Admission requirements
This is a first-year introductory course. There are no prerequisites.
Description
This course offers an introduction to African languages and African linguistic practices. The course introduces you to language in Africa and the role it plays in African society and beyond. We explore African linguistic diversity and learn how speakers of African languages use language to communicate and organize indigenous knowledge in the African multilingual context, how language is structured through language policy and planning, the different roles and status that language can have in multilingual contexts, how African writing systems have been developed and the role of orthography in representing language practices. We discuss spoken language but also non-verbal communication in African Sign Languages and the role that gesture plays in language in general. We investigate how African languages engage with society in education, in the development of urban youth languages and further also look at the role of African languages in the diaspora.
The course is taught as a “lab” where you will engage in doing practical hands-on research and develop both academic and practical skills working in teams/groups to further research issues discussed in class and produce different outputs to showcase your findings (e.g. digital productions like podcasts, blogs, oral and poster presentations, etc.). Students are usually asked to choose an African language to focus on and for which you will research issues discussed in class in more detail, developing a solid sociolinguistic understanding of language in your chosen area. The course also introduces you to the structure of language through interactive sessions with a speaker of an African language where the class has a few sessions to workout parts of a system of an African language where you learn how to collect, represent and understand linguistic phenomena.
Course objectives
By the end of the course, students will:
learn about the language situation in different African countries and be able to identify patterns in language practices in different African countries
have a good understanding of the language situation of a specific African country of their choice and be able to describe and discuss the central practices in that country
develop knowledge of how language relates to policy, planning, developing orthographies and the working of language in different African societies
develop different analytical skills and be able to identify language structures and gestural patterns
develop practical skills and be able to make podcasts and present information in different formats and for different audiences
develop the ability to critically evaluate different language contexts to be able to understand how language functions in African societies
develop their understanding of African languages beyond Africa and into the diaspora.
learn how to combine academic inquiry (searching and selecting information; use of libraries, developing style in writing, present results) with digital communication skills and basic ethnography.
Timetable
The timetables are avalable through My Timetable.
Mode of instruction
Seminars
Assessment method
Assessment
1) Two to three smaller assignments in which you apply your acquired skills and knowledge to a particular case, e.g. making a language profile of a selected country; making a podcast on a topic of choice from the course; developing an outline language structure from interviews with a speaker of an African language.
2) Final assignment: essay type assignment or an encyclopedic production that may be in multimedia.
Weighing
Classroom participation: 10%
Smaller assignments total: 50%
Final assignment: 40%
Resit
A resit is possible a) for one of the smaller assignments, and b) for the final assignment if the grade is lower than 5.5.
Inspection and feedback
How and when an exam review will take place will be disclosed together with the publication of the exam results at the latest. If a student requests a review within 30 days after publication of the assignment results, a review will have to be organized.
Reading list
Not applicable
Registration
Enrolment through My Studymap (Login | Universiteit Leiden) is mandatory.
Registration Studeren à la carte en Contractonderwijs
Registration Studeren à la carte.
Registration Contractonderwijs.
Not applicable.
Contact
For substantive questions, contact the lecturer listed in the right information bar.
For questions about enrolment, admission, etc, contact the Education Administration Office: Reuvensplaats
Remarks
Not applicable