Master’s Programme in Linguistics: Language, Communication & Cognition
Our Master’s programme is dedicated to language in its forms and functions, its variability, its history and development, its cognitive foundations and conditions, as well as its communicative achievements. The programme can be studied in six different specialisations, including options entirely in English.
After you have successfully applied and received admission you might be wondering how the programme is structured. You’re in the right place! Here you can find the module handbook, the course catalogue, and the examination regulations. Further information is available here:
Specialisations
The programme can be studied in one of the six specialisations listed below. If you choose the specialisations English Language and Linguistics or General Linguistics and Linguistic Diversity, the programme can be completed entirely in English.
Our English Language and Linguistics specialisation is an English-only study programme designed for those interested in the structure, history, and variation of the English language. Curious about the programme structure? You’ll find a detailed breakdown of the modules under Programme Contents below. For an in-depth look, check out the Modulhandbuch and the Studienverlaufsplan. Exam regulations are outlined in the Prüfungsordnung .
Programme Contents
The modules of the specialisation are structured as follows:
| Structure of Present-Day English | Linguistic Variation and Language contact in English | Language Change and History of the English Language | Discourse and Communication in English-speaking Societies | Research Perspectives in English Linguistics |
In the module Structure of Present-Day English students study the major properties and phenomena of English sound structure (phonetics, phonology), word structure (morphology, word-formation) as well as phrase, clause and sentence structure (grammar), both in written and spontaneous spoken English. This includes a contrastive (notably English-German) and typological perspective.
The module Linguistic Variation and Language contact in English focuses on English as a pluricentric world language and the principles underlying regional, social and stylistic variation in the language. The general survey is complemented with case studies of specific varieties, communities, and communities of practice. Students also understand that language contact, as reflected in the use of English in multilingual contexts (ESL, ELF) and multilingual practices (e.g. code-switching), is an essential component of the sociolinguistics of a global language.
The third module in the specialisation, Language Change and History of the English Language, offers insights into linguistic, pychological and social motivations of diachronic change in languages. The students are able to survey the major phonetic, morphosyntactic, lexical and pragmatic changes in the history of English and understand the linguistic and social motivations underlying the standardisation of the language. They are aware of the relationship between diachronic change and synchronic variability.
In the module Discourse and Communication in English-speaking Societies students explore the macro-level interface between language and society, as reflected in the complex and often contradictory language ideologies shaping public discourse on the English language in its many settings. One major focus is on issues of language policy and planning, such as they are raised by the use of English in education or in multilingual postcolonial settings. Given the role of English as a world language, students are also encouraged to consider problems of linguistic justice and rights for speakers of other languages.
Lastly, the module Research Perspectives in English Linguistics offers students the opportunity to work independently and empirically on a topic from the research area of the seminar or from the research area of the course instructor. Under the guidance of the instructor, the students design a research project, i.e. they develop suitable research questions, the study design, data collection/selection and analysis, and select suitable empirical research methods. The students carry out the project independently. This gives students early insights into independent, scientific work.
Our General Linguistics and Linguistic Diversity specialisation is an English-only study programme designed for those interested in the structures, variation, and typology of the world’s languages. Curious about the programme structure? You’ll find a detailed breakdown of the modules below. For an in-depth look, check out the Modulhandbuch and the Studienverlaufsplan. Exam regulations are outlined in the Prüfungsordnung .
Programme Contents
The modules of the specialisation are structured as follows:
| Structures in the World’s Languages and Endangered Languages | Variation and Change in the Languages of the World | Linguistic Typology and Cross-Linguistic Diversity | Intercultural Communication | Research Perspectives on Cross-Linguistic Diversity and Typology |
In the module Structures in the World’s Languages and Endangered Languages the students acquire a broad and detailed overview of the variation space in the languages of the world, in phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics and/or lexicology. Special emphasis lies on endangered languages and languages spoken outside of Europe. The students receive training in methodological skills of language description and analysis, and learn about theoretical perspectives on universality, diversity and fieldwork linguistics.
The module Variation and Change in the Languages of the World introduces the students to socio-linguistic variation in the languages of the world, and how this variation relates to dynamics of change. The focus of this module is on disentangling what is universal and what is language-particular. The students receive training in collecting and evaluating evidence of linguistic variation and change, working with grammatical descriptions and other resources including primary linguistic data and typological data bases.
The focus of the module Linguistic Typology and Cross-Linguistic Diversity is a detailed overview of the major grammatical patterns in the languages of the world, equipping the students with the fundamental skills to understand and analyze data of languages hitherto unknown to them. The students will learn about theoretical approaches to linguistic universality and diversity, and about types of linguistic evidence used to support particular analyses or frameworks.
In the module Intercultural Communication the students acquire skills in intercultural communication, exploring the linguistic (verbal and non-verbal) variation space in domains such as speech act analysis, politeness research, or communication in the private and public sphere. Students will be introduced to intercultural semantics and pragmatics in a variety of theoretical frameworks. The students learn to work with case studies from around the world, involving speakers of diverse languages.
