Universität Wien

140086 KU Guided Reading: Advances in African Linguistic and Literary Theory (2018W)

6.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 14 - Orientalistik, Afrikanistik, Indologie und Tibetologie
Continuous assessment of course work
Moodle

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 20 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Thursday 11.10. 09:00 - 11:00 Inst. f. Afrikawissenschaften, Seminarraum 4 UniCampus Hof 5 2M-O1-10
  • Thursday 18.10. 09:00 - 11:00 Inst. f. Afrikawissenschaften, Seminarraum 4 UniCampus Hof 5 2M-O1-10
  • Thursday 25.10. 09:00 - 11:00 Inst. f. Afrikawissenschaften, Seminarraum 4 UniCampus Hof 5 2M-O1-10
  • Thursday 08.11. 09:00 - 11:00 Inst. f. Afrikawissenschaften, Seminarraum 4 UniCampus Hof 5 2M-O1-10
  • Thursday 15.11. 09:00 - 11:00 Inst. f. Afrikawissenschaften, Seminarraum 4 UniCampus Hof 5 2M-O1-10
  • Thursday 22.11. 09:00 - 11:00 Inst. f. Afrikawissenschaften, Seminarraum 4 UniCampus Hof 5 2M-O1-10
  • Thursday 29.11. 09:00 - 11:00 Inst. f. Afrikawissenschaften, Seminarraum 4 UniCampus Hof 5 2M-O1-10
  • Thursday 06.12. 09:00 - 11:00 Inst. f. Afrikawissenschaften, Seminarraum 4 UniCampus Hof 5 2M-O1-10
  • Thursday 13.12. 09:00 - 11:00 Inst. f. Afrikawissenschaften, Seminarraum 4 UniCampus Hof 5 2M-O1-10
  • Thursday 10.01. 09:00 - 11:00 Inst. f. Afrikawissenschaften, Seminarraum 4 UniCampus Hof 5 2M-O1-10
  • Thursday 17.01. 09:00 - 11:00 Inst. f. Afrikawissenschaften, Seminarraum 4 UniCampus Hof 5 2M-O1-10
  • Thursday 24.01. 09:00 - 11:00 Inst. f. Afrikawissenschaften, Seminarraum 4 UniCampus Hof 5 2M-O1-10
  • Thursday 31.01. 09:00 - 11:00 Inst. f. Afrikawissenschaften, Seminarraum 4 UniCampus Hof 5 2M-O1-10

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

COURSE INTRODUCTION
Guided Reading: Advances in African Linguistic and Literary Theory (seminar; 2 hours/week) MA, first or second year, segment "African linguistics and Literature" ("seminar on African linguistics and Literature")
In this advanced seminar course, participants will be given the opportunity to explore in-depth the major theoretical frameworks and schools of thought that have shaped contemporary Linguistics and Literature through guided readings.
Methods: Lectures, guest appearances, discussions, debates

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
1. To enable students to survey contemporary interactions between African linguistic and African literary phenomena towards a general theoretical frameworks within the humanities
2. To enable the student to be aware of types of linguistic constructions (such as idioms, proverbs, metaphors, ideophones) that lend themselves to such interactions (this year, phraseology).
3. To train students to synthetize articles produced in top-level linguistics journals towards producing a publishable piece of work themselves.

Lecture Schedule
Oct 11 Introduction: Welcome, Course heuristics
Review of basic concepts in African linguistic and literary studies, language and literary “map” of Africa, etc.
Oct 18 A survey of history of linguistic studies with reference to Africa
Oct 25 A survey of history of literary studies with reference to Africa
Nov 1: no class (All Saints Day)
Nov 8 Contemporary Linguistic Theories with reference to Africa
Nov 15 Contemporary Literary Theories with reference to Africa
Nov 22 Student presentations and discussions I
Nov 29 Student presentations and discussions II
Dec 6 Student presentations and discussions III
Dec 13 Student presentations and discussions IV
Dec 20, Dec 27, Jan 3: no class (Christmas)
Jan 10 Course summary and revisions I
Jan 17 Course summary and revisions II
Jan 24 Course Assessment

Pre-requisite and follow-up
A basic introductory course in Linguistics and Literature is a pre-requisite.

Format of Class meetings
Class interaction will be in the form of lectures, student presentations, computer-based electronic communications.

Assessment and permitted materials

Seminar presentations on books or articles read by course participants towards writing a term paper of up to 44000 characters.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

Active participation during all class sessions will be the key. The course will be assessed as follows:
 Attendance and active participation in class and online discussions, debates, and exercises: 30%
 Student presentation: 30%
 Term paper up to 44.000 characters: 40%

Some Study Questions
1. What in your opinion are ‘African linguistics’ and “African literature”?
2. Is theory important in understanding the African language situations and structures and in understanding African literary works?
3. How can African linguists and African writers work together to promote and enhance theoretical issues in the humanities field?

Examination topics

Reading list

Guided readings and references:
Edmonson, J.; Burquest, D. A. 1999. A survey of linguistic theories. SIL, Dallas.
Eagleton, T. 1996, 2008. Literary Theory. An Introduction. Blackwell, Oxford.
Bodomo, A. B. 2016. Afriphone literature as a prototypical form of African literature: Insights from prototype theory. In: Advances in Language and Literary Studies. 7, 5, p. 262-267.
Resources:
An introduction to literary theory (online course at Oxford University):
https://www.conted.ox.ac.uk/courses/literary-theory-an-introduction-online
Berensmeyer, I. 2009. Literary Theory: An Introduction to Approaches, Methods and Terms. Klett, Stuttgart: https://www.amazon.de/Literary-Theory-Introduction-Approaches-Amerikanistik/dp/3129395008
Teaching resources will be provided online.

Association in the course directory

SAS.GR, SAL.GR

Last modified: Mo 07.09.2020 15:34