African Languages at University of Gothenburg

We teach African Languages, Somali, Swahili and Xhosa/Zulu

All courses are
- free of charge for citizens of the EU and EEA countries as well as holders of a Swedish residence permit, and
- completely net-based. Most of them are taught in English. Proficiency in Swedish is then not required.

7.5 ects credits equals 10 hours of work per week for 20 weeks.
Spring term 2025 runs from 20 January to 8 June. Autumn term 2025 runs from 1 September to 18 January. 
Spring term 2026 runs from 19 January to 7 June. Autumn term 2026 runs from 31 August to 17 January.

Find out when the individual courses are offered Download when the individual courses are offered and apply.
Access our courses on the Canvas learning platform.
Information om kurser i arabiska.

How to earn a Bachelor's degree Download Bachelor's degree in African Languages. 
How to earn a Master's degree in African Languages.
How to contact us.

 

Courses for Beginners

Only general entry requirements Links to an external site. + English language requirements Links to an external site..

General courses

AF1100, Languages and Societies in Africa (7.5 ects)
Syllabus • Reading List • More information.

AF1111, Introduction to Linguistics and African Languages (7.5 ects)
Syllabus • Reading List • More information.

EN1003, Introduction to Academic Studies in English (7.5 ects)
Syllabus • Reading List • More information.

Swahili as a foreign language

AF1110, Swahili Introductory Course (7.5 ects)
Syllabus • Reading List • More information.

Further information about Swahili.

Xhosa & Zulu as a foreign language

AF1121, Xhosa & Zulu Introductory Course (7.5 ects)
Syllabus • Reading List • More information.

Somali as a foreign language

SO1102, Somali Introduction Course (7.5 ects)
Syllabus • Reading List • More information.

Further information about Somali.

Somali for mother tongue speakers / Somaliska för modersmålstalare

SOL101, Somali Grammar 1 for Mother Tongue Speakers (7.5 ects)
SOL101, Somalisk grammatik 1 för modersmålstalare (7.5 hp) 
Syllabus • Reading List • More information
Kursplan • Litteraturlista • Mer information
Very good reading proficiency in Somali is required.
Mycket god läsfärdighet på somaliska behövs.

SOL102, On the Somali Language Situation for Mother Tongue Speakers (7.5 ects)
SOL102, Om den somaliska språksituationen för modersmålstalare (7.5 hp) 
Syllabus • Reading List • More information
Kursplan • Litteraturlista • Mer information
Very good reading proficiency in Somali is required.
Mycket god läsfärdighet på somaliska behövs.

Further information about Somali. / Mer information om somaliskan.

 

Courses for Continuing Students

General courses

AF1200, Language and Society in Africa, Intermediate Course (7.5 ects)
Syllabus • Reading List • More information
Entry requirements: AF1100.

AF1211, African Language Structures and Typology (7.5 ects)
Syllabus • Reading List • More information
Entry requirements: (a) AF1111 +
(b) 15 ects credits in General Linguistics and/or non-European languages spoken in Africa.

AF1212, Academic English for Africanists (7.5 ects)
Syllabus • Reading List • More information
Entry requirements: (a) AF1111 +
(b) 7.5 ects in Academic English.

AF1311, Investigating African Language Structures (7.5 ects)
Syllabus • Reading List • More information
Entry requirements: (a) AF1211 +
(b) 7.5 ects in Academic English +
(c) a total of 45 ects in at least two of the subjects Arabic, Somali, Swahili, Xhosa/Zulu and General Linguistics, whereof a maximum of 30 ects in General Linguistics.

AF1320, African Languages, Independent Project at B.A. level (15 ects)
Syllabus • Reading List • More information
Entry requirements: (a) AF1311 +
(b) 15 ects in Academic English +
(c) a total of 60 ects in at least two of the subjects Arabic, Somali, Swahili, Xhosa/Zulu and General Linguistics, whereof a maximum of 30 ects in General Linguistics.

Swahili as a foreign language

AF1210, Swahili II (7.5 ects)
Syllabus • Reading List • More information
Entry requirements: AF1110, Swahili Introductory Course.

