Summer Linguistic Institute for Youth Scholars (SLIYS)

Summer Linguistic Institute for Youth Scholars (SLIYS)

SLIYS - Dissecting language one piece at a time

We are now accepting applications for our Summer 2024 program!
Learn more about how to apply.

The Summer Linguistic Institute for Youth Scholars (SLIYS) is a one- or two-week online summer program for high school students organized by the Department of Linguistics at The Ohio State University. SLIYS introduces students with an interest in foreign languages to the scientific study of language. Participants will explore how language works on many levels, as well as gain insight into the ways in which individual languages are similar to and different from each other. 

  • Explore language from a scientific perspective
  • Learn interesting facts about languages, including similarities and differences in sounds, words, and sentence structure
  • Discover how linguists gather data about languages through consultations with a native speaker of a foreign language (languages featured in past programs include Chinese, German, Greek, Serbo-Croatian, Korean, and more)

"Before SLIYS, I didn’t realize how little I actually knew about linguistics. I knew I enjoyed the subject, and thought I might want to study it in the future, but I wasn’t positive. But after doing SLIYS, I know for sure that I want to study and have a career in linguistics. Thank you so much for this amazing opportunity. I learned so much and had such a good time!"
-SLIYS participant (2023)

"I think I got a better understanding of what linguistics is, what linguists do, and more about language than I thought existed. I'm quite happy with the comprehensiveness of SLIYS, and I wished there were other programs in other subjects that did as good of a job as it did at teaching linguistics." 
-SLIYS participant (2023)

SLIYS 1 - ONLINE

Two Sessions: June 10-14 & July 8-12

  • Introduces foundational topics, including phonetics, phonology, syntax, and semantics
  • Takes place twice, during the months of June and July
  • Apply here

SLIYS 2 - ONLINE

Two Sessions: June 24-28 & July 15-19

  • Covers more advanced topics within linguistics and language discovery
  • Takes place after each week of SLIYS 1 in June and July
  • Apply here

Questions? Contact...

Dr. Liz McCullough (mccullough.136@osu.edu)
106 Oxley Hall
1712 Neil Avenue
Columbus, OH 43210 USA

Phone: 614-688-3109

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