Master of Studies in Linguistics, Philology and Phonetics (Research Preparation)

1. Candidates shall normally have a degree in which linguistics forms at least 50% of the teaching and assessment, or who can otherwise demonstrate that they have studied linguistics to an equivalent level. Those intending to offer options chosen from C or D below should normally have, and may be required to demonstrate, some knowledge of the chosen (group of) language(s) and those intending to offer options chosen from C will normally be expected to be able to read secondary literature in French and German.

2. The examination shall consist of two parts:

• (a) two papers both of which must be chosen from those listed in B, or those listed in C (except that, at the discretion of the faculty, candidates may submit a paper from list B in place of one of those from list C), or those listed in D.

• (b) a thesis of no more than 15,000 words to be written on a subject within the field of the MSt.

  The thesis must be uploaded to the University approved online assessment platform not later than noon on the Friday of the third week of the Trinity Term.

• 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) Sociolinguistics.
•  
• (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.

3. The papers in C and D 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. Candidates are required to submit the thesis by uploading to the University approved online assessment platform, not later than noon of Friday of Week 5, Trinity term.

• Or:

• (c) A written report of between 5,000 and 7,500 words on the design and execution of an original research project. Candidates are required to submit the thesis by uploading to the University approved online assessment platform, not later than noon of Friday of Week 5, Trinity term.

In addition, the lecturer on the course of instruction may require:

• (a) one or more practical problem set(s), to be completed and submitted at a time specified by the lecturer; and

• (b) one or more oral presentation(s) in a public forum.

For each paper in B, the lecturer on the course of instruction shall prescribe a suitable combination of these options, and shall make available to the Chair of Examiners evidence showing the extent to which each candidate has pursued an adequate course of work.

4. 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.

5. The language or languages selected by candidates who wish to offer the papers mentioned in D above may be ancient (e.g. Ancient Greek, Latin, Sanskrit, Akkadian, etc.) or modern (e.g. French, Italian, German, English, Turkish, etc.). Only languages for which teaching is available at the time can be offered.

6. Each candidate is required to present themselves for an oral examination if and when required by the examiners.

7. Candidates requesting re-examination should be required to resit 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.