Course syllabus
Welcome to African Language Structures and Typology!
This course forms a continuation of AF1111 Introduction to Linguistics and African Languages. You will deepen your knowledge of phonology and grammar, taking a typological perspective. Typology is the systematic study and comparison of different aspects of language, such as phonology and morphology, in order to find out what is common in the languages of the world, what is rare, and what (if any) are the limits of human language?
This means that we will focus on African languages and their structures, while comparing them to the languages of the world.
Further information about the course and its set-up can be found in the course guide and in Modules, in which you will find all the material and the structure of the course.
Activate your student account and Register for the course
Course instructor is Eva-Marie Bloom Ström
Course outline VT 2025
The chapters from the main book are given below per 2-week lesson but there will be other readings as well. The start of each lesson is indicated below in the start date column. Everything will be available through the university library, so make sure that your log-in is working. You do not have to buy any literature. Further details will be published in Modules on the date listed here for each lesson. Date and time for Zoom meetings are indicated below. NB! The Zoom link for the lessons is found in the course guide.
Introduction week at the department
Presentations in English
12:15-13:00 Grammar (at the university)
13:15-14:00 Starting your Studies (at the university and on zoom)
09:10-09:50 Introduction to Canvas (on zoom)
10:15-12:00 Academic writing (on zoom)
13:15-14:00 Literature (on zoom)
14:00-14:30 Drop-in Q&A session about written sit-down exams in an examination hall or in zoom. (Questions can be asked in Swedish or English). (on zoom)
Study counselling
If you have questions or concerns about your studies, degrees and careers, please contact your study counsellor. The study counsellor is also the contact person for pedagogical support and adjustments of studies.
Email: studievagledning.afrikanska@sprak.gu.se
More information on study counselling: https://www.gu.se/en/languages/study-here/study-guidance
Pedagogical support
Information: https://studentportal.gu.se/en/service-and-support/disability-study-support
If you have a NAIS decision about adjustments of studies, please read the information above carefully.
For information on pedagogical support at the Department of Languages and literatures, click on Department of Languages and literatures: https://studentportal.gu.se/en/service-and-support/disability-study-support?f_hn=1&i_spl=1#information-from-faculties-and-departments
Information about being a student at the Faculty of Humanities, GU.
Generative AI and the rules for examinations
You are allowed to use AI to make your text more reader friendly (checking spelling, grammar and structure) but it is "not permitted to submit content created with a generative AI tool as your own, original work". Guidance for students on the use of generative AI in their studies | Student Portal