Issues in African linguistics and communication 3600-AF-IALC-OG

The course furthermore takes cognizance of the structural dimension of multilingualism and some aspects of language communication in Africa. It includes a variety of phonological systems (with focus on unique phonemic contrast and tonality) and some typological patterns of language structures at the level of morphology and syntax, as well as some strategies of coding grammatical relations using lexical means).
The course provides basic knowledge about the history of African languages and covers methodological aspects of their reconstruction. It also discusses the question of language contact and language development resulting in the emergence of new languages of the one hand and language death on the other.
Communication issues are presented as the writing systems of African languages (using the Latin and the Arabic script) and some cultural determinants of language structures and discoursive practices (such as culture keywords and the forms of greetings).

Type of course

general courses

Mode

Remote learning

Prerequisites (description)

The course is designed to discuss linguistic phenomena that are typologically characteristic of African languages. Selected issues related to language systems are presented in a contrastive approach. The course includes methodological aspects of diachronic linguistics in African studies and specific features of African languages at the level of communication. Participation in the course requires knowledge about basic concepts of linguistic analysis at the level of individual sounds, words, and sentence level.

Course coordinators

Beata Wójtowicz

Learning outcomes

Reference to learning outcomes in the areas of study pertinent to humanities Knowledge
K_W04 has extended and deepened knowledge of the structure, communication rules and sociolinguistic situation of the languages of Sub- Saharan Africa.
K_W08 demonstrates a good grasp of the basics of socio-cultural behaviour in sub-Saharan Africa in the scope of professional intercultural communication.
Skills
K_U10 can carry out a critical analysis and interpretation of language data in a way which is appropriate to a chosen tradition, theory and research approach within the scope of linguistics, employing unique approaches that take into account the available knowledge in the field of African studies
Social competence
K_K03 can actively establish relations and cooperate with members of another culture
K_K04 can set appropriate goals and ways to achieve these outcomes in the context of academic, professional and social activity

Assessment criteria

- attendance control
- continuous assessment of class activity (participation in the discussions of the content of the self-study materials)
- final assessment (written assessment)

Bibliography

Caron, Bernard & Petr Zima 2006. Sprachbund in the West African Sahel . Collection Afrique et langage 11, Louvain: Peeters.
Dimmendaal, Gerrit J. 2011. Historical linguistics and the comparative study of African languages. Amsterdam: John Benjamins.
Goddard, Cliff (ed.). 2006. Ethnopragmatics: Understanding Discourse in Cultural Context, Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter.
Heine, Bernd, Derek Nurse (eds). 2000. African Languages. An Introduction. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
Heine, Bernd & Derek Nurse (eds). 2008. A Linguistic Geography of Africa, Cambridge: University Press.
In addition, during the course, students will be referred to sources that will be discussed in class.
Kachru, B. B. (1997). World Englishes and English-using communities. Annual Review of Applied Linguistics 17,66-87.
Ong, Walter J. 1982. Orality and literacy. Methuen, London and New York.
[Polish edition] Oralność i piśmienność. Słowo poddane technologii. (przekład Józefa Topoli), Lublin: KUL 1992,
Pawlak, Nina. 2010. Języki afrykańskie. Warszawa: WUW.
Wierzbicka, Anna. 1997. Understanding cultures through their key words: English, Russian, Polish, German, and Japanese. New York/Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Wierzbicka, Anna. 1999. Język – umysł – kultura (wybór prac). Warszawa: PWN.

In addition, during the course, students receive readings that will be discussed in class.

Additional information

Information on level of this course, year of study and semester when the course unit is delivered, types and amount of class hours - can be found in course structure diagrams of apropriate study programmes. This course is related to the following study programmes:

Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system:

Description of 3600-AF-IALC-OG in USOSweb