Course
Course 7.5 credits • LINN21
The course deals with either a language, a family of languages, or a linguistic area, which is structurally different from prototypical European languages. The focus is not to gain practical training in a specific language. Rather, the course focuses on knowledge of typological structures that are different from languages that most students are used to. Moreover, the course deals with how linguistic patterns can be impacted by linguistic contact. In the fall semester of 2022, the course will deal with language families in South and Mesoamerica.
The linguistic area of South and Mesoamerica stands out due to its extensive diversity. Most exceptions from general typological tendencies are also found in this area. Another particular feature of the area is an extensive and complex multitude of languages, with more than one hundred language families, of which almost half are isolates. The course will give an overview and an introduction to the linguistic diversity of South and Mesoamerica, including a description of the linguistic history, the typology and the present sociolinguistic situation. This will be achieved by presenting descriptions of a selected number of families, such as Uto-Aztecan, Mayan, Arawakan, Tupían, Jê, Carib, Panoan, as well as a handful of isolates. Larger typological overviews are complemented by examples from individual languages.
Study period:
spring semester 2026
Type of studies:
part time, 50 %,
day
Study period:
2026-01-19 – 2026-03-22
Language of instruction:
English
Application code:
LU-75552
Eligibility:
At least 60 ECTS credits in a language discipline or Linguistics (General Linguistics or Phonetics), or the equivalent. English course 6/B (advanced proficiency).
Second Admission Round
Nationell ansökningsomgång
Spring semester 2026
Application opens 15 September
15October 2025
Fonetik
More about the subject, research, staff etc.