General provisions

The course is given as a freestanding course. It is furthermore included as optional module in Linguistics D.

Entry requirements

Fulfilment of the requirements for a Bachelor's degree with a language subject as the main field of study, or Linguistics C.

Learning outcomes

The course intends to give an introduction to language change from a historical perspective and knowledge of the more important theories of language change.

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

- describe the differences between synchronic and diachronic linguistics at a general level;

- describe historical linguistics as a field within linguistics and its historical development account for the main types of language change: (in) sound change, (ii) grammatical change, (iii) changes in syntax, (iv) semantic changes;

- discuss the concept of grammaticalisation describe language-internal versus language-external language changes, what is a loan word? what can be borrowed? why does language borrow?;

- account for the different linguistic methods of classifying languages: Genetic classification, typological classification, areal classification;

- reflect on the following concepts critically: the comparative method, internal reconstruction;

- account for different models of language change at a general level: the family tree model, the wave model, the dialect model, the generative model;

- discuss the relation between area linguistics and historical linguistics;

- critically review recently published litterature in the field of historical linguistics;

- account for methods and theories concerning the establishment of subgroups among related languages.

Content

The course treats theories in historical-comparative linguistic research and its methods such as the comparative method and internal reconstruction and the applicability of the methods and their reach. Sound changes and the concept of sound laws Form and semantic changes. Etymology.

Instruction

The instruction consists of lectures, exercises and assessment. The student's own learning activities are crucial for the completion of the course.

Assessment

The course is assessed through a combination of different forms of assessment: compulsory attendance at group exercise sessions, home assignments, written examination as well as oral and written report on an examinatory study.

Other directives

The course may not be included in a degree if the equivalent parts have been studied within another course included in the degree.