistics conferences and have students available to discuss linguistics courses and study abroad opportunities.

Jan 30

Welcome to Spring 2011!

BULA has a host of exciting events planned for the semester. Join us for our monthly discussion groups, come chat with members at the Spring Activities Expo Tuesday Feb 1st and discover what you can do as a linguistics major at our Linguistics Opportunities at BU event!

Keep up to day by following us on Facebook!

Jan 30

Orthography Discussion Group

Are you interested in the development and use of both current and ancient writing systems? Do you practice calligraphy or speak languages written in other alphabets, or would you like to? Have you seen alphabets used in art, or even in politics? Whatever your interest, come to our open-table discussion and share your experiences! Join us on Tuesday, Feb 8th in 621 Comm Ave, B02 (basement of the Linguistics Program building) from 7:00-9:00 pm.

You can RSVP at the Facebook event.

Nov 27

Avatar (on the big screen, with bonus Na’vi)

Avatar showing

Come see Avatar on the big screen! We will provide a short overview of the Avatar language (Na’vi) and then show the film in its entirety in CAS 522 (and if you’ve never explored the fifth floor of CAS you’re in for an adventure). Come join fellow linguistics enthusiasts and people who simply like good movies for a fun night!

You can RSVP at the Facebook event.

Oct 24

PSA: BUWOMEN reception, Wednesday (10/27)

BUWOMEN-Fall-Reception-thumbnail.jpg

An announcement came to the group which may be of interest to some of you. BUWOMEN (“Boston University Women’s Organization for Mentoring and Networking”) is having an organizational meeting Wednesday, Oct 27, 6pm, 595 Comm Ave, West entrance, 7th floor, Alumni Lounge.

Click on the thumbnail for the PDF poster with the details.

Sep 27

Fall 2010 first meeting

Fall 2010 BULA meeting

The first BULA information meeting is coming up on Thursday, September 30. 7pm in COM 212. Come and meet the other Linguistics enthusiasts, and help brainstorm about BULA events and activities for the coming year!

Sep 08

Welcome to Fall 2010

The 2010-2011 academic year has begun–welcome back, everyone.

Keep an eye on this site for news of upcoming events (RSS feed), maybe join the BULA Facebook group. BULA will be at the Fall Activities Expo, so come and chat with members there if you’re curious about the group (or, if you are a BULA member, come and chat with the curious).