Prospectus

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Chinese Linguistics: The State of the Art (ResMA)

Course
2016-2017

Admission requirements

Admission to the MA Asian Studies (research) or another relevant research MA programme. Students from other departments are kindly referred to the course description of the regular MA course.

Description

This course will bring students up to date with respect to most relevant aspects of Chinese linguistics. Taking a broad view, we will investigate recent developments in the such fields as historical linguistics, sociolinguistics, grammar, dialectology, etc. In doing so, we will at the same time, work towards (re)introducing most of the important basic notions in linguistics.

Course objectives

The course aims at providing the students with a broad understanding of current issues in Chinese linguistics. Besides, the course aims at developing further their research skills, as well as their skills in reporting on their findings, both in writing and orally, for general as well as scholarly audiences.

Timetable

Check timetable

Mode of instruction

Lectures on specific topics, discussion about the readings.

Course Load

  • time spent on attending lectures and seminars: 26 hours, with an extra 6 hours for students of the Research MA (in a form to be discussed)

  • time for readings/class preparation: 98 hours

  • time for assignments: 60 hours

  • time for the term paper: 90 hours

Assessment method

  • several oral and written assignments (40%)

  • term paper (60%)

Compensation possible, but the term paper must minimally be awarded with a 5. (The paper deadline mentioned in uSis is a fictional date for administration purposes only. The actual date will be communicated by the convenor of the course.)

Blackboard

Blackboard will be used as the need arises.

Reading list

  • Huang, C.T.J., A.Y.H. Li and A. Simpson, The Handbook of Chinese Linguistics. 2014. Wiley Blackwell. Note: e-version available through the University Library!

  • Pinker, Steven, The language instinct. How the mind creates language. [orig. publ. 1994; any subsequent printing by any press is okay]

We will occasionally refer to the following two works:

  • Norman, J. Chinese. Cambridge University Press. [orig. publ. 1988; any subsequent printing is okay]

  • Chen, P., Modern Chinese. History and Sociolinguistics. Cambridge University Press. [orig. publ. 1999; any subsequent printing is okay]

  • Occasional supplementary reading material will be announced at Blackboard.

Registration

Registration through uSis

Contact

Email: Dhr Prof. dr. R.P.E. Sybesma