Diversity of the World's Languages

This course provides an exciting overview of some of the world's most important language types and language families, exemplified with data from a wide variety of languages. You will learn about the structural features of languages and where they are spoken. We discuss why languages are similar or different in terms of morphology, grammar, and sound systems. Additionally, we address why the linguistic diversity in the world is rapidly decreasing, for example through language death.

Course literature

The course literature listed may be updated up to eight weeks before the course begins.

The teaching consists of lectures and practical exercises. You will practice analysing language structure and placing languages in a typological perspective using authentic data. The examination is conducted through a written take-home exam at the end of the course. The course is held on campus and cannot be followed remotely. It is a part-time course, which corresponds to 20 hours per week, divided between teacher-led instruction, group work, and self-study.

After the course, you will have a deeper understanding of language structures and their development. This can open doors to further studies in linguistics or work in areas such as language research, translation, and international communication.

Prerequisites

General requirements for university studies in Sweden

Selection criteria

Seats are allocated according to the following: The general average (GPA) of your higher secondary school leaving certificate: 34 %, The Swedish national university aptitude test: 34 %, number of previous ECTS at application deadline (up to 165): 32 %. If students have equal credentials, seats are allocated based on their results on The Swedish National University Aptitude Test. If this too is equal, seats are allocated based on a draw.

Tuition fees for non-EU/EEA citizens

Citizens of countries outside:

• The European Union (EU)
• The European Economic Area (EEA) and
• Switzerland

are required to pay tuition fees. You pay an instalment of the tuition fee in advance of each
semester.

Tuition fees, payments and exemptions

Full programme/course tuition fee: SEK 15,625
First payment: SEK 15,625

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Note that you may also need to pay an application fee, or provide proof of exemption.

Application fee

No tuition fees for citizens of the EU, EEA and Switzerland

There are no tuition fees for citizens of the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland.