BeLing HS 07 - Institut für Sprachwissenschaft - Universität Bern

Level:
BA/MA: Third-year students
Liz: Students in their basic studies
Credit Points: BA/MA: 2/Liz.: 3
Open to students as Wahlbereich? Yes
No
Content: Anthropological linguistics is concerned with the place of language in its wider social and cultural
context. It understands and studies language as a social tool and speaking as a cultural practice. This lecture
course aims to introduce students to some fundamental issues raised in this exciting field of inquiry. It will provide
an overview of key topics in anthropological linguistics and will be concerned with the most important
methodological approaches used in this field. By engaging critically with theoretical perspectives developed in this
discipline and by examining a wide range of ethnographic case studies from various sociocultural contexts, we will
aim to deepen our understanding of the complex and intricate relationships between language, thought, culture
and identity. Topics to be addressed will include: meaning in language; the interconnections between language,
practice and culture; questions of cultural diversity, linguistic relativity and linguistic universals; language
socialisation and identity formation; cross-cultural variability in verbal interaction (with special emphasis on
questions of social positioning and power); ritual, performance and verbal art.
Although the course is designed as a lecture, students are encouraged to take an active part in some of the
analyses and discussions.
Texts: Reading material will be distributed throughout the course.
Aims: To introduce students to some fundamental issues in anthropological linguistics and to deepen their
understanding of the interconnections between language and culture.
Credit: Credits for the course are based on regular attendance and completion of all course work and
evaluations.
Evaluation (Leistungskontrolle):
Test/Exam
Oral Presentation
Evaluation at end of entire Module only
Date of Evaluation:
Throughout semester
During semester break
Other:
Written Assignment(s)
Other Class Work
Other:
Last week of semester
To be advised
MA ENGLISH LINGUISTICS
MA Course Module:
M1
LIZ:
Seminar
Title:
Research Methodology in Linguistics
Instructor(s):
R. J. Watts
Time(s): Wednesday 10-12
First Session(s): 26.9.07
Level:
BA/MA: MA students
Liz: Students in their main studies
Credit Points: BA/MA: 6/Liz.: 7
Open to students as Wahlbereich? Yes
No
Content: The present course is designed as a seminar for Lizentiat students and as the first module in the MA
programme in "English Linguistics". We shall consider the problems of research design, methodology and data
analysis required at the level of the Masters degree and higher. The wide range of topics in English linguistics
available for students to choose from will mean that we need to take as broad a view of the topic as possible,
including work on theoretical aspects of language structure, empirical work of an experimental nature, fieldwork of
all kinds, the techniques of transcription and data analysis, statistical analysis, etc. We will consider the goals of
the research, the kinds of data we might need for the analysts, the structure and design of various projects, the
gathering and analysis of data and the presentation of results. Some of the many questions that concern us here
are: How do I deal with the research literature in the area chosen? How do I focus on a specific research issue or
complex of issues? How do I go about gathering data, i.e. how do I sample and /or research informants? What do
I need to consider when I choose an appropriate research design, e.g. quantitative, qualitative, both or neither?
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