autumn 2020 HIF-1020 Typology - 10 ECTS
Course content
This course has as its goal to introduce the student in the contents and methods of the comparative study of languages and linguistic typology. The course pays particular but not exclusive attention to the languages taught within the different programs at ISK - Norwegian, English, Russian, Saami, Spanish, Finnish, Kvensk -, in order to provide the students with tools to identify and understand the main differences between their mother tongue and other languages, be able to identify the grammatical peculiarities of their language of study, and understand how those properties are expressed in other languages. The course provides an overview of the main points of variation in phonology, morphology and syntax.Objectives of the course
The students have the following learning outcomes:
Knowledge
The student has:
- knowledge of the main theories about linguistic universals and linguistic variation, and of the debate about whether languages vary in their semantics and world view
- knowledge of the main methods within comparative linguistics and typology
- knowledge of the main points of variation within phonology, such as phoneme inventories and stress
- knowledge of the main points of variation within morphology, such as gender, and case, and within syntax, such as word order, the use of auxiliaries, subordination and the expression of modality
Skills
The student is able to/can:
- apply the acquired knowledge to specific language comparisons involving their mother tongue and another language of study
- use different methodologies and analytical tools, being aware of their advantages and disadvantages for phenomena of different types
- evaluate the different theories about language variation in a critical way
- develop his or her own analysis of moderate scope within comparative linguistics in an autonomous way
Teaching methods
Class will meet for 4 hours/week for 13 weeks.
The course will use regular lectures and seminars covering the main topics of the course. The course includes theoretical lectures and problem-solving seminar sessions where students will work with particular data sets.
All courses will be evaluated once during the period of the study program. The board of the program decides which courses will be evaluated by students and teacher each year
Assessment
In order to take the exam, the course has two course requirements.
- One take-home assignment covering the theoretical topics of the course
- A draft of a paper where the student presents a comparative study of a property across at least two languages (8 pages).
The assignments are evaluated as approved or not approved. The dates for the delivery of these home assignments will be announced in Canvas at the beginning of the semester.
Assessment in this course: Term paper (8-10 pages).
The student will work during the course on an 8-10 page essay on a relevant topic agreed with the course instructor. It is recommended that the topic chosen is directly relevant to the student's main language of study inside his or her program.
Performance in the course will be assessed on an A-F grades scale. Grades are A-E for passed and F for failed. A re-sit examination is offered in the event of an F grade. The deadline to register for a re-sit examination is January 15th for the autumn semester and August 15th for the spring semester. In the event of a re-sit examination, the student is allowed to submit a revised version of his/her term paper within a given deadline.
- About the course
- Campus: Tromsø |
- ECTS: 10
- Course code: HIF-1020
- Responsible unit
- Institutt for språk og kultur