LING2058 Topics in Cantonese Linguistics Prof. Stephen Matthews Advanced Course. Sem 1, 6 credits Course Description This course focuses on distinctive aspects of the Cantonese language as spoken in Hong Kong. The language will be viewed in its areal and historical context. Grammatical topics will include parts of speech in Cantonese, verbal aspect, noun classifiers, and sentence-final particles, with a particular focus on aspects of syntax which diverge from written Chinese and Putonghua such as dative, passive and comparative constructions. Topics of sociolinguistic interest such as the use of Cantonese as a written language, ‘lazy pronunciation’ and the growth of ‘trendy [...]

LING2040 Languages in Contact Prof. Stephen Matthews Advanced Course. Sem 2, 6 credits Course Description This course is an introduction to the linguistic and social dimensions of language contact and change. Topics include multilingualism, lexical and grammatical borrowing, code-switching, language shift and the emergence of new languages, among them the creole languages of Asia, the Americas and Africa. Presentations, film viewings, in-class discussions and online and offline exercises during lectures and tutorials will provide the opportunity to apply and learn concrete techniques of linguistic analysis. The course is especially relevant to students interested in East-West contacts, the Americas and Africa, colonialism [...]

LING2030 Morphological Theory Dr. Yoonsang Song Advanced Course. Sem 2, 6 credits Course Description This course is an introduction to morphological theory. The course offers an introduction to some of the current models of morphology, including Paradigm Function Morphology, Prosodic Morphology and Optimality Theory, among others, and considers how morphology interacts with other fields of linguistics such as syntax, semantics and phonology. Course Details Assessment 100% coursework Textbook All reading can be found on the HKU Moodle Internet links We will explore internet links together as the course moves along

LING2027 Phonology: An Introduction to the Study of Sound Systems Dr. Youngah Do Advanced Course. Sem 1, 6 credits Course Description The goal of the course is to introduce students to the basic concepts in phonology and various phonological systems of human languages. Students acquire experience in analyzing language data and formulating phonological rules. Pre-requisite LING2004 Course Details Syllabus N/A Assessment N/A Tutorials N/A Textbook Peng, Long (2013) Analyzing sound patterns: an introduction to phonology, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

LING2003 Semantics: Meaning and Grammar Dr. Olivia Lam Advanced Course. Sem 2, 6 credits Course Description This course focuses on structural and cognitive aspects of meaning which are relevant to the description and theory of grammar. Examples will be drawn from Cantonese, Mandarin and English together with some other European and Asian languages. Course Details Syllabus To be announced Assessment Tutorial assignments: 3: 30% Midterm quiz: 25% Final quiz: 25% Attendance and participation: 20% Tutorials To be announced Textbook Riemer, Nick. 2010. Introducing Semantics. Cambridge University Press. Additional References Hurford, J., Heasley, B. and M. Smith. 1983/2007 Semantics: a Coursebook. Cambridge [...]

LING2061 Linguistic Fieldwork Dr. Joseph Perry Advanced Course. Sem 1, 6 credits Course Description In this course, students will learn techniques and strategies for eliciting, recording, and archiving data about an unfamiliar language. These skills are necessary for adding to our knowledge of the world’s languages. Students will work with a native speaker of an unfamiliar language throughout the semester, both in class and in tutorial sessions, to identify interesting properties of the language, collect data, and ultimately write up a grammar of a subpart of the language. Pre-requisite LING1000, LING2004, LING2027 and LING2050 Assessment 100% course work