Linguistics: 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 linguistic diversity in the world is rapidly decreasing, for example, through language death. You will also learn how to figure out the grammar of a language from selected translated examples.

The course is also part of the introductory course in linguistics, LINA15.

Course syllabus

The syllabus contains the formal and legal details of the entire course. It’s a legal document outlining the course structure and requirements, intended mainly for administrative use.

Course literature

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

The course is held on campus and cannot be followed remotely. The course runs part-time, which corresponds to 20 hours per week, divided between teacher-led instruction, group work, and self-study. The teaching consists of lectures and group work. An important part of the course is a project where you, individually or in groups, analyse a language you are not familiar with. This is done using surveys and recordings.

After the course, you will have a broad understanding of the world's languages and their structures. You will have developed skills in finding patterns in language data. This can open doors to further studies in linguistics or work in areas such as translation, language research, and international communication.

Entry requirements

General eligibility and 3 credits from subcourse 3 of LINB21 Linguistics: Human Language - Structure and Application, 15 ECTS (or 5 credits from subcourse 2 from LINB24 Linguistics: Human Language, 7.5 ECTS), or 60 credits in a language subject, or the equivalent.

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 the application deadline (up to 165): 32 %.

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.