M.A. Applied Linguistics

Master of Arts in Applied Linguistics

A. List of Academic Staff

Name	Status and Qualification	Research Interests
J.O. Friday-Otun	Reader & Acting Head of Department B.A. (Jos); M.A. (Ilorin); M.Phil., Ph.D. (Ibadan)	Applied Linguistics, Semantics, Pragmatics
A.S. Abdussalam	Professor B.A., M.Phil. (Riyadh); Ph.D. (Khartoum)	Applied Linguistics, Arabic Linguistics, Pedagogical Linguistics,Translation Studies
G. Fakuade	Professor B.Ed., M.A. (Ibadan); Ph.D.(Ilorin)	Sociolinguistics, English Language,Yoruba Language, Syntax, DiscourseAnalysis
I.O. Sanusi	Professor B.A., M.A. Ph.D. (Ilorin)	Syntax and AppliedLinguistics
Bolanle E. Arokoyo	Reader B.A, M.A., Ph.D. (Ilorin)	Syntax and AppliedLinguistics
K.A. Rafiu	Reader B.A., M.A., Ph.D. (Ilorin)	Phonology and AppliedLinguistics
C.I. Nnaji	Senior Research Fellow B.A.(UNN, Nsukka); M.A., Ph.D.(Ibadan)	Linguistics, Igbo Language, Communication Arts
Samiat O. Abubakre	Senior Lecturer B.A. (Ibadan), M.A. Ph.D. (Ilorin)	Applied Linguistics
Mary .C. Amaechi	Lecturer I B.A., M.A. (Ilorin) Ph.D. Potsdam	Syntax, LanguageDocumentation, Igbo Linguistics

B. Introduction

The programme is designed to train professional linguists at advanced levels in order to facilitate communicative needs in language teaching, language planning, language engineering, language documentation, publishing, broadcasting and other disciplines in a globalized world where communication reigns supreme.

C Philosophy

The philosophy of the programme is hinged on integrating theoretical considerations with practical applications in the discipline, promotion and protection of languages; as well as to serve the needs of individuals who wish to become internationally-recognized professional linguists and applied linguists

D Aim and Objectives

The programme aims to present advanced study of languages from an integrative perspective where the study of language contributes to nation development. The objectives of the programme are:

1. provide adequate training for those who wish to engage in research and instructional activities in linguistics and applied linguistics as required at the university level;
2. produce competent linguists, who are adequately equipped to understand, interpret and exploit linguistic principles in handling language issues;
3. produce qualified linguists who are adequately trained to handle language related issues in human practical life;
4. develop the languages of the majorities and the minorities through the use of modern methods of research and documentation;
5. produce competent and relevant linguists who can contribute to the development in a communication-dominated world; and
6. exploit linguistic principles in promoting ancillary disciplines through teaching, research and developmental activities.

E Admission Requirements

1. Candidates must possess a minimum of five ‗O‘ Level Credit passes, which must include English Language. NCE in Language related fields is also acceptable.
2. Candidates must possess a good Bachelors degree in linguistics, a language-related discipline, education (with a language as teaching subject), communication or social sciences not lower than a Second Class (Lower Division) from a recognized university.
3. Candidates shall be subjected to a selection process except graduates of Linguistics of University of Ilorin with Second Class (Upper Division) and above.

F Duration of the Programme

1. The Full-time M.A. programme shall run a minimum of 18 calendar months, and a maximum of 24 calendar months.
2. The Part-time M.A. programme shall run for a minimum of 24 calendar months and maximum of 36 calendar months.

G Detailed Course Description

LIN 802 Issues in Phonology 3 Credits

Major issues affecting the foundation and development of generative phonology: the abstractness controversy, rule ordering, simplicity and naturalness, substantive universal, theories of word formation, tone rule. Other theories of phonology: autosegmental phonology, lexical phonology. 45h (T); E

LIN 803 History of Linguistics 3 Credits

Development of descriptive linguistics from European antiquity to the middle of the 20th century and development in the late 20th century to the 21st century. Foundation in antiquity, Babylonian, Hindu, Greek and Roman traditions, Arabic and Hebrew traditions, Middle Ages, Modern linguistics, Danish structuralism, American structuralism, Formal linguistics, Functional linguistics. 45h (T); C

LIN 804 Advanced Semantics 3 Credits

Semantic theories and their application to topics: presupposition and focus, topic and comment, semantic interpretation, reference, scope, ambiguity, negation, quantifiers, implicature and entailment, case, activity emotivity. Language communicative process, pragmatic models, speech art, deictic properties, characteristics of context with sample analysis on Nigerian languages. 45h (T); C

LIN 806 Structures of African Languages 3 Credits

Phonological, morphological, and syntactic structures of African languages with specific reference to West Africa: tone, types of morphemes, processes of noun formation, noun classes, verb systems and serialization, idiophone, possessives, subordinate structures, noun modification.45h (T); C

LIN 809 Advanced Sociolinguistics 3 Credits

Macro/micro-sociolinguistics. Language in a multilingual society. Quantitative sociolinguistic studies of the influence of social class, gender, ethnic differences and other social factors on linguistic behavior, language planning and policies in multilingual nations, language conflicts, language endangerment and language rights. Role of language in nationalistic ideologies. Language spread, language maintenance. Language shift/loss/death: pidgins and creoles. 45h (T); E

