The MA Linguistics consists of three components: core courses, option courses and dissertation research. This degree programme is formulated with two main tracks – a general track and a track with a specialised pathway.
MA Linguistics
This track is for students who would like to acquire general postgraduate-level training in formal linguistics (perhaps as preparation for further training or research). The core courses for this pathway are:
Syntactic Structure and Semantic Interpretation (1 unit), addresses questions on the nature of grammatical representations, the relationship between morphemes, words, grammatical structures and their corresponding semantic counterparts, and the relationship between syntactic structure and interpretation. Syntactic processes across different languages are investigated, introducing the fundamental concepts of syntactic theory within the generative paradigm, and different aspects of semantic interpretation are considered: semantic primitives, lexical semantics, sense and reference, formal semantics, quantification, and the existence of semantic universals
Phonology and Morphology (1 unit), is intended to introduce students to the general principles and properties which characterise (i) possible sound systems in human languages and (ii) the structures and processes which build words and determine their realisation. Topics covered include: the scope of phonology and morphology; theoretical foundations; the nature of phonological and morphological representations – units, constituents and structure; inflectional and derivational morphology; the phonology-lexical interface; morphology and the lexicon.
In addition to the core courses, students on the MA Linguistics programme also chose the equivalent of 1 full unit of option course and complete a 10,000 word Dissertation in Linguistics. Students also attend the Research Foundations Seminar.
MA Linguistics [PATHWAY]
This track is for those who wish to pursue a more specialised area of study within Linguistics. Most of the specialised pathways offered within the MA draw on SOAS’s unique resources and areas of expertise. The following pathways are available:
MA Linguistics [Arabic]
MA Linguistics [Chinese]
MA Linguistics [Japanese]
MA Linguistics [Korean]
MA Linguistics [Translation Theory]
All MA Linguistics [PATHWAY] programme shares the same core courses as the general MA Linguistics programme, namely Syntactic Structure and Semantic Interpretation (1 unit) and Phonology and Morphology (1 unit). PATHWAY tracks are differentiated from the general MA Linguistics by the selection of pathway relevant option courses and a pathway relevant dissertation topic. Students on the MA Lingusitics [PATHWAY] programme also attend the Research Foundations Seminar.
Specialised option courses/dissertations for the particular pathways are as follows. Students select either 1 full unit or 2 x 0.5 units from the selections for each pathway.
MA Linguistics [Arabic]
Directed Readings in Linguistics A (0.5 unit) - on a topic in Arabic Linguistics
Directed Readings in Linguistics B (0.5 unit) - on a topic in Arabic Linguistics
Dissertation in Linguistics [Arabic] - 10,000 word dissertation on a topic in Arabic Linguistics
MA Linguistics [Chinese]
Topics in the Structure of Chinese (Masters) (0.5 unit)
Directed Readings in Linguistics A (0.5 unit) - on a topic in Chinese Linguistics
Directed Readings in Linguistics B (0.5 unit) - on a topic in Chinese Linguistics
Dissertation in Linguistics [Chinese] - 10,000 word dissertation on a topic in Chinese Linguistics
MA Linguistics [Japanese]
Syntactic Structure of Japanese I (0.5 unit)
Syntactic Structure of Japanese II (0.5 unit)
Second Language Acquisition in Japanese Syntax (1 unit)
Directed Readings in Linguistics A (0.5 unit) - on a topic in Japanese Linguistics
Directed Readings in Linguistics B (0.5 unit) - on a topic in Japanese Linguistics
Dissertation in Linguistics [Japanese] - 10,000 word dissertation on a topic in Japanese Linguistics
MA Linguistics [Korean]
Topics in the History and Structure of the Korean Language (1 unit)
Directed Readings in Linguistics A (0.5 unit) on a topic in Korean Linguistics
Directed Readings in Linguistics B (0.5 unit) on a topic in Korean Linguistics
Dissertation in Linguistics [Korean] - 10,000 word dissertation on a topic in Korean Linguistics
MA Linguistics [Translation Theory]
Translation Theory (1 unit)
Dissertation in Linguistics [Translation Theory] - 10,000 word dissertation on a topic in Translation