Admission requirements
You have received your propaedeutic diploma within one academic year and your academic results are good (indication: 7,3 average). Students who meet the criteria may apply for a place in the Humanities Lab.
Description
What is the difference between a language and a dialect, and who decides?
Should every nation have its own unique language? What are minority language “rights”?
Why are some languages linked to certain religions? Why do certain forms of language play a central role in the ways we think about ourselves and identify others? Language is an essential part of our identity, and connects us with other members of various groups in society: ethnic, national, religious, gender, class, etc. Through the use sociolinguistic methodologies and concepts, students will explore the linkages between language, dialects, identity and society, with special reference to religion, ethnicity, and nationalism.
Course objectives
At the end of this course, students will have had a broad introduction into some of the many aspects of Sociolinguistics. They will learn analytical skills of analyzing the use of language, and studying the attitudes of people, and they will have learned how to put these to practice.
Timetable
Courses of the Humanities Lab are scheduled on Friday afternoon from 13.00 to 17.00. For the exact timetable, please visit the following website.
Mode of instruction
Lecture
Course Load
<table><tr><td>Amount of lectures:</td> <td>4 hours a week x 6 =</td> <td>24</td> <td>hours</td> </tr><tr><td>Literature:</td> <td>6 hours a week x 6 =</td> <td>36</td> <td>hours</td> </tr><tr><td>Preparation and assignments:</td> <td>6 hours a week x 6 = </td> <td>36</td> <td>hours</td> </tr><tr><td>Presentation:</td> <td>One presentation, 6 hours of preparation = </td> <td>6</td> <td>hours</td> </tr><tr><td>Final paper:</td> <td>=</td> <td>38</td> <td>hours</td> </tr><tr><td>Total course load:</td> <td>5 × 28 =</td> <td>140</td> <td>hours</td></tr></table>### Assessment method
The assement method will consist out of two elements:
Every week a group of students will present the readings of that week, answer the questions of the assignment and lead the discussion of that week’s class. This presentation will be 30% of the final mark.
Attendance and in-class participation will constitute 10% of the final mark.
The final (7 to 10 page) paper will constitute 60% of the final mark.
A resit will only be possible for the final paper. It will cover the 100% of the final mark, and the paper will have to be more extensive to compensate (10-15 page paper).
Blackboard
Reading assignments will be posted on Blackboard.
Reading list
Readings will be provided every week. Usually articles or book chapters.
Registration
Students of the Humanities Lab will be registered via uSis by the administration of the Humanities Lab.
Contact
Instructor: Dhr. Dr. M. van Putten
Humanities Lab:
Office: e-mail
Phone: 071-527 2228 or 071- 527 8039
Remarks
If all participants of this course are Dutch native speakers, this course will be taught in Dutch.
More information: website.