Somali Grammar 2 for Native Speakers

The course is offered as a free-standing course.

Admission to the course requires a passing grade in SOL111/SOL101 (Somali Grammar 1 for Native Speakers) or the earlier course SOL110 (The Somali Language in a Contrastive Perspective), or an equivalent qualification.

The course aims to provide the student with an in-depth understanding of Somali as a linguistic system, with a contrastive perspective being emphasized. The focus is on morphology and syntax, while word formation and phonology are treated more briefly. At the center of the course is a medium-sized reference grammar written in Somali, where the language is described from a native-speaker perspective. Shorter excerpts from other descriptions are also read for comparison, when different accounts differ significantly. In such cases, the advantages and disadvantages of the different approaches are discussed. Through the study of course literature in Somali, basic linguistic terminology in Somali is reinforced, and through discussions of the material in Swedish or English, the connections between the linguistic conceptual frameworks of the different languages are consolidated.

After completing the course, the student is expected to be able to:

Knowledge and Understanding

• Master the linguistic terminology used in the course, both in Somali and in Swedish or English
• Provide a more detailed account of the structure of Somali, primarily with regard to morphology and syntax

Skills and Abilities

• Discuss and explain, both orally and in writing, all important aspects of Somali grammar
• Use established linguistic terminology appropriately
• Practically apply the acquired theoretical insights in their own writing

Judgement and Approach

• Adopt a critically evaluative stance toward different perspectives on the studied issues

The course is delivered online via the university’s learning platform, through lectures, seminars, discussions, and assignments.

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

Assessment consists of continuous obligatory assignments throughout the course and a final exam.

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 is graded with one of the following: Pass with Distinction (VG), Pass (G), or Fail (U). To receive the grade Pass with Distinction (VG) for the entire course, the student must achieve VG on the final examination.

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 be able to follow the course, students also need knowledge of Somali in order to read some of the course literature in Somali and be able to participate actively in discussions of Somali texts. Assessment of knowledge of Somali is made by the students themselves.

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

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