Research Methods and Techniques in Linguistics
Code
711131046
Academic unit
Faculdade de Ciências Sociais e Humanas
Department
Linguística
Credits
6
Teacher in charge
Maria do Céu Caetano
Weekly hours
4
Teaching language
Portuguese
Objectives
This is an introductory course to the research methods and techniques of data collection, treatment, analysis and presentation, in the different areas of linguistic studies. At the end of this course, students are expected to be able
a) to understand the importance of research methodologies and techniques in linguistics;
b) to be acquainted with a variety of methods in data collection, analysis and treatment, and to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of each;
c) to have a grasp of the technical issues raised in the collection of reliable data;
d) to recognize and discuss ethical issues in data collection, either in fieldwork or in lab experiment contexts.
Prerequisites
None.
Subject matter
1. Basic techniques of data collection in the different areas of linguistics: creation and use of corpora, elicitation, introspection, data transcription, experimental work in laboratory contexts, interviews and questionnaires;
2. Technical issues in data collection and use, relative to the reliability of data;
3. Ethical issues in data collection and use, when using informants;
4. Basic techniques of data analysis, including corpora analysis;
5. Justification and assessment criteria of alternative analyses for a given set of data;
6. Presentation of linguistic data through tables, graphics, diagrams, etc.
Bibliography
Albarello, Luc et al. 1997. Práticas e Métodos de Investigação em Ciências Sociais. Lisboa: Gradiva.
Booth, Wayne, Gregory C. Colombe & Joseph M. Williams. 1995. The Craft of Research. Chicago: University of Chicago Press (3 ed. 2008).
Dixon, Robert M. W. 2007. Field Linguistics: a minor manual. Sprachtypol. Univ. Forsch. (STUF), Berlin 60 - 1, pp. 1231.
Podesva, Robert J. & Devyani Sharma (eds.). 2014. Research Methods in Linguistics. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Vaux, Bert & Justin Cooper. 2003. Introduction to Linguistic Field Methods. Muenchen: Lincom Europa.
Teaching method
Expositive classes and thematic discussions (60%); Practical classes (40%): short individual application exercises; class discussion of data presentation examples.
Evaluation method
Two in-class written tests (70%); 3 short individual papers of interpretation and assessment of different research methods and techniques (30%).