AF1213, Swahili III (7.5 ects)
Syllabus • Reading List • More information
Entry requirements: AF1210, Swahili II.

AF1214, Swahili IV (7.5 ects)
Syllabus • Reading List • More information 
Entry requirements: AF1213, Swahili III.

Somali as a foreign language

Flowchart showing all courses in Somali as a foreign language Download all courses in Somali as a foreign language.

SO1203, Somali II (7.5 ects)
Syllabus • Reading List • More information
Entry requirement: SO1102, Somali Introduction Course.

SO1204, Somali III (7.5 ects)
Syllabus • Reading List • More information
Entry requirement: SO1203, Somali II.

SO1205, Somali IV (7.5 ects)
Syllabus • Reading List • More information
Entry requirement: SO1204, Somali III.

SO1211, Somali Text Reading and Translation 1 (7.5 ects)
Syllabus • Reading List • More information
Entry requirements: SO1205, Somali IV, or SOL210, Translation into Somali.

SO1212, Somali Text Reading and Translation 2 (7.5 ects)
Syllabus • Reading List • More information
Entry requirements: SO1211, Somali Text Reading and Translation 1.

SO1221, Somali Grammar and Linguistics 1 (7.5 ects)
Syllabus • Reading List • More information 
Entry requirements: SO1205, Somali IV, or SOL230, Somali Syntax, or SOL270, Somali Morphology.

SO1222, Somali Grammar and Linguistics 2 (7.5 ects)
Syllabus • Reading List • More information 
Entry requirements: SO1221, Somali Grammar and Linguistics 1.

Somali for mother tongue speakers / Somaliska för modersmålstalare

Flowchart showing all courses in Somali linguistics for L1 speakers of Somali Download all courses in Somali linguistics for L1 speakers of Somali.
Schematisk bild över samtliga modersmålskurser i somalisk språkvetenskap Download samtliga modersmålskurser i somalisk språkvetenskap.

SOL103, Somali Grammar 2 for Mother Tongue speakers (7.5 ects)
SOL103, Somalisk grammatik 2 för modersmålstalare (7.5 hp)
Syllabus • Reading List • More information
Kursplan • Litteraturlista • Mer information
Entry requirement / Förkunskapskrav: SOL101/SOL110 
Very good reading proficiency in Somali is required. Proficiency in Swedish not required.
Mycket god läsfärdighet på somaliska behövs. Undantag ges från kravet på engelska.

SOL160, Writing in Somali (7.5 ects) - will be replaced by SOL104, Somali Orthography, spring 2026
SOL160, Att skriva på somaliska (7,5 hp) - ersätts av SOL104, Somalisk ortografi, våren 2026
Syllabus • Reading List • More information
Kursplan • Litteraturlista • Mer information
Entry requirement / Förkunskapskrav: SOL101/SOL110 and SOL102/SOL120 
Very good proficiency in Somali is required. Proficiency in Swedish not required.
Mycket god kompetens i somaliska behövs. Undantag ges från kravet på engelska.

SOL210, Att översätta till somaliska (7,5 hp)
Kursplan • Litteraturlista • Mer information
Förkunskapskrav: SOL104/SOL160

SOL220, Somalisk språkhistoria (7,5 hp)
Kursplan • Litteraturlista • Mer information
Förkunskapskrav: SOL103/SOL130 och SOL104/SOL160

SOL230, Somalisk syntax (7,5 hp)
Kursplan • Litteraturlista • Mer information
Förkunskapskrav: SOL103/SOL130

SOL240, Somalisk fonetik, fonologi och morfonologi (7,5 hp)
Kursplan • Litteraturlista • Mer information
Förkunskapskrav: SOL103/SOL130 och SOL104/SOL160

SOL250, Somalisk lexikologi, lexikografi och semantik (7,5 hp)
Kursplan • Litteraturlista • Mer information
Förkunskapskrav: SOL103/SOL130 och SOL104/SOL160

SOL260, Somalisk dialektologi och sociolingvistik (7,5 hp)
Kursplan • Litteraturlista • Mer information
Förkunskapskrav: SOL103/SOL130 och SOL104/SOL160

SOL270, Somalisk morfologi (7,5 hp)
Kursplan • Litteraturlista • Mer information
Förkunskapskrav: SOL103/SOL130 och SOL104/SOL160

SOL310, Somalisk korpuslingvistik (7,5 hp)
Kursplan • Litteraturlista • Mer information 
Förkunskapskrav: fyra av kurserna SOL210, SOL220, SOL230, SOL240, SOL250, SOL260, SOL270.

