Department of Theoretical and Applied Linguistics

Modern & Medieval Languages

Department of Theoretical and Applied Linguistics

The MPhil in Linguistics (2011/12 only)

(Course code LNM1)

See a list of current PhD students and their research interests.

Outline of the MPhil

The MPhil in Linguistics is a wide-ranging course in Theoretical Linguistics. It involves both taught courses and independent research, and it provides those who take it the option of both a broad education in linguistics and an in-depth introduction to particular areas of interest as well as experience in research. The course begins in October and ends with the examination of a thesis the following June. Many students then proceed to do research for the PhD degree, for which a master's qualification is increasingly a pre-requisite.

 

Course structure and examination

The MPhil programme run by the Department of Theoretical and Applied Linguistics is structured progressively. Its balance changes through the year so that in the first month there is intensive instruction through lectures, and by the last three months students are carrying out independent research full-time. In the description which follows it is necessary to talk in terms of distinct fields within linguistics, but it should be borne in mind that there will often be a degree of overlapand interdependence between them.

The MPhil caters both for students who want a course in linguistics generally, and for those who wish to specialise in particular sub-disciplines of linguistics or in the linguistics of certain language areas. For the latter, there are several "pathways", as explained below. All students are required to follow courses in 'Research Methods' and 'Linguistic Theory'. Beyond that, each student will follow his or her own 'Study Plan', which allows the individual interests, needs, and strengths of the student to be met. In the first week of Michaelmas (October to December) Term a Study Plan for the Michaelmas and Lent (January to March) Terms is drawn up and agreed subject to the approval of the Director of the MPhil. Unless it is obvious who a student's supervisor should be, the Director of the MPhil is appointed supervisor until the thesis topic is accepted mid-way through the Lent Term, when a specialism-specific supervisor is appointed.

The course structure allows great flexibility in combining areas. It provides for flexible combinations of work in any of the core areas of theoretical and descriptive linguistics, ranging for instance from formal syntax to experimental phonetics (including speech production and perception). A piece of work may have as its focus the development of an argument in linguistic theory, the descriptino of some aspect of a language or its use, an issue in historical linguistics, a psycho-phonetic experiment, and so on. The various pieces of work may relate to any language or combination of languages subject to adequate advice being available for the topic in question. The majority of students will follow this course structure. However, some students may wish to specialise and opt for a 'pathway' in a particular field. Pathways allow the compulsory element of the course (General Seminar) to be combined with a focussed programme of study in a specific sub-discipline of linguistics or a specific language area. The following pathways will normally be available:

There is also a possibility of following a pathway in other individual languages, e.g. Welsh, Serbian, etc. if this reflects the student's specific interests. To fulfill a pathway, a student will have to write the MPhil thesis and at least one of the essays on a topic which is clearly within the subdiscipline or language area chosen. The choice of courses attended in Michaelmas and Lent Terms will reflect that pathway. Following a pathway in 'X' will allow the student to opt, if he or she wishes, for the informal designation of the degree as 'MPhil in Linguistics (X)', e.g. 'MPhil in Linguistics (Italian)'. (Formally, however, the University merely awards the degree of MPhil.)

In Michaelmas Term, students must attend the General Seminar course. In addition, students will receive supervision relating to their essays. Supervision will be in the form of one-to-one sessions or supervision seminars.

Additionally, students will attend a minimum of four introductory courses (one of which may sometimes be in the form of 'directed reading') for the whole term in areas of linguistics they have not previously studied in detail, to broaden their knowledge of linguistics. Normally, one taught course should be either Syntax or Semantics/Pragmatics and another Phonetics or Phonology. Two out of these courses typically feed into the choice of Lent Term seminars. Work in the Michaelmas Term is assessed by two essays of 2000 words and one of 4000 words. One essay choic (at least) should normally be in one of the four core areas mentioned above. Students will be expected to work largely independently on writing the essays. Students will be offered the option of writing a sample (1000 word) essay in the field of their choice in week 3 or 4 of Michaelmas Term which will be commented on by a supervisor.

In the Lent Term, students are expected to follow two advanced seminars taken from the courses attended in the Michaelmas Term. If they have not followed the course in the Michaelmas Term they must show they have sufficient background knowledge. At least one of the two courses a student selects would normally by relevant to the 20,000 word thesis, the preparation for which will be the main focus of their work from the start of the Lent Term onwards. Most of the following seminars will be available in any given year:

  • Formal syntax
  • Formal phonology
  • Semantics and Pragmatics
  • Experimental phonetics
  • Historical linguistics
  • Psycholinguistics
  • Language variation
  • Topics in Celtic Linguistics
  • Topics in Germanic Linguistics
  • Topics in Romance Linguistics
  • Topics in Slavonic Linguistics

In addition students will give an oral presentation on the topic of the second seminar at the end of the Lent Term. The presentation will aim at the general audience rather than subject specialists. The presentation will be assessed on the content by the subject specialist and on presentation by two other members of the Faculty.

The thesis demands independent study under the guidance of the supervisor and will normally involve a substantial piece of original research. A proposed title and summary for the 20,000 word thesis, formulated in discussion with the supervisor, must be submitted in mid-February, and this will be subject to approval by the Department of Theoretical and Applied Linguistics, the supervisor, and the Faculty's Degree Committee. Because seminars finish at the end of the Lent Term, students can then devote themselves to full-time research for the thesis during the Easter vacation and the Easter Term (April to June). The thesis is submitted on the seventh Friday of the Easter Full Term, and about two to three weeks later there may be an oral examination on the thesis.

Students may find it useful to look at the Department staff research interests, and at those of others in the Faculty with interests in linguistics, to find out more about potential supervisors in their fields of interest.

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The regulations for the MPhil in Linguistics

The scheme of examination for the one-year course of study in Linguistics for the degree of Master of Philosophy shall consist of:

(a) a thesis not exceeding 20,000 words in length, including footnotes, but excluding tables, appendices, and bibliography, on a subject approved by the Degree Committee for the Faculty of Modern and Medieval Languages;

(b) three essays of which two shall be nor more than 2,000 words in length and one shall be no more than 4,000 words in length, each including footnotes, but excluding tables, appendices, and bibliography, on subjects either approved or prescribed by the Degree Committee;

(c) an oral presentation on the topic of the second seminar in Lent Term.

The examination shall include an oral examination on the thesis and on the general field of knowledge in which it falls, and, at the discretion of the Examiners, on the essays submitted by the candidate; save that the Examiners may, at their discretion, waive the requirement for an oral examination.

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