Master of Philosophy in Linguistics, Philology and Phonetics

Differences from 2019/20 to 2022/23

1. The examination shall consist of:

  • (a) One general paper as indicated in A.

  • (b) Three papers which must be chosen from those listed in B or must be those listed in C or those listed in D.

  • (c) A thesis of not more than 25,000 words on the subject approved in accordance with regulation 4 below and subject to the requirements in clause 5 below.

A.

  • Linguistic theory.

B.

  • (i) Phonetics and phonology.

  • (ii) Syntax.

  • (iii) Semantics and Pragmatics.

  • (iv) Historical and comparative linguistics.

  • (v) Psycholinguistics and neurolinguistics.

  • (vi) History and structure of a language.

  • (vii) Experimental phonetics.

  • (viii) Sociolinguisics.

  • (ix) Computational linguistics.

  • (x) Any other subject which, from time to time, the Faculty of Linguistics, Philology and Phonetics at its own discretion may consider suitable.

C.

  • (i) The comparative grammar of Indo-European languages.

  • (ii) The historical grammar of Indo-European languages.

  • (iii) Translation from, and linguistic comment upon, texts in Indo-European languages.

D.

  • (i) The history of one language, or of two or more historically related languages.

  • (ii) The structure of the language or languages selected.

  • (iii) One of:

    • (a) Translation from, and/or linguistic comment upon, texts in the language or languages selected, or

    • (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.

2. Paper A must be taken at the end of the first year of study. In addition, a student may take one other module for assessment in the first year, where there are good reasons for doing so. Marks will be moderated by the board of examiners for the relevant year, and then be released as final. A candidate who fails paper A or another module taken in the first year will have the option of sitting the same module(s)it again at the end of the second year; modules retaken in the second yearresit shall be subject to the cap on marks for re-examined options (paragraph 68 below). The general paper A and the papers in C and D(i), D(ii) and D(iii)(a) are each assessed by a three-hour written examination. The paper in D(iii)(c) is examined by method (b). The papers in B are assessed by

  • Either:

  • (a) a three-hour written examination.

  • Or:

  • (b) An essay of between 5,000 and 7,500 words (these limits to exclude symbols and diacritics, figures, the bibliography, appendices consisting of a catalogue of data, questionnaire, or other research instrument used to gather data, any extensive text which is specifically the object of a commentary or linguistic analysis, and any translation of that text, but include quotations and footnotes). For all B papers, the essay must be submitted by uploading it to the AssignmentsUniversity sectionapproved ofonline theassessment M.St. and M.Phil. Linguistics WebLearn site onlyplatform. They should be word-processed files converted to PDF using the course coversheet as first page of the essay, bearing on the front the candidate's examination number but not their name or the name of their college. The PDF filename should be in this format: 'Candidate Number_Option Name _MPhil in Linguistics’. Candidates must themselves retain a copy of each piece of work. Each submission will require the candidate to make a Declaration of Authorship stating that it is their own work except where otherwise indicated. Candidates must ensure that they receive the email confirming the submission and that the email is retained for future reference.

  • Or:

  • (c) A written report of between 5,000 and 7,500 words on the design and execution of an original research project (these limits exclude symbols and diacritics, figures, the bibliography, appendices consisting of a catalogue of data, questionnaire, or other research instrument used to gather data, any extensive text which is specifically the object of a commentary or linguistic analysis, and any translation of that text, but include quotations and footnotes). The research report must be submitted by uploading it to the AssignmentsUniversity sectionapproved ofonline theassessment M.St. and M.Phil. Linguistics WebLearn site onlyplatform. They should be word-processed files converted to PDF using the course coversheet as first page of the essay, bearing on the front the candidate's examination number but not their name or the name of their college. The PDF filename should be in this format: 'Candidate Number_Option Name _MPhil in Linguistics’. Candidates must themselves retain a copy of each piece of work. Each submission will require the candidate to make a Declaration of Authorship stating that it is their own work except where otherwise indicated. Candidates must ensure that they receive the email confirming the submission and that the email is retained for future reference.

3. Candidates who wish to offer papers listed in C above must select two Indo-European languages or language groups, one of which must be studied in greater depth than the other. All such combinations are subject to the availability of teaching and the approval of the faculty.

4. The choice of the subjects for the thesis and examination will be subject to the approval of the candidate's supervisor and the faculty, having regard to the candidate's previous experience and to the availability of teaching. Not all options may be offered every year. The subjects which a candidate wishes to offer for examination must be submitted to the faculty for approval not later than Monday of the firstthird week in Michaelmas Term in the academic year in which the candidate is to be examined. The subject of the thesis must be submitted for approval by the faculty not later than Monday of the firstthird week in Michaelmas Term in the academic year in which the candidate is to be examined.

5. The word limit for the thesis excludes the bibliography, appendices consisting of a catalogue of data, any extensive text which is specifically the object of a commentary or linguistic analysis, and any translation of that text, but includes quotations and footnotes. Candidates are required to submit the thesis by delivering two copiesuploading to the ExaminationUniversity Schools,approved Highonline Street,assessment Oxfordplatform, not later than noon on the Friday of the first week of the Trinity Term in the academic year in which they are examined.

6. The examiners may require a successful candidate to deposit one of the submitted copiescopy of their thesis in the Bodleian Library. Such a candidate will be required to complete a form stating whether they give permission for their thesis to be consulted.

7. If it is the opinion of the examiners that the work done by a candidate is not of sufficient merit to qualify them for the degree of MPhil but is nevertheless of sufficient merit to qualify them for the Degree of Master of Studies in Linguistics, Philology and Phonetics, the candidate shall be given the option of re-sitting the MPhil examination under the appropriate regulation or of being granted permission to supplicate for the Degree of Master of Studies.

8. Candidates requesting re-examination should be required to re-sit or resubmit any unit of assessment in which they have failed to achieve a pass mark. The highest mark awarded for a re-examined unit of assessment should be the pass mark.