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Description

The Honours Thesis in Linguistics offers advanced training in Linguistics research. Working under the supervision of a faculty member who specializes in the research area you have chosen, you will choose a specific topic in a particular language, prepare a research proposal which involves the collection and analysis of data, and carry out the research project. Based on the results of your research, you will give an oral presentation and write a thesis. The course lasts two terms: Fall and Winter.

To Register

If you wish to do an Honours Thesis in Linguistics, you should first approach a professor who specializes in your intended topic area to ask if they are willing to serve as your Honours Thesis Supervisor. Next, you need to ask the Undergraduate Chair for permission to register for the course. You need to have an Academic Change Form signed by your Thesis Supervisor and by the Undergraduate Chair. Hand in the form at the front desk in the LLCU Departmental Office, room 416, Kingston Hall.

Instruction

Students are expected to have regular weekly meetings with their Thesis Supervisor throughout the course to report on their progress, discuss issues emerging from their research and to receive feedback on written drafts and reports.

Research Program and Evaluation

The research program is divided into three main phases, and weighted as follows:

1. Preparation of a research proposal, and ethics submission if relevant;
2. Research Preparation of an oral presentation to be presented at a Linguistics undergraduate colloquium in Linguistics; and
3.  A written thesis, based on the results of your research.

• Research proposal - 20%
• Weekly research - 10%
• Oral presentation - 20%
• Written Thesis - 50%

Research Proposal

Students are expected to read a representative selection of the relevant linguistic literature (both descriptive and theoretical), identify a particular problem or issue for investigation, and write a research proposal in which they present the background, the specific problem, and the proposed investigation. The research proposal should consist of 5-10 single-spaced pages, not counting the bibliography (or appendices).

Ethics Submission

Students intending to collect data from human participants must prepare submissions to the General Research Ethics Board (GREB) - and receive clearance from the GREB - before they can begin their data collection. Students intending to use data from existing sources (e.g., text corpora) need only indicate sources, method, and any software to be used.

Readings

Readings are expected to form part of the entire research program, not just the preparatory phase. The general idea is that students will read the relevant literature on specific details and issues as they emerge, and continue to do so when analysing the data and attempting to account for them. Readings will consist of book chapters, articles, and dissertation chapters selected in consultation with the Thesis Supervisor. While the readings will necessarily vary depending on the research topic and language, they are expected to conform to two general guidelines. They should include both descriptive and theoretical work on the research topic. In addition to literature focusing on the language chosen for investigation, there should be a reasonable coverage - wherever possible - of variation attested cross-linguistically (across different languages and language families).

Regular Research Work

Students will collect data, produce regular short reports in which they present, analyze, and discuss the incoming results, and meet regularly with the supervisor to discuss their progress. Students will also do additional readings, selected in consultation with their Thesis Supervisor, to follow up on specific issues as they emerge from the investigation.

Oral Presentation

Students will prepare an oral presentation based on the results of their investigation and deliver it at an Undergraduate Linguistics Colloquium. A one page abstract approved by the supervisor will be required one week ahead of the presentation. The presentation must be supported by a handout approved by the supervisor.

The oral presentation will usually last 30 minutes, followed by a question period.

The question period forms an important part of the process. While you are expected to clarify your findings and defend points of analysis wherever relevant, the purpose of the oral presentation is also for you to receive useful feedback - in the form of questions and comments. You should discuss the feedback with your Thesis Supervisor, and make use of it as you develop your final thesis draft.

Written Thesis

Finally, students will prepare a written thesis of at least 40 (and no more than 55) single-spaced pages, excluding bibliography and appendices. The thesis must contain a brief abstract (300-500 words), an introductory section giving a clear exposition of the background and the specific problem or issue addressed in the thesis, a clear and detailed discussion of the data collected, a well motivated analysis, and a careful discussion of the implications the results have for the linguistic description and/or the theoretical treatment of the phenomenon.