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 course has 2 moments of examination: 1. continuous oral and written tests; 2. pm + oral presentation.

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.