Practical Somali Dialectology

This course is offered as a free-standing course.

To be admitted to the course, a passing grade is required in the course

• SOL260 Somali Dialectology and Sociolinguistics (7.5 credits);

as well as in courses equivalent to at least 22.5 credits at the intermediate level in Somali as a mother tongue, i.e., at least three of the following courses:

• SOL210 Translation into Somali (7.5 credits);
• SOL220 The History of the Somali Language (7.5 credits);
• SOL230 Somali Syntax (7.5 credits);
• SOL240 Somali Phonetics, Phonology and Morphophonology (7.5 credits);
• SOL250 Somali Lexicology, Lexicography and Semantics (7.5 credits);
• SOL270 Somali Morphology (7.5 credits);
• SOL280 Contrastive Introduction to Oromo (7.5 credits),

or the equivalent.

The course provides an introduction to practical dialectology. The general knowledge of Somali dialects from the course SOL260, Somali Dialectology and Sociolinguistics, is here put into practice. The focus is on exercises in documenting and analyzing the language of a specific speaker, as well as on developing the ability to use digital tools relevant to dialectology.

In parallel with studying modern dialectological methods, participants work throughout the course on practical assignments aimed at documenting and analyzing a specific dialect.

The course covers, among other things, how to select speakers, choose methods of data collection and technical equipment, how to transcribe and systematize collected data, how to analyze the data, and how to present conclusions in phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, and vocabulary. Ethical considerations are also discussed.

After completing the course, the student should be able to:

Knowledge and understanding

• demonstrate basic knowledge of modern dialectological methods;
• show familiarity with the most important studies on Somali dialects;

Skills and abilities

• use the necessary dialectological terminology;
• carry out practical dialectological work;
• locate relevant information in existing dialect studies;

Judgement and approach

• critically examine and evaluate information in existing dialect studies;
• discuss and problematize the advantages and disadvantages of different solutions for documenting and analyzing Somali dialects.

Teaching consists of lectures, workshops, and exercises.

Language of instruction: Swedish and Somali when the course is offered in Swedish; English and Somali when the course is offered in English.

The course is assessed through continuous assignments during the course, as well as a lexicographic take‑home assignment combined with an oral presentation at the end of the course.

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 course uses the grades Pass with Distinction (VG), Pass (G), and Fail (U).

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.

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

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