Admission requirements
A course in articulatory phonetics, such as the BA Taalwetenschap course ‘Klanken van de wereld’ (=‘Sounds of the World’) or an equivalent, is a prerequisite.
Students with no previous training in articulatory phonetics are required to make up for this deficiency before or during the Field Methods course. Please contact the lecturer if you have questions.A basic knowledge of linguistic concepts and how to apply them to language data is assumed; as described for morphology and syntax in e.g.
Payne, Thomas E., 2006. Exploring language structure: A student’s guide. Cambridge: CUP.
Kroeger, Paul R., 2005. Analyzing grammar: An Introduction. Cambridge: CUP.
and for phonetics and phonology in e.g.
Gussenhoven, C. and H. Jacobs. 1998 (2nd ed.) Understanding Phonology. London: Arnold
Davenport, Mike and S.J. Hannahs. 2005 (2nd ed.) Introducing Phonetics and Phonology. London: Arnold.
Description
An exciting part of studying linguistics is learning about a language from speakers rather than from books. This course is aimed at preparing students for a real-world field situation by working with a native speaker of a language unfamiliar to them. The main goal is to document and analyze central areas of the language, ranging from sounds, to words, to sentences and utterances. The course will additionally include information on the use of tools and techniques for eliciting, recording, transcribing, and presenting linguistic material. The course additionally includes software-training sessions during which the students work with the software FLEx and ELAN in order to provide a small lexicon and an annotated text of the studied language.
Course objectives
At the end of the course, students will be able to:
record, transcribe and annotate speech data of an unfamiliar language through the interaction with a native speaker
collect language data through word lists, visual stimuli and other grammar gathering techniques
apply theoretical linguistic knowledge to first-hand data and provide a basic analysis of the phonology, morphology and syntax of an unfamiliar language
compile a lexicon of the language using Fieldwork Language Explorer (FLEx)
transcribe texts in ELAN and provide time-aligned glossed texts by working with FLEx and ELAN together.
Timetable
Visit MyTimetable
Mode of instruction
Combination of lecture, seminar, and independent research.
*We will meet twice a week for a field session and for a data discussion meeting. Students are responsible carrying out elicitation sessions and transcribing and analysing the data. In the data discussion meetings we will address practical issues as they arise, and we will discuss proposed linguistic analyses for the collected data.
*All students will have to prepare the field session in advance, take notes during the recording sessions, transcribe, gloss, and translate the collected data. For each field session, two “session leaders” will be chosen. Duties of the session leaders include: lead the elicitation; set up the video/audio recording equipment and monitor the recording process; transcribe, gloss and translate the data; submit their own field notes before the next class.
*A number of classes are reserved to software training sessions: during these sessions students are expected to bring their own laptops.
Assessment method
Assessment
*Data annotation and transcription, class attendance and performance in field sessions: 20%
*(Essay 1) Phonology sketch: 20%
*(Essay 2) Morphology sketch: 20%
*Grammar sketch (Phonology + Morpho-Syntax): 40%
The grammar sketch contain:
A short introductory paragraph on the studied language
A phonology chapter (revision of essay 1)
A morphology chapter (revision of essay 2)
A syntax chapter
An appendix with a word list (target language-English-target language)
A short text transcribed, glossed and translated
The term paper is due before the end of the semester. Not meeting this deadline means that the next opportunity to have your work graded will be at the end of the following semester.
Resit: students who fail the course may resit the term paper.
Resit
Resit: students who fail the course may resit the course paper.
Inspection and feedback
Students are entitled to view their marked examination within a period of 30 days, following publication of the results of a written examination.
Reading list
Brightspace will be used for:
*access to stimuli and elicitation material
*access to recordings
*announcements (session leaders and other practical information)
Registration
Enrolment through uSis is mandatory.
General information about uSis is available on the website
When registering, students that are registered for the specialisation that this course belongs to, or the Research Master, take priority. The deadline for registration is August 15. All other students should contact the coordinator of studies.
Students other than MA Linguistics need permission from the coordinator of studies before enrolling.
Contact
Please contact Reuvensplaats Education Administration Office for questions.
Remarks
Not applicable.