Prospectus

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Linguistics 6: Language Change

Course
2017-2018

Admission requirements

Pass marks for Linguistics 2 and 4 (or similar courses)

Description

Whether we like it or not, all languages change. The interesting question is how, and why. In this course, we consider different types of linguistic change (phonological, morphological, semantic, syntactic) and try to determine their causes. In addition, we will see how our knowledge of linguistic change can be used to reconstruct earlier stages of a language, in particular those stages for which no written records are available. Our examples will be mainly drawn from English, but we will also consider a variety of other languages.

Course objectives

Insight into language change
Insight into theoretical approaches within historical linguistics

Timetable

The timetable is available on the BA English website

Mode of instruction

Seminar (2 hours)

Course Load

The course load of this course is 140 hours.

  • 12 hours spent on attending seminars

  • 48 hours for studying the compulsory literature

  • 80 hours for preparing the exam

Assessment method

Assessment

Written exam.

Weighing

Written exam (100%)

Resit

If the final grade is insufficient students may resit the exam.

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.

Attendance

Attendance is compulsory. Missing more than three tutorials means that students will be excluded from taking the exam (or essay or other assignments) and resits. Consequently, the course cannot be completed during that particular academic year. Unauthorized absence also applies to being unprepared and/or not bringing the relevant course materials to class.

Blackboard

Blackboard

Reading list

Campbell, Lyle (2013). Historical Linguistics. An Introduction (3rd edn). Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.

Registration

Enrolment through uSis is mandatory.
General information about uSis is available in English and Dutch

Students other than BA English language and culture studies need permission from the coordinator of studies before enrolling.

Registration Studeren à la carte and Contractonderwijs

Registration Studeren à la carte

Registration Contractonderwijs

Contact

Please contact Student administration van Eyckhof for questions.