Master
2024/2025
Comparative Linguistics
Type:
Compulsory course (Linguistic Theory and Language Description)
Area of studies:
Fundamental and Applied Linguistics
Delivered by:
School of Linguistics
Where:
Faculty of Humanities
When:
1 year, 3 module
Mode of studies:
offline
Open to:
students of one campus
Instructors:
George Starostin
Master’s programme:
Linguistic Theory and Language Description
Language:
English
ECTS credits:
3
Contact hours:
32
Course Syllabus
Abstract
The course gives a brief practical overview of the classical comparative method and explains how it is complemented today by advances in computational phylogenetic studies. It includes both theoretical lectures and elements of practical analysis of linguistic data, with a significant focus on the most cutting-edge and occasionally controversial aspects of the discipline, such as the dating of linguistic divergence and long-range linguistic relationship. Theoretical problems are illustrated using material taken from both familiar language families, such as Indo-European, and those that will be less familiar to students, e.g. language families of Southeast Asia and Africa.