LIN 810 Pragmatics 3 Credits

Principles of pragmatics, mechanics and evolution: logical implication/pragmatic implications. Conversational implications and other principles, context knowledge of the world and shared knowledge. Incorporation of pragmatic information into formal descriptions of language. Analysis of how meaning is constructed in context through spoken and written language. Speech act theory: politeness and face. Cultural scripts and metaphor. 45h (T); E

LIN 821 Pedagogical Linguistics 3 Credits

Role of linguistics and psycholinguistic theories and principles in language teaching method, appraisal of psycholinguistic factors, applied linguistic techniques in language learning and teaching, discourse, pragmatic, error and contrastive analyses. Language materials for multilingual setting, syllabus design, second language teaching methods, preparation and evaluation of language materials, and principles of language tests. 45h (T);, C

LIN 822 Advanced Psycholinguistics 3 Credits Psychological study of language, biological foundations of language. Current theories of language acquisition: language and cognitive development. Phonological and research especially in the area of language acquisition and language development in the child. Findings of current psycholinguistic learning. 45h (T); C

LIN 823 Error and Contrastive Analysis 3 Credits Recent trends in contrastive linguistics and error analysis: types, principles, goals, problems, procedures and limitations. Contrastive analysis of the phonological, syntactic and discourse systems of English and some African languages. Implications of contrastive linguistics. Treatment of errors in language learning and use, analyses of target texts in language learning and translation. 45h (T); C

LIN 824 Research Methodology in Applied Linguistics 3 Credits Defining the research method. Steps in the research process. Steps in selecting a topic/problem. Research problem, research questions, hypothesis, objectives. Research design, data collection, measuring variables, techniques of measurement, questionnaires, interview, observations, literature review. Data analysis and statistical procedures. Writing a research report. Referencing style: APA manual, MLA style sheet. 30h (T);, 45h (P); C

LIN 825 Discourse Analysis 3 Credits

Origin of discourse analysis. Features of discourse: conversation and texts, discourse sentence and context, notion of topic. Theme and thematic structure in discourse. Standards of discourse: cohesion, coherence, informativity, intertextuality. Frameworks of connection to socio-cultural investigation and Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA). Current trends in CDA research, principles of conversation analysis. 45h (T); E

LIN 826 Language Documentation 3 Credits

Defining language documentation. Relationship between language description and language documentation. Methods and creation of data in different types of media: audio, video, images. Types of data and their properties. Metadata, data format, archiving and dissemination, communities, ethics and rights in language documentation, ethnography of language and language documentation. 30h (T); 45h (P); E

LIN 827 Issues in Bilingualism and Multilingualism 3 Credits

Empirical studies: social psychology of bilinguals, compound and coordinate bilingualism, language interlarding. Language use in multilingual societies, pidgins and creoles, language contact, language shift, multilingual processing and acquisition, intercultural communication, language attitudes and identity, language planning and policy, national language question. 45h (T); C

LIN 828 Theory and Practice of Translation 3 Credits Linguistic and intercultural principles of translation, intensive hands-on-training in the use of standard Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) tools, types of translations, translating words and structures, and analysis of components of meaning, multiple senses and collocation restrictions in translated texts. Theory and types of equivalence in translation, analysis of translated texts and translation criticism, assessment of cross-language transfer in translation practical translation of documents and data files. 30h (T); 45h (P); E

LIN 829 Issues in Language Materials Development 3 Credits

Selection and preparation of language materials. Procedures for the selection and adaptation of existing materials: standard grammars, reference works, dictionaries, programmed instruction, audio-visual materials, technologies in support of language materials development. Individual project involving production of a language teaching text. 30h (T); 45h (P); E

LIN 831 Language and Information Technology 3 Credits

Language in the computer age. Growth and development of the different aspects of language in ICT. Study of major applications of CALL (Computer Assisted Language Learning).Application of computer programmes in the analysis of language systems, language and the new media. 30h (T); 45h (P); E

LIN 839 Dissertation 6 Credits

An original dissertation written on an area of Applied Linguistics. The topic which shall be approved by the Postgraduate School on the recommendation of the Department through the Faculty must make original contribution to the area of specialization. 270h (P); C

H. Graduation Requirements

1. To be awarded the M.A. degree in Applied Linguistics, a candidate must have taken and passed the prescribed number of core courses selected from the approved list, and totaling 30 credits as follows: Courses (24 credits), Dissertation (6 credits), Total (30 credits).
2. In all cases, M.A. students must write and submit to the Department a dissertation duly supervised by a lecturer in the Department whose qualifications are not below the Ph.D. Such a thesis will be defended before an external examiner nominated by the Department and appointed by Senate through the University Postgraduate Board.

B. Summary

Core Courses:

LIN 803 (3), LIN 804 (3), LIN 806 (3), LIN 809 (3), LIN 821 (3),

LIN 822 (3), LIN 823 (3), LIN 824 (3), LIN 839 (6) = 30 Credits

Elective Courses:

Students are advised to take at least a 6 Credits from the following Courses: LIN 802 (3), LIN 810 (3), LIN 825 (3), LIN 826 (3), LIN 827 (3),

LIN 828 (3), LIN 829 (3) LIN 831 (3), = 6 Credits

Total of C + E Courses = 36 Credit