African Languages: Investigating Linguistic Structures

The course is offered as a freestanding course.

To be admitted to the course, students must have completed (a)-(d):

(a) AF1100 Language and Societies in Africa (7,5 hp);

(b) AF1201 African Languages: Typology and Language Structures (15 hp), or AF1211 African Language Structures and Typology (7,5 hp);

(c) 7,5 hp in academic writing in English, and

(d) courses equal to 45 credits in at least two of the languages/subjects Arabic, Somali, Swahili, Zulu/Xhosa, and linguistics/general linguistics (max. 30 hp in linguistics/general linguistics), or the equivalent.

Exception is made to the requirement for Swedish as a general entry requirement.

The aim of the course is to introduce students to scientific research in African languages. Special attention is given to research questions, research methods, and the structure of academic papers. Necessary concepts are introduced through lectures and texts from basic handbooks. The acquired knowledge is then applied in assignments where samples of good bachelor's essays and scholarly articles are analysed through ciritical reading and discussion. In the course, the students present their reading in both oral and written form in order to practice the ability to present, discuss and write linguistic text in English. At the end of the course, each student presents their plan for an intended independent project at bachelor's level. These project plans are discussed in a final seminar.

On successful completion of the course, the student should be able to:

Knowledge and understanding

• account for linguistic structures in some typologically different African languages, mainly regarding phonetics, morphology and syntax;
• explain the importance of theoretical and methodological considerations for linguistic research;

Competence and skills

• critically read and understand scholarly publications within the field, and at the same time problematise traditional concepts, methods and analyses;
• present and discuss data, methods and analyses, orally and in writing, in dialogue with fellow students and teachers, using a relevant conceptual apparatus and appropriate language style;
• independently apply the acquired theoretical understanding, retrieve and analyse data on African language structures with the aim to carry out a smaller research task, such as a bachelor's project, in the future;
• in writing, design shorter scientific texts (e.g. project plan, summary, review, literature review, essay draft) with fulfillment of standard requirements for terminology, linguistic correctness and formality;

Judgement and approach

• make independent and critical reflections on the relevance and sustainability of arguments in scholarly texts;
• present and discuss own arguments from a scholarly perspective; 
• relate critically to his/her own learning process.

This is an online course. The teaching is conducted in the form of lectures, seminars and exercises on the learning platform of the University of Gothenburg.

Language of instruction: English

The course is examined continuously and on an ongoing basis through mandatory oral and written tasks, and, at the end of the course, through a project plan for independent work at bachelor's level.

A student who has failed a course item is eligible for a retake exam/assignment. In connection with written assignments, supplementary assignments may be offered in order for the student to achieve a Pass grade. Such a supplementary assignment should be done within the stipulated time (normally five working days after the result has been posted). Otherwise a Fail grade will be reported.

A student who has completed an exam/assignment with a passing grade is not eligible for a retake for the purpose of receiving a higher grade. Nor may a student withdraw a test/assignment once it has been submitted for the purpose of avoiding receiving a grade for the work.

If a student who has been failed twice for the same examination element wishes to change examiner before the next examination session, such a request is to be granted unless there are specific reasons to the contrary (Chapter 6 Section 22 HF).

If a student has received a certificate of disability study support from the University of Gothenburg with a recommendation of adapted examination and/or adapted forms of assessment, an examiner may decide, if this is consistent with the course’s intended learning outcomes and provided that no unreasonable resources would be needed, to grant the student adapted examination and/or adapted forms of assessment.

If a course has been discontinued or undergone major changes, the student must be offered at least two examination sessions in addition to ordinary examination sessions. These sessions are to be spread over a period of at least one year but no more than two years after the course has been discontinued/changed. The same applies to placement and internship (VFU) except that this is restricted to only one further examination session.

If a student has been notified that they fulfil the requirements for being a student at Riksidrottsuniversitetet (RIU student), to combine elite sports activities with studies, the examiner is entitled to decide on adaptation of examinations if this is done in accordance with the Local rules regarding RIU students at the University of Gothenburg.

The grading scale comprises: Pass with Distinction (VG), Pass (G) and Fail (U). For the grade of Pass with distinction on the whole course, this grade is required on the final written examination (the project plan).

The results of and possible changes to the course will be shared with students who participated in the evaluation and students who are starting the course.

Equality aspects should be taken into consideration in content, literature, teaching and evaluation.

To follow a web-based course, students must have access to a computer, web camera and stable broadband connection.