Morphology

Undergraduate course

Course description

Objectives and Content

In morphology, students will learn about the following topics:

  • boundary between morphology and phonology;
  • concepts of type and variation: morpheme, morph, allomorph, morpho-phonological alternation;
  • various word concepts: syntagmatic word, word form, morpho-syntactic word, lexeme;
  • construction types in words: stem formation (compounding, derivation) and inflection;
  • topics at the boundary between morphology and syntax: various definitions motivating word classes, important morphological and syntactic categories of nominal and verbal types in different languages;
  • main models for the description of languages: process and arrangement.

Learning Outcomes

After successfully finishing this course, student will be able to:

  • explain important starting points for modern morphological theory
  • describe important concepts and models in morphology
  • compare and judge morphological descriptions
  • use methods and concepts in morphology
  • use linguistic argumentation related to morphological phenomena
  • have a critical view on one's own and others' analyses

This course is meant to be useful for students who will continue work with topics in morphology in language studies or linguistics.

ECTS Credits

10

Level of Study

Bachelor

Semester of Instruction

Spring

Place of Instruction

Bergen
Required Previous Knowledge
None
Recommended Previous Knowledge
EXFAC00SK or comparable. It is also an advantage for students to have studied a language.
Credit Reduction due to Course Overlap
LING120 (5 credits)
Access to the Course
Open to all who have been admitted to a study program at the University of Bergen.
Teaching and learning methods

Teaching will mainly consist of lectures and supervised exercises, about 36 hours per semester.

If fewer than five students are registered to a course, the department might reduce the teaching, please see the department's guidelines regarding this on "Mitt UiB". For courses where this is a possibility, the students get information about this at the beginning of the semester, and before the deadline regarding semester registration February 1 / September 1.

Compulsory Assignments and Attendance
Students shall carry out an obligatory assignment which must be handed in and will be assessed in the same semester as teaching. Obligatory activities must be passed before an exam in the subject can be taken.
Forms of Assessment
Final exam in the form of a written exam of four hours. It is possible that the exam will be organized as a digital exam.
Grading Scale
Grades A-F.
Assessment Semester
Spring.
Reading List
The reading list consists mainly of chapters from textbooks and articles, together about 150 to 250 pages.
Course Evaluation
Evaluation of the offered course will be carried out in accordance with the University of Bergen's quality assessment system.
Examination Support Material
No aids are allowed.