DEPARTMENT OF SUDANESE AND AFRICAN LANGUAGES

INTRODUCTION

The Department of Sudanese and African Languages emphasizes research and postgraduate training in Sudanese and African linguistics. In addition, it provides intensive courses in selected African languages. Students pursue studies at the Diploma, M.A. and Ph.D. levels.

The Department offers courses leading to the following degrees:

Postgraduate Diploma in Sudanese and African Languages:

Objectives:

  1. To equip students with the basic theories of linguistic analysis.

  2. To help students have a view of the overall pictures of the ethnolinguistic situation of Africa in general and the Sudan in particular, and understand the various problems resulting out of this situation.

  3. To acquaint students with the rich language resources of the Sudan, and prepare them to make the use of these resources for the benefit of the nation.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS:

Candidates for the P.G. Diploma in Sudanese and African Languages must have received a Bachelor Degree from the University of Khartoum or its equivalent from another University. Moreover, priority is given to those candidates graduating in the field of human sciences, with at least a language as one basic component in the field of their specialization.

The Courses:

The P.G. Diploma in Sudanese and African Languages is awarded after the successful completion of the one-year programme of full-time study, comprising a dissertation. The courses are the following:

  1. An African or Sudanese Language

  2. Principles in Theoretical Linguistics

  3. Principles in Applied Linguistics

  4. Language Situation in the Sudan.

  5. Methods of research on Sudanese and African Languages

  6. Classification of African Languages

  7. Short research.

The above courses are taught within two semesters. In each semester (I5 weeks) the “Language” course and three other courses are offered, at the rate of 2 hours per week for every course.

Course Description:

P.G.D.S/1: An African or Sudanese Language:

By this course the student is expected to study and learn at least One African or Sudanese Language (Swahili, Hausa, Amharic, Dinka, Nuba, Beja, etc.) to the extent of speaking (in simple sentences), reading (of simplified texts) and writing (of short passages). This is in addition to general knowledge of the social and cultural setting of the original speakers of the language in question. This course aims at acquainting the students with articulatory patterns of African Languages as well as introducing them to African communities outside their country.

P.G.D.S/2: Principles in Theoretical Linguistics:

An introductory course, which makes a broad survey of the different areas of linguistic study by examining one topic from each of the main branches of General Linguistics, phonetics, phonology, morphology syntax and semantics. The aim of this course would be to provide students with the fundamental theoretical base, which may enable them to undertake further linguistics analysis of Sudanese and African Languages.

P.G.D.S/3: Principles in Applied Linguistics:

This is a complementary course to P.G.D.S/2 concentrating of the practical aspects of linguistic study. It comprises different topics of Applied Linguistics (Lexicography, stylistics, foreign language teaching, etc.) The purpose of this course would be to acquaint students with the practical approaches of linguistic study.

P.G.D.S/4: Language, Society and Culture (mainly in the Sudan):

An introductory survey of topics on the problems of societies with linguistic diversity and language variation. It focuses on language users and language uses; language contact situation (bilingualism, multilingualism, language maintenance, change and shift). The theoretical part of this course is then complemented by the study of empirical cases from Sudan and other African states. The course aims at providing the students with the appropriate scientific tools to handle academic matters within the sociolinguistic setting of Africa.

P.G.D.S/5: Methods of Research on Sudanese and African Languages:

A basic course, which deal with the different methods and techniques employed in the study of Sudanese and African languages. The course will focus on a number of the main Sudanese languages such as the Nilotic and Nubian Language groups, so that students may be aware of the actual research situations in these areas.

P.G.D.S/6: Classification of African Languages:

A basic course aiming at studying the classification of African languages as well as the different approaches followed therein. By the end of the course students would be expected to have gained satisfactory knowledge about the language groups included in each family and their location in the African map.

P.G.D.S/7: Short Research:

A research in (not more than 6000 words on any topic related to Sudanese and African Languages agreed upon on between the student and his supervisor and approved by the Department.

Examination:

  1. At the end of each semester the candidate sits for examinations in the course completed in that semester.

  2. The student shall not be allowed to take the examinations unless he/she has completed the described courses, his attendance is satisfactory and his work throughout the semester has reached an acceptable standard.

  3. The Diploma is awarded only when the student has obtained at least a pass grade in all subjects.

  4. The student may be allowed to take supplementary examinations in the subject(s) he/she fails, provided that they do not exceed one-third of the total number of the examination subjects.

  5. The student who fails in not more than two-thirds of the subjects may be allowed to re-sit for examinations in all the subjects of the programme.

  6. A student who passes in the supplementary or re-sits examination will not get more than a “pass” in the over-all evaluation.