Project seminars in the module Research Perspectives on Cross-Linguistic Diversity and Typology offer students the opportunity to work independently and empirically on a topic from the research area of the seminar or from the research area of the course instructor. Under the guidance of the instructor, the students design a research project, i.e. they develop suitable research questions, the study design, data collection/selection and analysis, and select suitable empirical research methods. The students carry out the project independently. This gives students early insights into independent, scientific work.
The specialisation German Linguistics offers fascinating insights into the structure, language variation, and language change of German, as well as multilingualism in the German-speaking region.
Would you like to learn more about the programme structure? A detailed overview of the modules can be found below under Programme Content. For a closer look, check out the module handbook and the study plan. The examination regulations contain all important information regarding assessment rules.
Course Contents
The modules of the specialisation are structured as follows:
| Structure of German | Language Variation and Language Change in German | Multilingualism in the German-speaking Area | Interactional Linguistics of German | Research Perspectives in German Linguistics |
Structure of German
In this module, students develop a broad and solid overview of current theories explaining grammatical structures in German. They will be equipped to explore selected areas of phonetics/phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, and/or lexicology and to scientifically describe and explain linguistic phenomena in these fields based on the theories studied.
Language Variation and Language Change in German
This module focuses on theories explaining phenomena of structural language variation from areal, social, and situational perspectives, as well as on the analysis and explanation of language change processes in both the past and present. Students learn to analyse variation and change processes using appropriate methods grounded in these theories.
Multilingualism in the German-speaking Area
Multilingualism is no longer the exception but the norm—especially in times of globalization, migration, and displacement. This also applies to officially German-speaking societies. In this module, students gain a broad and in-depth overview of current theories and issues related to the analysis and explanation of individual, institutional, and societal multilingualism. They also engage intensively with selected areas and phenomena of multilingualism, always closely connected to current social developments and issues that are inseparable from multilingualism research.
Interactional Linguistics of German
This module covers current theories, methods, and findings in language-related interaction analysis. Using German as an example, students learn to analyse how the specific resources of spoken German are used in oral interactions and how these interact with bodily resources such as gestures and eye gaze. Based on natural interaction data, students explore selected phenomena of spoken German in depth. The linguistic phenomena and their multimodal embedding are empirically described and explained using the theories and methods studied.
Research Perspectives in German Linguistics
In this module, project seminars offer students the opportunity to independently and empirically work on a research topic within the seminar’s field or the research area of the seminar leader(s). They design and conduct their own research project, gaining early experience in independent academic work.
The Romanistics specialisation offers fascinating insights into the Romance languages. You will get to know their linguistic structures and engage with topics such as language contact, variation, and language change. Would you like to learn more about the course structure? A detailed overview of the modules can be found below under Course Content. For a closer look, take a look at the module handbook and the study plan. The examination regulations contain all important information about the exam rules.
Course Contents
The modules in this specialisation are structured as follows:
| Linguistic Structures of the Romance Languages | Romance Languages in Contact | Variation and Change in Romance Languages | Language and Interaction in Romance Languages | Research Perspectives in Romance Linguistics |
Linguistic Structures of the Romance Languages
In this module, students gain a broad and solid overview of current theories explaining the structures of Romance languages. They also engage with the interfaces between grammar, lexicon, and pragmatics. The linguistic phenomena studied are scientifically described and explained based on the theories covered.
Romance Languages in Contact
Multilingualism—and thus language contact—has long become the global norm. The Romance-speaking world offers rich empirical scenarios across Europe, Africa, and the Americas. In this module, students explore language contact within the Romance-speaking world. From the perspective of Romance linguistics, they describe manifestations and effects of contact among Romance languages and varieties—e.g., around the Mediterranean—as well as with English, Arabic, Quechua, Nahuatl, Mapudungun, Guaraní, the Gbe and Bantu languages, and more. This is done through at least four research fields: code-switching, intercultural communication/accommodation, contact-induced change, and the emergence of new languages.
Variation and Change in Romance Languages
Romance linguistics benefits from 2000 years of well-documented language history, enabling observation of the diversification of ten national languages and countless dialects across four continents from a common origin. In this module, students gain a broad and solid overview of current theories explaining phenomena of linguistic variation in structural, areal, social, and situational respects, as well as the analysis and explanation of language change processes in the past and present. They also study selected areas of variation and/or linguistic change and its diffusion within the language system and speech communities.
Language and Interaction in Romance Languages
Students investigate the use of Romance languages in natural spoken interactions and the interplay between linguistic and bodily means such as gestures and gaze in oral communication. They also explore selected areas of linguistic and multimodal interaction in various Romance-speaking cultures.
Research Perspectives in Romance Linguistics
Project seminars in this module give students the opportunity to independently and empirically work on a topic from the seminar’s research area or the research field of the seminar leader(s), gaining early insight into independent academic work. Students develop suitable research questions, study design, data collection/selection and analysis, select appropriate empirical research methods, and carry out their independently designed projects.
