Celtic

Credit Points

20

Course Coordinator

Dr Robert McColl Millar

Pre-requisites

Available only to registered students on the MLitt in Language Policy and Planning

Co-requisites

None

Notes

Overview

Models of Language in Society provides students with a grounding in the ways in which language, society, culture and history inter-relate. It demonstrates how concepts such as nationality and ethnicity have evolved, and what results these developments have had on our understanding of language and identity. Particular focus is given to how both individual and societal language attitudes are produced and what results these might have for either language maintenance or language shift with lesser-used languages.

Structure

Six two hour seminars, held fortnightly

Assessment

One 3,500 - 4,000 word essay (80%), one class presentation (20%)

Credit Points

20

Course Coordinator

Dr Clare Downham

Pre-requisites

Available only to registered postgraduate students

Co-requisites

Cannot be taken as part of a graduating curriculum with HI5078 ‘Vikings in Britain and Ireland’

Overview

This is an interdisciplinary course exploring (1) the clash of cultures between Vikings and Celtic-speaking peoples which erupted at the end of the eighth century (2) the relations which developed between Vikings and Celts, leading to the creation of new political identities and new forms of cultural expression. The course will begin with regional surveys of Vikings’ relationships with Celtic speaking peoples from the first raids until the end of the Viking Age. We will also engage in thematic analysis of the Vikings’ impact on state formation, settlement, economy, religion and culture. We will end the course by asking how perceptions of the Viking past have influenced the way that Insular peoples identify themselves in more recent times.

Structure

10 x 1 hour seminars

Assessment

100% Continuous Assessment
1 x 2,500 word essay 90%; Seminar Presentation 10%

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr Aideen O'Leary

Pre-requisites

Available only to students in programme year 5.

Overview

A series of five seminars, each focusing on a particular work by a member of staff in Celtic or related disciplines. In each seminar the author will explain the way in which the work was developed, the theoretical and methodological techniques applied, the kinds of sources used, and its relationship to more general interpretative traditions. The students will then discuss the piece as a group, having read the essay or chapter in advance. The seminars will therefore provide an insight into scholarly methods and research debates.

Structure

5 two-hour seminars to be held fortnightly during the first semester

Assessment

In course assessment; one essay 3,500 words (90%), seminar presentation (10%)

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr Aideen O'Leary

Pre-requisites

N/A

Overview

One class per week will focus on written exercises, one class per week will focus on reading and translation of text, one class per week will focus on grammar.

Structure

Three one-hour classes per week

Assessment

100% Continuous Assessment

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr Aideen O'Leary

Pre-requisites

Available only to registered postgraduate students

Overview

Students will acquire an understanding of Old-Gaelic grammar and vocabulary. There will be two one-hour language-classes per week: one grammar-class and one reading class.

Structure

Two one-hour language-classes

Assessment

1 two-hour written examination (60%) and continuous assessment (40%)

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr Aideen O'Leary

Pre-requisites

Available only to registered postgraduate students

Notes

Overview

This is an intensive language course for students who have little or no previous knowledge of Gaelic. It concentrates on the acquisition of basic grammar and vocabulary, and on the development of reading, writing, speaking and listening skills.

Structure

Four one-hour classes per week.

Assessment

4 language exercises (20%); oral assessment (20%); 1 two-hour examination (60%)

Credit Points

10

Course Coordinator

TBC

Pre-requisites

Some prior knowledge of a Modern Celtic Language is assumed

Co-requisites

None

Notes

Overview

The course will be based on a close study of extracts from authentic texts. It will consider the spelling problems these texts present. It will also make a systematic study of the morphological and syntactic structures displayed in the texts, and any general lexical problems they embody. Each week there will be exercises designed to reinforce students' understanding, mostly involving translation into English. The course will focus on Medieval Welsh, Irish or Scots Gaelic according to student demand.

Structure

10 one hour seminars (1 per week for 10 weeks.)

Assessment

100% continuous assessment (practical exercises in translation).

Credit Points

20

Course Coordinator

Prof David Dumville

Pre-requisites

CE5006 Reading Celtic 1

Overview

One class per week will focus on written exercises, one class per week will focus on reading and translation of text, one class per week will focus on grammar.

Structure

Three one-hour classes per week

Assessment

1st Attempt: 100% Continuous Assessment
Resit: 100% Examination

Credit Points

10

Course Coordinator

Dr Clare Downham

Pre-requisites

Available only to students in Programme Year 5

Overview

The course consists of one-to -one supervision with the member of staff best equipped to advise the student on her/his dissertation topic. It will involve detailed and critical discussion of primary and secondary materials suited to the research interests of the student (as developed over the preceding semester) with the aim of providing the student with the fullest preparation for researching and writing the dissertation in the summer.

Structure

6 one-hour long supervisions (one to be held each fortnight).

Assessment

In course assessment: annotated bibliography (100%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Prof David Dumville

Pre-requisites

Available only to students in programme year 5.
Some knowledge of Old, Middle, or early Modern Gaelic required.

Overview

- Gaelic-Script history, A.D. 600-1700: recognition and discrimination
- The development of the Insular and Gaelic abbreviation-system
- Scribal activity in Gaeldom
- Patronage of manuscript-production

Structure

2 one-hour classes per week for 10 weeks.

Assessment

100% continuous assessment

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr Aideen O'Leary

Pre-requisites

Available only to students in programme year 5

Overview

The course will focus on the most famous and fabulous collection of Medieval Welsh tales known as the Mabinogion. The stories combine elements of folklore, mythology and Arthurian romance. A selection of tales will be read in translation. These will be analysed and discussed in detail, with an eye to interpreting their literary and historical context, thus giving an insight into Medieval Welsh society, politics and imagination.

Structure

10 one-hour tutorials and 10 one-hour seminars.

Assessment

In course assessment: exercise (10%), one essay 3,000-3,500 words (90%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr Aideen O'Leary

Pre-requisites

CE5007 (Mediaeval Gaelic Language, I)

Overview

This course will deepen students’ knowledge of the fundamentals of Old-Gaelic grammar and vocabulary. They will learn about the changes in the language in the transition to and during the Middle-Gaelic period and start to read Middle-Gaelic texts.
There will be three one-hour language-classes per week: one grammar-class, one Old-Gaelic reading class, and one Middle-Gaelic reading class.

Structure

Three one-hour language-classes per week.

Assessment

1 two-hour written examination (60%) and continuous assessment (40%)

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr Aideen O'Leary

Pre-requisites

CE5009, Scottish Gaelic for Postgraduates (A)

Overview

This course builds on the foundation laid in CE5009, Scottish Gaelic for Postgraduates (A), and concentrates on the acquisition of further basic grammar and vocabulary, and on the development of more advanced reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills

Structure

four one-hour classes per week.

Assessment

4 language exercises (20%); oral assessment (20%); 1 two-hour examination (60%)

Credit Points

60

Course Coordinator

Dr Clare Downham

Pre-requisites

Available only to MLitt students in Programme Year 5

Co-requisites

Celtic Dissertation Preparation: Sources and Source Criticism

Overview

The course consists of one-to-one supervision with a member of staff. Students will be expected to produce a dissertation of 15,000 words.

Structure

4 one-hour supervisions.

Assessment

15,000 word Dissertation (100%)