  7. A student who fails in more than two-thirds of the subjects or in any of the supplementary or re-sit subjects shall neither be awarded the Diploma nor be allowed to continue with the studies.

  8. The Diploma Degree is awarded by the Senate recommendation of the IAAS Board and the Graduate College Board

M.A. Programme in Sudanese and African Languages:

The introduction of a P.G. Diploma in Sudanese and African Languages has necessitated the revision of the existing programme of M.A., whereby certain topic previously handled in the M.A. course are shifted to the Diploma course.

The proposed, i.e. revised programme, differs from the former one mainly in three aspects:

  1. The courses of the revised programme are more precise and clearly defined.

  2. There is more emphasis on the structural (grammatical) aspects of the African languages than on their sociolinguistic aspects.

  3. The courses have increased from five to six courses.

Objectives

  1. To provide students with modern and advanced theories of linguistic analysis.

  2. To give students a deeper insight on problems relating to language and society, with a special reference to the multi-linguistic settings in Africa.

  3. To introduce students to scientific and effective research on Sudanese and African Languages, for both academic and practical purposes.

Admission requirements:

  1. Candidates for M.A. in Sudanese and African Languages must satisfy the general regulations relating to the Master Degree of the University of Khartoum.

  2. Candidates must have obtained an Honours degree from the University of Khartoum or its equivalent from another University, or a Diploma on Language(s) from the Institute. Priority is given to those candidates graduating in the field of human sciences, with at least a language as one basic component in the field of their specialization.

The Courses:

The M.A. Degree in Sudanese and African Languages is awarded after a successful completion of the prescribed programme, which is made up of two parts, as follows:

Part I:

A one-year programme of full-time study, comprising six courses:

1: An African Language

2: Aspects of Modern Linguistics

3: Language Problems in the Sudan

4: Structural Patterns of Sudanese and African Language I: Theoretical

Aspects

5: Structural Patterns of Sudanese and African Languages II: Practical

Aspects.

6: Research Methods.

The above courses are taught wtwo semesters. In each semester (15 weeks) the “Language” course plus two or three other courses – according to convenience – are offered, at the rate of 2 hours per week for every course.

Part II: Dissertation

Course Description:

M.A.S/1: African Language:

Here students have two options: They either receive advanced courses on a language already studied (e.g. in P.G. Diploma) or start learning a new language together with the Diploma students. The advanced language course explores deeper grammatical complications of the language as well as its literature. (For description of “ a new language” see the Diploma course above). This course covers two semesters at the rate of 2 hours per week.

M.A.S/2: Aspects of Modern Linguistics:

This course will concentrate on the different theories of grammar: traditional and modern theories including an introduction to transformational-generative grammar. The course will also deal with some recent developments; Case grammar, discourse analysis and grammatical universals and the applications of the major findings of syntactic theories in the field of language teaching and learning.

M.A.S/3: Language Problems in the Sudan:

This course will concentrate on the sociolinguistic setting of the Sudan, including the communication roles of its various language, multilingualism, language change and language policy.

M.A.S/4: Structural Patterns of Sudanese and African Languages 1:

Theoretical Aspects:

This course aims at introducing students to the realm of African linguistics. It describes the general phonological and morphological patterns of the African Languages focusing at their peculiar linguistic features, such as tonal systems, vowel harmony, gender systems and noun-class systems.

M.A.S/5: Structural Patterns of Sudanese and African Languages II:

Practical Aspects:

This course aims at complementing the theoretical knowledge in this area (of M.A.4) by empirical training through a brief-out miniature-structural study of one Sudanese and one African Language. The two languages would be expected to belong to two different language families. Its main purpose is to help students in the scientific analysis of African Languages:

M.A.S/6: Research Methods:

This course aims at providing students with the necessary bases of research methods, including research design, the different strategies of data collection and analysis, and research report.

Dissertation:

After the successful completion of the prescribed course-programme (part I), the student is required to write a dissertation ranging between 15.000 and 25.000 words on any topic in the field of Sudanese and African languages. However, the topic of dissertation must be approved by the Department.

Examination

“To be read with the post Graduate Examinations Regulations”. The candidate must pass in all the courses offered in the first year (Part I) before proceeding to writing his/her dissertation. However:

  1. The student is allowed to take supplementary examination if he/she fails in not more than one-third of the subjects.

  2. The student is allowed to re-sit the whole examination if he/she fails in more than one-third and up to half of the subjects,

  3. Any student who fails in more than half of the subject (even after supplementary or re-sit) will not be allowed to continue with his/her studies.

  4. The M.A. Degree is awarded by the Senate upon recommendation of IAAS Board and Graduate College Board.