 

Courses for Advanced Level Students

Entry requirement:
(1) B.A. degree in any language/linguistics subject, including a 15 ects essay  +
(2) English 6 or IELTS  6.5 or TOEFL 580.

AF2214, Comparative Historical Linguistics in an African Perspective (7.5 ects)
Syllabus • Reading List • More information

AF2215, African Languages, Comparative Linguistics and Typology (7.5 ects)
Syllabus • Reading List • More information

AF2211, African Languages, Linguistic Structures (7.5 ects)
Syllabus • Reading List • More information

AF2212, African Languages, Theory (7.5 ects)
Syllabus • Reading List • More information

AF2213, African Languages, Data and Method (15 ects)
Syllabus • Reading List • More information
Entry requirement: (1) AF2211/AF2208 + (2) AF2212/AF2209.

AF2204, African Languages, Independent project (at one year master level) (15 ects)
Syllabus • Reading List • More information
Entry requirement: AF2213/AF2203.

AF2210, African Languages, Independent project at master level (30 ects)
Syllabus • Reading List • More information
Entry requirement: AF2213/AF2203.

Flowcharts showing the required courses for a regular Two Year M.A. degree Download a regular Two Year M.A. degree and a One Year M.A. degree Download a One Year M.A. degree in African Languages. 
Further details about the recommended timeline and order of the courses for a Master degree in African Languages. 

 

Preliminary Plans for New Courses

AF1116, Swahili Oral and Written Proficiency 1 (7.5 ects)
Entry requirements: AF1110, Swahili Introductory Course.

AF1216, Swahili Oral and Written Proficiency 2 (7.5 ects)
Entry requirements: AF1210, Swahili II + AF1116, Swahili Oral and Written Proficiency 1.

AF1222, Xhosa & Zulu II (7.5 ects)
Entry requirements: AF1121, Xhosa & Zulu, Introductory Course.

SO1106, Somali Oral and Written Proficiency 1 (7.5 ects)
Entry requirements: SO1102, Somali Introduction Course.

SO1206, Somali Oral and Written Proficiency 2 (7.5 ects)
Entry requirements: SO1203, Somali II + SO1106, Somali Oral and Written Proficiency 1.

SOL320, De kusjitiska språken (7,5 hp)
Förkunskapskrav: fyra av kurserna SOL2**.

SOL330, Somalisk lexikografi i praktiken (7,5 hp)
Förkunskapskrav: fyra av kurserna SOL2**.

SOL340, Somalisk dialektologi i praktiken (7,5 hp)
Förkunskapskrav: fyra av kurserna SOL2**.

SOL350, Somalisk tonologi (7,5 hp)
Förkunskapskrav: fyra av kurserna SOL2**.

SOL360, Somalisk experimentell fonetik (7,5 hp)
Förkunskapskrav: fyra av kurserna SOL2**.

SOL370, Maay (7,5 hp)
Förkunskapskrav: fyra av kurserna SOL2**.

 

Older courses, no longer offered

AF0100, Språk och samhälle i Afrika (7,5 hp)
Kursplan Download Kursplan • Litteraturlista saknas • gavs 1998--2006

AF2200, Afrikanska språk, Forskningsförberedande kurs (30 hp)
Kursplan Download Kursplan • Litteraturlista saknas • gavs 2009--2014

AF2201, Afrikanska språk, Forskningsförberedande kurs (15 hp)
Kursplan Download Kursplan • Litteraturlista saknas • gavs 2013--2015

AF2202, Afrikanska språk, Teori (15 hp)
Kursplan Download Kursplan • Litteraturlista saknas • gavs 2013--2015

AF2203, African Languages, Methodology and fieldwork (15 ects)
Syllabus Download Syllabus • Reading list missing • offered 2013--2020 • replaced by AF2213

