Admission requirements
Linguistic Fieldwork B can only be followed after successful completion of Linguistic Fieldwork A.
Description
Linguistic Fieldwork B builds on Linguistic Fieldwork A, where the students have been introduced to the methods of linguistic fieldwork.
In Linguistic Fieldwork B, students continue working with a native speaker of a language of an unfamiliar or under-described language. This may be the same speaker as for Fieldwork A.
In Fieldwork B, the focus will first be on deepening the understanding of the target language, either by extending and improving the understanding of topics already studied, or by studying new topics such as syntax and information structure. In the second half of the course, students also work on a topic of their own choice.
If the speaker of Linguistic Fieldwork A is not available for Linguistic Fieldwork B, we will work with a speaker of a different language. In this case, the first half of the course will be spent on investigating the basic phonology and morpho-syntax of the language, while in the second half, students work on a topic of their own choice.
Course objectives
At the end of the course, students will have experience working with an unfamiliar language and will be able to:
record, transcribe, and annotate speech data of the language through the interaction with a native speaker
collect data through applying various fieldwork methods
apply adequate data management techniques and store the collected data in a systematic and transparent manner
apply theoretical and descriptive linguistic knowledge to analyse primary data
write a coherent description of a linguistic topic
Timetable
The timetables are available through My Timetable.
Mode of instruction
Seminars, own research and hands-on training.
We will meet twice every week: once for a field session and once for a data discussion meeting. Students will be responsible for carrying out elicitation sessions, and transcribing and analysing the data. In the data discussion meetings we will address practical issues as they arise, and we will discuss proposed linguistic analyses for the collected data.
All students will have to prepare the field session in advance, take notes during the recording sessions, transcribe, gloss, and translate the collected data. For each field session, two or three “session leaders” will be chosen. Session leaders will prepare and lead the elicitation session. In the discussion meeting after the data collection meeting, the session leaders will briefly present their findings from the previous data collection meeting.
In the second block, we no longer have weekly classes, but students will work with the speaker in groups to study a topic of their own. (The exact timing of these group sessions will be determined depending on the speaker’s availability.
Assessment method
Assessment
Presentation of group work results and final paper
It is advised to consult sections 1.4, 2, and 7 in the Portal Academic Skills.
Weighing
The final mark is a weighted average of the following components:
Presentation of group work results: 30%
Final paper: 70%
The final mark for the course is established by determining the weighted average. To pass the course, the weighted average of the partial grades must be 5.5 or higher.
Resit
The final paper can be resubmitted as a resit.
Inspection and feedback
Students receive general and individual written feedback on their mid-term and final papers. Feedback on the mid-term papers is also discussed in class.
Reading list
Not applicable.
Registration
Enrolment through My Studymap is mandatory
General information about course and exam enrolment is available on the website.
Registration Contractonderwijs
Information for those interested in taking this course in context of Contract teaching (with taking examinations), eg. about costs, registration and conditions.
For the registration of exchange students contact Humanities International Office.
Contact
For questions about content, contact the lecturer listed in the right information bar.
For questions about enrolment, admission, etc, contact the Education Administration Office Reuvensplaats
Remarks
N/A