The specialization area Slavistic Linguistics offers fascinating insights into the structures of Slavic languages and addresses language contact, language change, and variation within Slavia. Would you like to learn more about the program structure? A detailed overview of the modules can be found below under “Program Contents.” For a closer look, take a glance at the module handbook and the study plan. The examination regulations contain all important information about exam rules and requirements.
Course Contents
The modules in this specialisation area are structured as follows:
| Structure of Slavic Languages | Slavic Languages in Contact | Slavic Languages in Change | Variation in Slavia | Research Perspectives in Slavistic Linguistics |
Structures of Slavic Languages
In this module, students acquire a broad and solid overview of current theories explaining the structures of Slavic languages. They also engage with the interfaces between grammar, lexicon, and pragmatics. The linguistic phenomena studied are scientifically described and explained based on the theories covered.
Slavic Languages in Contact
Multilingualism and language contact have long become the norm worldwide. The Slavia region offers rich empirical scenarios in Central, Southern, and Eastern Europe as well as in the Caucasus and Asia. In this module, students examine this phenomenon. From the perspective of Slavistic Linguistics, they describe forms and effects of contact among Slavic languages and varieties themselves—e.g., in the Balkan area—as well as with Scandinavian and Baltic languages, German, Albanian, Romanian, Greek, Georgian, Armenian, Azeri, Central Asian languages such as Kazakh, Uzbek, Tajik, and also Chinese. This is analyzed across at least three research fields: code-switching, intercultural communication/accommodation, and contact-induced change.
Slavic Languages in Change
Documented since the 9th century, the linguistic history of Slavia allows observation of the differentiation of twelve standard languages and numerous micro-literary languages and dialects originating from a common source. This module gives students an overview of current theories explaining processes of language change in the past and present. These processes are scientifically described and explained based on the theories learned.
Variation in Slavia
This module offers an overview of theories explaining linguistic variation in structural, areal, social, and situational respects. Students engage with selected areas of linguistic variation within Slavic languages. The variation phenomena are scientifically described and explained on the basis of the theories acquired.
Research Perspectives in Slavistic Linguistics
This module offers students the opportunity to independently and empirically work on a topic from the research area of the seminar or from the research area of the seminar leader(s). Students develop suitable research questions, design the study, collect/select and analyze data, and choose appropriate empirical research methods. They then carry out the independently conceived project on their own, thus gaining early insights into independent, scientific work.
In the focus area Language and Cognition, you can look forward to fascinating insights into psycholinguistics and neurolinguistics, as well as cognitive linguistics. Would you like to learn more about the structure of the programme? A detailed overview of the modules can be found below under Programme Content. For a closer look, take a glance at the module handbook and the study plan. The examination regulations contain all important information on the exam rules.
Course Contents
The modules in this specialisation are structured as follows:
| Psycholinguistics and Neurolinguistics | Language and Diversity | Cognitive Linguistics | Language and Behaviour | Research Perspectives in Cognitive Linguistics der Kognitiven Linguistik |
In the module Psycholinguistics and Neurolinguistics, students gain an overview of psycholinguistic and neurolinguistic theories and research methods. Theories focus on cognitive architectures, mechanisms, and statistical approaches that describe how language is acquired and processed at all levels during both perception and production, and how language processing interacts across modalities with other cognitive domains. Topics in psycholinguistic and/or neurolinguistic theories of language processing are conveyed using experimental studies.
Language comprehension and production are strongly influenced by social factors, such as characteristics of speakers and listeners, as well as the social context in which the interaction takes place. At the same time, language functions as an expression of knowledge about social groups and can thus lead to discrimination. In the module Language and Diversity, students acquire knowledge about diversity-related language phenomena, such as gender-inclusive language, language functions across the lifespan, the influence of multilingual backgrounds on language competence, or the impact of accents on social categorisation.
The module Cognitive Linguistics introduces students to cognitive-linguistic perspectives on the language system, its mental representation, processing, and, last but not least, acquisition. In particular, it addresses how general cognitive processes, in interaction with specific language experience, contribute to the formation of linguistic structures as well as to language reception and production. The module also explores the interdependence of language and cognition more generally — including the hypothesis of linguistic relativity.
The module Language and Behaviour presents language as a central element of human behaviour. Students gain insights into linguistic phenomena against the backdrop of general cognitive processes and/or in the context of individual and social action. Thematic focuses include, among others, first or second language acquisition, pragmatics and politeness theory, interactional linguistics, or language ideology and policy. The subject of investigation encompasses verbal or non-verbal (e.g., gaze, gesture) linguistic behaviours.
In the module Research Perspectives in Cognitive Linguistics, project seminars offer students the opportunity to independently and empirically research a topic from the research area of the seminar or the research area of the seminar leader(s), providing early insight into independent academic work. Students develop appropriate research questions, study designs, data collection/selection and analysis, select suitable empirical research methods, and independently carry out the project thus conceived.
Contact
Study coordinators Wifek Bouaziz and Naomi Peck:
studienkoordination@linguistik.uni-freiburg.de
Questions about your studies? Contact our student assistants: hilfskraefte@linguistik.uni-freiburg.de
You can reach our student council at fachschaft@linguistik.uni-freiburg.de
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