Admission requirements
None
Description
This course addresses six issues that are fundamental to historical approaches to language in general and ancient languages, or language varieties, in particular, each to be discussed during one of the six meetings: 1) a brief survey of the evolution and scope of historical linguistics; 2) the genealogical method; 3) the methodological underpinnings of working with ancient languages and scripts, including decipherment; 4) philology and textual criticism; 5) language change; 6) historical sociolinguistics.
Course objectives
To make original observations; to ask questions and form hypotheses about historical-linguistic issues in diverse languages; to critically evaluate relevant literature; to discuss and present contrasting positions and traditions; and to gain hands-on research experience.
Timetable
Mode of instruction
Seminar, with weekly readings and written assignments. Both the readings and the assignments will be discussed in class.
No more than one session may be missed for this single-block course of six sessions. In case of absence, you must state a reason. Submitting assignments set for that session is still mandatory.
Course Load
Total 140 hours (5 EC x 28 hours) – Contact hours: 12 – Preparation for class: 80 hours – Written assignments: 48 hours
Assessment method
Written assignments (70%), in-class participation & contributions (30%).
the final mark for the course is established by determining the weighted average.
Students who failed the course can resit the assignments.
Exam review
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.
Blackboard
Yes
Reading list
For a general introduction, read Robert McColl Millar, Trask’s Historical Linguistics, 3rd edition, London/New York 2015: Routledge. Specialized bibliography for each meeting will be distributed in class.
Registration
Enrolment through uSis for the course and the examination or paper is mandatory.
General information about uSis is available in English and Dutch
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 (first semester) or January 15 (second semester). All other students should contact the Coordinator of studies
Exchange and Study Abroad students, please see Study Abroad/Exchange for information on how to apply.
Registration Contractonderwijs
Contact
Coordinator of Studies: Else van Dijk