Please note: Due to alternative arrangements for teaching and
assessment in place from 18 March 2020 to mitigate against the restrictions in
place due to COVID-19, information shown for 2019/20 may not always be accurate.
Please note: you are viewing unit and programme information
for a past academic year. Please see the current academic year for up to date information.
| Unit name |
Languages of the Iberian Peninsula |
| Unit code |
HISP20088 |
| Credit points |
20 |
| Level of study |
I/5
|
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24)
|
| Unit director |
Dr. James Hawkey |
| Open unit status |
Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
None
|
| Co-requisites |
None
|
| School/department |
Department of Hispanic, Portuguese and Latin American Studies |
| Faculty |
Faculty of Arts |
Description including Unit Aims
This unit allows students in the HiPLA department to a gain an in-depth knowledge of the history of the languages of the Iberian Peninsula, up to the present day. With no prior knowledge of linguistics required, students will become familiar with the diachronic and diatopic language variation of autochthonous varieties spoken in modern-day Spain and Portugal.
The unit will begin by introducing students to fundamental concepts required in order to study the historical development of languages. With these tools in mind, students will examine the diachronic development of Ibero-Romance languages. Latin and early Romance varieties are analysed in turn, and after discussion of key Vulgar Latin texts, each of the resultant Ibero-Romance varieties will be addressed. Lessons will be dedicated to the diachronic study of Spanish, Catalan, Portuguese, Galician and Judeo-Spanish, paying attention to the key moments in the linguistic history of each variety (including their usage in present-day society), as well as a class on Basque and the notion of language isolates.
Intended Learning Outcomes
Successful students will:
- be skilled to apply theoretical knowledge to different linguistic situations, and will be able to perform independent, original, critical analyses.
- be able to respond to questions or problems by presenting their independent judgements in an appropriate style and at a high level of complexity;
- be able to transfer these skills to other working environments, including study at a foreign university and on work placements during the year abroad
- demonstrate the ability to work collaboratively.
- demonstrate sophisticated presentation skills.
- demonstrate the ability to carry out independent research appropriate to this level of study.
Teaching Information
1 x 2-hour slot per week across 1 teaching block, divided into an informal lecture (one hour) and a seminar (one hour).
Assessment Information
- 1 x 2000 word essay (summative, 50%), assessing ILOs 1,2, & 6
- 1 x 2-hour exam (summative, 50%), assessing ILOs 1&6.
- 1 group presentation on topic chosen by students (formative), assessing ILOs 3-5
Reading and References
- Crystal, D. (1997). The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Language, second edition. Cambridge: CUP. (pp292-301)
- Echenique Elizondo, M.T. and Sánchez Méndez, J. (2005). Las lenguas de un reino: Historia lingüística hispánica. Madrid: Gredos.
- Penny, R. (2002). A History of the Spanish Language, second edition. Cambridge: CUP.
- Williams, E.B. (1962). From Latin to Portuguese: Historical Phonology and Morphology of the Portuguese Language. Philadelphia: University of Philadelphia Press.
