Romance Linguistics and Philology can be studies both at undergraduate and at graduate level in Oxford. At undergraduate level the paper on offer is one of the Special Subjects Paper XII and is available to students in Modern Language and Linguistics (MLL) as well as in Modern Languages (ML).
Graduate students studying for an MSt or an MPhil and wishing to specialise in the study of the history and structure of the Romance Languages can do so under the ‘D’ option. If they wish to choose ‘Comparative Romance Linguistics’ as one of their options, they can do so under B(x), ‘Special Papers’.
Romance Philology and Linguistics explores the history and diversification of the family of languages into which Latin developed. These will include comparison of the grammar (morphology, phonology, and syntax) and lexicon of different Romance languages, exploration of their historical development, and examination of some lesser-known Romance varieties, as well as discussions of classification and typology of the Romance languages. Students wishing to take this option are required to know at least one Romance language (e.g., French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian) and a willingness to acquire some familiarity with at least one other. A knowledge of Latin is useful but not indispensable.
This option is taught through a series of lectures and usually six tutorials. Students are also encouraged to attend a discussion group, Discussing Romance, and fortnighly or weekly talks, Romance Linguistics Seminar. Details are given below. For a detailed programme and reading lists for Discussing Romance check the Discussing Romance tile on CANVAS (Oxford login and password required).
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Within the ‘D’ option, graduate students have the possibility to undertake the comparative study of the history and structure of the Romance Languages. More specifically, in addition to their compulsory General Linguistics Paper A, MPhil students can choose three of the following, while MSt students can choose two:
M O D U L E S under D
D (i): The history of one language, or of two or more historically related languages.
D (ii): The structure of the language or languages selected.
D (iii): One of:
(a) Translation from, and/or linguistic comment upon, texts in the language or languages selected,
(b) Any paper from B above except B (vi), or
(c) A project on an aspect of the structure or history of the language, or family of related languages, studied.
The options are taught through a mixture of lectures or classes and tutorials specifically aimed for graduate students. In addition, and depending upon their subject, students may attend undergraduate classes if they need them for background to advanced work. Tutorial instruction is arranged in consultation with the course supervisor, but students might expect to have six tutorials on each of the papers listed above. Students are also encouraged to attend a discussion group, Discussing Romance (programme and readings available on CANVAS, Oxford login and password required), and fortnightly or weekly talks at the Romance Linguistics Seminar.
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