Admission requirements
BA German or BA Linguistics plus a good command of German.
Description
Where we come from determines what we regard as normal. This holds for many areas, and also for language. Speakers growing up with German or a related Germanic language expect languages to have certain properties. These might include articles, for example, or a perfect formed with “have”. For linguistics, it is important to question such – often implicit – prejudices. How common are articles in the languages of the world? What other strategies are there for forming the perfect? What properties are found in many languages but are absent in German? Is German, typologically speaking, an ‘exotic’ language? These and related questions are addressed in this course.
Course objectives
After completing the course, students possess:
A sound knowledge of and insights in the grammar of German from a typological perspective
Elementary knowledge of phonological, the morphological and syntactic characteristics of non-Germanic languages
The ability to report – in an adequately scientific manner – in oral and written form on observations about language and on selected linguistic literature. This is proven in an oral presentation and in a short written essay.
Timetable
The timetable is available on the MA Linguistics website
Mode of instruction
- Seminar
Course Load
Total course load 10 EC x 28 hours = 280 hours.
Lectures: 13 x 2 = 26 hours
Class preparation and reading: 13 x 4 = 52 hours
Preparation oral presentation: 26 hours
Written version of presentation: 36 hours
Essay: 140 hours
Assessment method
Assessment
*Active participation in class
Oral presentation
Brief written version of the presentation (1000 words)
Essay (7000 words)
** Weighing**
*Active participation in class: 10%
Oral presentation: 20%
Brief written version of the presentation (“abstract”): 20%
Essay: 50%
The essay has to be sufficient, i.e. 5,5 or higher. The final grade for the course has to be sufficient, i.e. 5,5 or higher.
Resit
A resit is only possible for the essay.
If a student requests a review within 30 days after publication of the exam results, an exam review will have to be organized.
Feedback
The participants will receive written feedback on the oral presentation, the abstract and the essay.
Blackboard
Blackboard will be used for:
Providing study material (including powerpoints from classes)
Communication
Reading list
- Reading material will be provided during class
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
For information you can contact the instructor, dr. Jenny Audring (https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/staffmembers/jenny-audring#tab-1)
Please contact Student administration van Eyckhof for questions.
The coordinator of studies is Else van Dijk