Basic Research Methods in Linguistics

online course

Language is an essential feature of all humans that distinguishes us from all other known species. The study of human languages is not only the study of a central social skill, but it also provides a unique window to the human mind.

In this course students will get an overview of the basic toolkit in linguistics research: presenting and interpreting linguistic data, linguistic argumentation, and writing like a linguist. We will analyze datasets from different areas of linguistics (phonology, morphology, syntax) and practice interpreting data from languages we do not speak. We will also discuss how our own introspective judgments and examples in the literature can be supplemented by working with informants and with small questionnaires. The course will comprise lectures, group work and problem sets.

The course comprises 28 contact hours (8*3.5 hours). Upon successful completion, 4 ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) points will be awarded for the module. A single ECTS point is defined as the equivalent of 25 to 30 hours of student workload. This includes class hours, additional preparations for class activities, readings, assignments as well as final assessments.

Attendance: Participants have to attend at least 80 % of the classes.

Course leader

Prof. Dr. Manfred Sailer

Target group

Open to all fields. Particularly useful for students of disciplines in which language plays an essential role, such as linguistics, philology, literary studies, media studies, gender studies, ethnology, (foreign) language teaching.

Course aim

Learn how to present and interpret linguistic data, linguistic argumentation, and writing like a linguist

Analyse datasets from different areas of linguistics (phonology, morphology, syntax)

Discuss working with informants and with small questionnaires

Fee info

EUR 500: includes all study materials and transcript of records