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Diversity Linguistics: Africa, Asia and the Americas

Vak
2020-2021

Admission requirements

Knowledge of basic linguistic terminology is assumed, and some background in historical linguistics and linguistic typology is advantageous.

Description

This course presents an overview of the linguistic diversity found in three major regions of the world: Africa, Asia, and the Americas. We focus specifically on Africa, Island Southeast Asia and New Guinea, and South America. The course is divided into three modules, one for each region. It will address distinguishing characteristics and intricacies of the native languages of the three regions, looking at the spread and the diversity of these languages, as well as the results of language contact situations. We will hone in on specific themes of descriptive, historical, and typological interest. Among others we will address such issues as tone, nominal classification, serial verb constructions, switch reference, voice, precategoriality, nominalization, pluractionality, and evidentiality.

Course objectives

The relationship between these objectives and achievement levels for the programme should be evident.

  • to acquire knowledge of the linguistic diversity of Africa, Island Southeast Asia and New Guinea, and the Americas and its historical and genetic background

  • to become familiar with the languages and linguistics of these regions

  • to understand the typological variety found in these regions

  • to understand how linguistic research is done either by, e.g., carrying out a basic reconstruction or typological task using primary data, or by reviewing one or more articles reporting on such work

  • to gain practice in reporting on certain linguistic features in languages of one of the regions or all the regions in oral and/or written form

Timetable

Visit MyTimetable.

Mode of instruction

  • Seminar (twice weekly)

Assessment method

Students are required to:

  • make three assignments, one for each region (50%)

  • write a final paper, focused on one of the regions (50%)

Assessment

The promedian of three course assignments (one per region): 50%
A final paper, to be handed in after the end of the course: 50%

Weighing

The final grade consists of the weighted average of the above components.

Resit

Students who fail the course may resit the final paper.

Inspection and feedback

How and when an exam review will take place will be disclosed together with the publication of the exam results at the latest. If a student requests a review within 30 days after publication of the exam results, an exam review will have to be organized.

Reading list

The booktitles and /or syllabi to be used in the course, where it can be purchased and how this literature should be studied beforehand. Brightspace will be used for:

  • on overview of current affairs

  • specific information about components of the course

Registration

Enrolment through uSis is mandatory.

General information about uSis is available on the website

Registration Studeren à la carte and Contractonderwijs

Not applicable

Contact

Education Administration Office Reuvensplaats

E-mail address Education Administration Office Reuvensplaats: osz-oa-reuvensplaats@hum.leidenuniv.nl

Coordinator of Studies

Remarks