The Postgraduate College

Arts / Linguistics and African Languages

Overview

Degree awarded:

D.Litt

M.A Computational Linguistics

M.A English Literature

M.A Linguistics

M.A Yoruba Language

M.A Yoruba Literature

M.Phil

M.Phil/Ph.D

Mphil

Ph.D

Postgraduate Diploma in Computation Linguistics

Postgraduate Diploma in Natural Language Processing

Professional Master in Yoruba Communication and Translation

Programmes:

Master of Arts in Linguistics

Master of Arts in Yoruba

Master of Arts in Yoruba (Literature)

Master of Arts in Yoruba (Language)

Field of interest:

Applied Linguistics

Computational Linguistics

Culture

Film Studies

Functional Grammar

Gender Studies

Historical Linguistics

Language

Language Development and Modernisation

Language Documentation

Lexicography

Linguistics

Literature

Morphology

Not Applicable

Phonetics and Phonology

Phonology

Pragmatics

Psycholinguistics

Semantics

Sociolingistics

Sociolinguistics

Stylistics

Syntax

Syntax and Semantics

Translation

Yoruba (Language)

Yoruba (Literature)

Yoruba Language

Yoruba Literature

Entry requirements:

General Regulations Governing Admission to Higher Degree Programmes

Candidates for admission to higher degree programmes shall normally be graduates of the University of Ibadan or other Universities/Institutions recognised by the Senate. Admission shall be made by the Postgraduate College on the recommendation of the appropriate Faculty Postgraduate Committee.
Candidates without any previous higher degrees in the relevant discipline may be admitted only to either the Degree of Master or the Professional Degree of Master.
Candidates with recognised “Research Higher” Degree in the relevant discipline may be admitted to the M.Phil or Ph.D. degree programmes as appropriate, on the recommendation of the appropriate Faculty Postgraduate Committee.
A candidate admitted to the degree of Master of University of Ibadan who obtained a weighted average mark of 55.0 – 59.9%, or a CGPA of between 4.0 and 4.9 may be offered provisional admission to the M.Phil./Ph.D programmes. Such candidates shall be assessed within three semesters of full time and four semesters of part time registration for the M.Phil/Ph.D to Ph.D conversion. This shall also apply to students who graduated from other universities

SPECIAL WAIVER FOR MATURED APPLICANTS

All University of Ibadan graduates should be admitted to Postgraduate programme with the ordinary level criteria existing at the time their first admission. Candidate who did not fulfill the requirements as at the time of their admission are not eligible for consideration.
Special consideration may be given to candidates, who obtained their first degree not less than 20 years from the time of seeking admission to any postgraduate programmes. Such candidates must have been found to possess special skills or abilities and professionally or academically engaged during the period of 20 years.

How to apply:

Apply online

Linguistics and African Languages is an interdisciplinary field of study that focuses on the scientific study of language and the diverse languages spoken across the African continent. It combines the study of linguistics, which examines the structure and use of language, with the exploration of African languages and their sociocultural context. The course overview for Linguistics and African Languages typically covers a range of subjects that provide students with a comprehensive understanding of linguistic theory, African language systems, language documentation, and language revitalization efforts. Here is a general summary of the course overview for Linguistics and African Languages:

Linguistic Theory:

This course provides a foundation in linguistic theory, covering topics such as phonetics and phonology (sounds and sound patterns in language), morphology (word structure), syntax (sentence structure), and semantics (meaning in language). Students learn about different theoretical frameworks and analyze linguistic phenomena across languages.

African Language Structure:

This course focuses on the structure and features of African languages. Students explore the phonological, morphological, syntactic, and semantic characteristics of specific African languages. They learn about language typology and how African languages compare and contrast with other language families.

Language Documentation and Description:

This course explores methods and techniques for documenting and describing endangered or under-documented African languages. Students learn about fieldwork methodologies, data collection and analysis, and the ethical considerations involved in working with language communities.

Sociolinguistics:

This course examines the relationship between language and society, particularly within African contexts. Students study language variation, language attitudes, language policy, language planning, and multilingualism in African communities. They explore how language reflects and influences social identity, power dynamics, and cultural practices.

Language Revitalization and Preservation:

This course focuses on efforts to revitalize endangered or marginalized African languages. Students learn about language preservation initiatives, language revitalization programs, and community-based language revitalization projects. They explore the challenges and strategies involved in sustaining and promoting African languages.

Historical Linguistics:

This course investigates language change and language evolution over time. Students learn about historical-comparative methods, language families, language reconstruction, and the historical development of African languages. They explore the linguistic and cultural insights gained from studying language history.

Language and Culture:

This course explores the interplay between language and culture in African communities. Students examine how language shapes cultural practices, worldview, and social interaction. They analyze linguistic features that reflect cultural norms, beliefs, and values.

Applied Linguistics:

This course applies linguistic theories and methodologies to real-world language-related issues. Students learn about language teaching and learning, language policy and planning, language in the media, translation and interpretation, and language technology applications.

