Syllabus for Current Trends in Linguistics

Aktuella forskningsområden inom lingvistik

Syllabus

  • 7.5 credits
  • Course code: 5LN142
  • Education cycle: First cycle
  • Main field(s) of study and in-depth level: General Linguistics G1F

    Explanation of codes

    The code indicates the education cycle and in-depth level of the course in relation to other courses within the same main field of study according to the requirements for general degrees:

    First cycle
    G1N: has only upper-secondary level entry requirements
    G1F: has less than 60 credits in first-cycle course/s as entry requirements
    G1E: contains specially designed degree project for Higher Education Diploma
    G2F: has at least 60 credits in first-cycle course/s as entry requirements
    G2E: has at least 60 credits in first-cycle course/s as entry requirements, contains degree project for Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science
    GXX: in-depth level of the course cannot be classified.

    Second cycle
    A1N: has only first-cycle course/s as entry requirements
    A1F: has second-cycle course/s as entry requirements
    A1E: contains degree project for Master of Arts/Master of Science (60 credits)
    A2E: contains degree project for Master of Arts/Master of Science (120 credits)
    AXX: in-depth level of the course cannot be classified.

  • Grading system: Fail (U), Pass (G), Pass with distinction (VG)
  • Established: 2011-09-23
  • Established by:
  • Revised: 2019-03-06
  • Revised by: The Department Board
  • Applies from: week 11, 2019
  • Entry requirements: 30 credits in a language subject
  • Responsible department: Department of Linguistics and Philology

Decisions and guidelines

The course is given as optional module within Linguistics C but may also be taken independently.

Learning outcomes

On completion of the course, to earn the grade Pass the student should at least be able to:

  • explain the basic principles of the scientific work and the research methodology with reference to modern linguistics (general linguistics),
  • present and analyse relevant scientific articles within the field linguistics (general linguistics), and
  • work with a certain level of independence, clearly formulate and critically discuss theoretical and methodological assumptions and present the results orally and in writing.

Content

The course is given with different theme from current trends in linguistics. Possible themes are, e.g.:

  • The Geometry of Meaning, based on Gärdenfors' book by the same name.
  • The Phylogenetic Analysis of Language
  • Grammaticalisation
  • Colour semantics

Assessment

The course has two moments of examination:
1. continuous written tests that are conducted during lecture hours;
2. a final project, the exact date for submission is announced by the teacher at the start of the course.
For the grade Pass (G), Pass is required in all moments. For the grade Pass with distinction, Pass with distinction is required in moment 2 as well as Pass in moment 1.

If there are special reasons for doing so, an examiner may make an exception from the method of assessment indicated and allow a student to be assessed by another method. An example of special reasons might be a certificate regarding special pedagogical support from the University's disability coordinator.

Other directives

The course may be taken even if the student has already taken the course Current Trends in Linguistics (5LN141).

Syllabus Revisions

Reading list

Reading list

Applies from: week 03, 2021

Some titles may be available electronically through the University library.

  • Comrie, Bernard Language universals and linguistic typology

    Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1981

  • Mairal Usón, Ricardo; Gil, Juana Mairal, Linguistic Universals [Elektronisk resurs]

    Cambridge University Press, 2006

    Find in the library

  • Scalise, Sergio; Magni, Elisabetta; Bisetto, Antonietta Universals of language today

    Dordrecht: Springer, 2009.

    Find in the library

  • Wohlgemuth, Jan; Cysouw, Michael Rethinking universals [Elektronisk resurs] : how rarities affect linguistic theory

    Berlin: De Gruyter, 2010

    Find in the library

  • Bickel, Balthasar Typology in the 21st century: Major current developments, Linguistic Typology 11 (1).239-251

    *, 2007

  • Dryer, Matthew S Why statistical universals are better than absolute universals. Papers from the 33rd Regional Meeting of the Chicago Linguistic Society 23. 123-145

    *, 1998

  • Goddard, Cliff Lexico-semantic universals: A critical overview. Linguistic Typology 5.1–65.

    *, 2001

  • Greenberg, Joseph H. Some universals of grammar with particular reference to the order of meaningful elements. In Joseph H. Greenberg (ed.), Universals of language, 58-90

    Cambridge, MS: MIT Press, 1963

  • Morris, Halle Is Kabardian a vowel-less language? Foundations of language 6(1), 95-103

    Institutionen för lingvistik och filologi, 1970

Reading list revisions

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