The course will contain at least four of the following components:

- Spanish language as an objective of study (introduction)

- Methodologies in Spanish dialectology

- Methodologies in Spanish sociolinguistics

- Language contact between Spanish and other languages

- Spanish language and culture

- New trends in Spanish linguistics

- Corpus linguistics

- Spoken language

By working with various methodologies within the field of Spanish linguistics, students are to gain increased insight and competence in modern Spanish linguistics. By analysing texts written about Spanish linguistics (Spanish dialects, linguistic atlases, sociolinguistics, ethnolinguistics, language contact, etc.), students are to acquire a critical perspective on and in-depth knowledge of research on Spanish language.

There will also be an introduction on how to write a project description, on possible relevant topics for the Master¿s thesis, and about possible supervisors. Approximately two hours will be set aside for this.

The student

- is familiar with modern approaches in Spanish linguistics, and is familiar with the main characteristics of various methodologies and techniques used by linguists in the analysis of Spanish over the past 70 years.

- has gained insight into theoretical and methodological problems in Spanish linguistics.

- can account for the main characteristics of modern methodologies of approaching Spanish language.

- can distinguish between these methodologies and work with them.

- has achieved a basis from which to continue to carry out research on Latin-American and European Spanish language.

Lectures and seminars will be given on various linguistic disciplines which can be utilised in the study of Spanish. Lectures will be held two hours per week for 12 weeks.

The term paper (see Forms of assessment) is to be submitted for supervision during the semester. Students are also required to attend supervision in person at an agreed-upon time. Supervision via e-mail will be given only in extraordinary circumstances and only following application to the department. Deadlines for submission of term paper drafts will be announced in the seminars.

Approved coursework is valid for one semester following the semester of instruction.

The grading scale A-F is used, where F is a failing grade.

Ca. 500 pages representing various works on Spanish linguistics from ca. 1950 to the present.

As a rule, students are to adhere to the course reading list given the semester the course is taken. However, alternative reading lists may be approved following an application to the course instructor(s) which argues for the alternative reading list. In semesters where no teaching is given, the reading list from the previous semester is to be used.