Research Methods in Linguistics:

This course equips students with the research skills needed to conduct linguistic studies. Students learn about research design, data collection methods (e.g., interviews, surveys, experiments), data analysis techniques (e.g., qualitative and quantitative analysis), and the interpretation of linguistic data.

Electives and Specializations:

Linguistics and African Languages programs often offer a range of elective courses and opportunities for specialization. These may include topics such as psycholinguistics, computational linguistics, discourse analysis, language contact, or specific African language studies.

Few/Some of the Course Content

CLA 717	Language Use in the Nigerian Broadcast Media
CLA 705	Advanced Studies in Writing as Communication
LIY 731	Topics in Yoruba Phonology
ENG 783	Discourse Analysis
ENG 790	English Language in Nigeria
SPE 743	Remedial Reading in the Elementary Schools
RES 758	Religious Ethics and Political Issues
RES 752	Christian Yoruba Ethics
RES 757	Business Ethics and Religion
RES 712	Ethics of African Traditional Religion
RES 718	Contemporary Issues in the Study of African Traditional Religion
RES 714	Phenomenology of Religion
RES 711	Secret Societies in African Traditional Religion
LIY 722	Topics in Yoruba Grammar
LIN 781	Topics in Psycholinguistics
LIN 772	Field Methods in Sociolinguistics
LIN 771	Topics in Sociolinguistics
LIN 733	Phnological Processes in Language
LIN 722	Syntactic Processes
LIN 712	Pragmatics
LIN 711	Meaning in Language
LIN 731	Advanced Phonology
LIN 721	Advanced Syntax

Entry Requirement

General Admission Requirements for Higher Degree

The basic qualification for admission to all Postgraduate Courses and Programmes is a first degree of the University of Ibadan or degree/Higher National Diploma of other recognized Institutions in the relevant discipline. Where qualifications are not strictly in the area of admission, remedial courses, which may lead to additional periods of studentship, may be prescribed.
In addition to individual Departmental requirements, applicants must satisfy the ‘O’ Level first degree matriculation requirements of the University of Ibadan i.e five ‘O’Level credit passes at ONE sitting or 6 ‘O’ level credits at TWO sittings including English Language and subject areas for ALL disciplines and Mathematics for ALL Science-based disciplines, Educational Management and Economics and at least a pass in Mathematics for other Social Science Courses OR Holder of NCE must have credit passes in WASC or credit or merit passes in TC II (obtained between 1967 and 1981) in English Language and four other relevant matriculation subjects.
Candidates for the degree of M.Phil and Ph.D. are admitted in the first instance to the Degree of Master Programme. However, candidates who, in addition to a good first degree, and already holding acceptable postgraduate degrees, may be considered for direct admission to the M.Phil and Ph.D. Programmes.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENT ADMISSION REQUIREMENT

Candidate with recognized first degree or higher degree assessed to be at least equal or equivalent to the degree of Bachelor or Master of the University of Ibadan and as recognized by the University senate may be admitted to the Masters , M.Phil, M.Phil/Ph.D or Ph.D Programme on the recommendation of the appropriate Faculty Postgraduate Committee
All applicants for the Postgraduate Diploma, Degree of Masters and Professional Master are require to take Test of Proficiency in English Language. A. minimum score of 40 percent must be attained before applicants could be eligible to be shortlisted by the admitting Departments, Schools, or Institutes.

Facilities

Career Path

Graduates with a degree in Linguistics and African Languages can pursue a variety of career paths in academia, research, language documentation, language preservation, language revitalization, language policy, translation and interpretation, cultural consulting, and more. Some common career options include:

Linguist:

Graduates can work as linguists, conducting research on language structure, language variation, language change, and language documentation. They may work in academic institutions, research organizations, or language preservation projects.

Language Revitalization Specialist:

Graduates can specialize in language revitalization efforts, working closely with indigenous language communities to promote language use, develop language teaching materials, and design language revitalization programs.

Language Teacher:

Graduates can pursue careers as language teachers, teaching African languages, linguistics, or English as a second language. They may work in schools, language centers, or universities.

Cultural Consultant:

Graduates can work as cultural consultants, providing expertise on language and cultural practices in African contexts. They may work with organizations, businesses, or government agencies involved in international development, cross-cultural communication, or multicultural education.

Language Policy Analyst:

Graduates can work in language policy and planning, analyzing language policies and their impact on language communities. They may provide recommendations for language policy development, language education policies, or language rights advocacy.

Translator or Interpreter:

Graduates with proficiency in African languages can work as translators or interpreters, facilitating communication between different language communities in various settings, such as conferences, meetings, or legal proceedings.

Researcher or Educator:

Graduates can pursue careers in research or academia, conducting linguistic research, teaching linguistics or African languages at universities, and contributing to the scholarly understanding of language and culture.

Language Technology Specialist:

Graduates can work in language technology, developing and implementing language-related software, speech recognition systems, or machine translation tools for African languages.

It's important to note that specific career opportunities may vary depending on individual interests, specialization within the field, geographic location, and job market conditions.

Supervisor(s)

Fees

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