Methods for Master's Students in Language and Linguistics

ECTS Credits

10

Level of Study

Master.

Teaching semester

Spring. Last semester of teaching spring 2022, last exam spring 2023

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Place of Instruction

Bergen

Objectives and Content

This course introduces empirical methods in language studies, e.g. the collection, construction and use of text corpora. The methods introduced can vary from semester to semester, e.g. field methods and work with informants, construction and use of questionnaires, and statistical methods which are relevant for processing corpus data and informant data.

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge

The candidate is able to

• describe and discuss important methodological foundations in linguistics;
• describe important terms and procedures in methods.

Skills

The candidate is able to

• assess and compare methods in linguistics, e.g. fieldwork and corpus methods;
• apply methods and concepts to practical research on language.

General competence

The candidate is able to

• use linguistic and general scientific argumentation;
• have a critical perspective on one's own and others' methods;
• discuss common methodological questions

Required Previous Knowledge

None

Recommended Previous Knowledge

A bachelor degree with a specialization in linguistics provides the most suitable starting point.

Credit Reduction due to Course Overlap

LINGMET (10 credits)

Access to the Course

Open to all who have been admitted to one of the Master's programmes in Foreign Languages.

Teaching and learning methods

Lectures, seminars and practical exercises. Normally, teachers from linguistics and various language related programmes will be responsible for teaching. About 24 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

To be eligible to sit the final exam, students must have submitted one obligatory assignment during the course. Obligatory assignments must be approved before one can take the exam in the subject. Approval remains valid in a total of three semester, including the semester of teaching.

Forms of Assessment

4 day individual digital take-home exam, consisting of an essay of about 2000-3000 words, not including referances, appendices with data etc.

Cooperation between students is not allowed; neither is it allowed to ask relevant questions to the teacher when the exam has started. The start of the exam is the time when the assignment becomes available to the candidates.

Examination Support Material

It is allowed to use materials from the literature list, library resources, and referances and tools indicated by the teacher. All aids that are used must be cited.

Grading Scale

A-F.

Reading List

The reading list may consist of about half common reading material and half individual material chosen in consultation with the student's own department and in relation to the language studied by the student. The syllabus is about 400 pages and includes introductions to linguistic methods and illustrating articles.

Course Evaluation

Course evaluation will be conducted in accordance with the University of Bergen's quality assurance system.