AF2205, Comparative linguistics and language typology (7.5 ects)
Syllabus Download Syllabus • Reading List 2019 Download Reading List 2019 • offered 2013--2022 • replaced by AF2215

AF2206, African Languages, Historical Linguistics of African languages (7.5 ects)
Syllabus Download Syllabus • Reading List 2018 Download Reading List 2018 • offered 2016--2022 • replaced by AF2214

AF2208, African Language Structures (7.5 ects)
Syllabus Download Syllabus • Reading list 2021 Download Reading list 2021 • offered 2015--2021 • replaced by AF2211

AF2209, African Languages, Theory (7.5 ects)
Syllabus Download Syllabus • Reading list 2021 Download Reading list 2021 • offered 2015--2021 • replaced by AF2212

AF6000, Afrikanska språk, Forskningsförberedande kurs (30 hp)
Kursplan Download Kursplan • Litteraturlista saknas • gavs 1998--2004 • ersattes av AF2200

SO1001, Somaliskt samhälle och kultur, Grundkurs (7,5 hp)
Kursplan Download Kursplan • Litteraturlista saknas • gavs 2008--2010

SO1010, Somaliska, Grundkurs 1 (30 hp)
Kursplan Download Kursplan • Litteraturlista saknas • gavs 2008--2010

SO1101, Somaliskt samhälle och kultur (7,5 hp)
Kursplan Download Kursplan • Litteraturlista 2011 Download Litteraturlista 2011 • gavs 2010--2011

SO1103, Somaliska, Språkfärdighet 1 (7,5 hp)
Kursplan Download Kursplan • Litteraturlista 2011 Download Litteraturlista 2011 • gavs 2010--2011

SO1104, Somaliska, Språkfärdighet 2 (7,5 hp)
Kursplan Download Kursplan • Litteraturlista 2011 Download Litteraturlista 2011 • gavs 2010--2011

SO1110, Somaliska, Grundkurs, del 1 (15 hp)
Kursplan Download Kursplan • Litteraturlista 2011 Download Litteraturlista 2011 • gavs 2010--2011

SO1120, Somaliska, Grundkurs, del 2 (15 hp)
Kursplan Download Kursplan • Litteraturlista 2011 Download Litteraturlista 2011 • gavs 2010--2011

SO1201, Somaliska, Språken och samhället (7,5 hp)
Kursplan Download Kursplan • Litteraturlista 2010 Download Litteraturlista 2010 • gavs 2010--2011

SO1202, Somaliska, Fortsättningskurs i språkfärdighet 1 (7,5 hp)
Kursplan Download Kursplan • Litteraturlista 2010 Download Litteraturlista 2010 • gavs 2010--2011

SO1210, Somaliska, Fortsättningskurs, del 1 (15 hp)
Kursplan Download Kursplan • Litteraturlista 2010 Download Litteraturlista 2010 • gavs 2010--2011

SOL10U, Somaliska 1 för modersmålslärare (7,5 hp)
Kursplan Download Kursplan • Litteraturlista saknas • gavs 2020--2021 • motsvaras av första halvan av SOL101 och SOL102

SOL110, Somaliska språket i ett kontrastivt perspektiv (7,5 hp)
Kursplan Download Kursplan • Litteraturlista 2022 Download Litteraturlista 2022 • gavs 2014--2022 • ersattes av SOL101

SOL120, Somaliskan i världen (7,5 hp)
Kursplan Download Kursplan • Litteraturlista 2022 Download Litteraturlista 2022 • gavs 2014--2022 • ersattes av SOL102

SOL130, Somaliska språkets struktur (7,5 hp) 
Kursplan Download Kursplan • Litteraturlista 2023 Download Litteraturlista 2023 • gavs 2015--2023 • ersattes av SOL103

SOL140, Somaliskan i den svenska skolan (7,5 hp)
Kursplan Download Kursplan • Litteraturlista 2019 Download Litteraturlista 2019 • gavs 2015--2019

SOL150, Kontrastiv introduktion till somaliskan (7,5 hp)
Kursplan Download Kursplan • Litteraturlista 2020 Download Litteraturlista 2020 • gavs 2015--2020 • ersattes av SO1102