General provisions

The course is given as an independent course.

Entry requirements

30 credits in a language subject.

Learning outcomes

The course aims at providing the student with insight in language systems, genetic relationship between languages and language change. Furthermore, the student should acquire knowledge of the comparing and the basic assumptions of the historical linguistic research and develop skills in the application of comparative methodology.

Upon completing the course student will be able to

• identify, illustrate and describe in linguistic terms change in different aspects of language, i.e. phonological, morphological, lexical, semantic and syntactic change;
• outline and explain basic assumptions within historical linguistics;
• apply the comparative method regarding questions of genetic relationship between languages;
• carry out simple phonological, morphological and semantic reconstructions by means of historical and comparative methods.

Content

The course gives an outline of common types of language change and an overview of the basic assumptions and methods within comparative and historical linguistics.

Assessment

The students show the results of their learning through a combination of different forms of assessment.

These parts are oral or written and take place at scheduled time and location (within the framework of regular teaching), or is such that the student can carry out on his/her own.