Minor in African Languages & Literatures

The African languages and literatures minor combines language and linguistic study with the study of written literature and oral traditions in the African context. In-depth knowledge of an African language of the student’s choosing is applied in courses in cultural and linguistic anthropology, sociology of language, language in government and education, literature, and folklore and oral traditions. This minor is made up of required and elective courses from the African Studies Center, as well as elective courses from other College of Arts & Sciences departments.

Required Courses

One year of 300-level study of an African language (two courses) is required together with the following two courses:

• CAS LD 491, 492 Directed Study in African Languages and Linguistics

If either CAS LD 491 or LD 492 is not offered in a given year, an acceptable alternative may be selected in consultation with the student’s advisor.

Electives

Students are required to select two elective courses. The following are representative of those courses that may be selected in consultation with the student’s advisor.

• CAS AN 351 Language, Culture, and Society
• CAS AN 521 Sociolinguistics
• CAS AN 593, 594 Seminar: Topics in Cultural Anthropology
• CAS LD 491, 492 Directed Study in African Languages and Linguistics
• CAS LX 533 The Structure of Creole Languages

Students can pursue special interests in the format of the Directed Study course, within the scope of the minor.

African Languages

Amharic

• CAS LD 111 Amharic 1
• CAS LD 112 Amharic 2
• CAS LD 211 Amharic 3
• CAS LD 212 Amharic 4
• CAS LD 311 Amharic 5
• CAS LD 312 Amharic 6

Arabic

See Modern Languages & Comparative Literature

• CAS LY 111 Elementary Modern Arabic I
• CAS LY 112 Elementary Modern Arabic II
• CAS LY 211 Second-Year Modern Arabic I
• CAS LY 212 Second-Year Modern Arabic II
• CAS LY 303 Third-Year Modern Arabic I
• CAS LY 304 Third-Year Modern Arabic II

Bambara

• CAS LD 113 Mandinka/Bambara 1
• CAS LD 114 Mandinka/Bambara 2
• CAS LD 213 Mandinka/Bambara 3
• CAS LD 214 Mandinka/Bambara 4

Hausa

• CAS LA 111 Hausa 1
• CAS LA 112 Hausa 2
• CAS LA 211 Hausa 3
• CAS LA 212 Hausa 4
• CAS LA 311 Hausa 5
• CAS LA 312 Hausa 6
• Hausa 7 and 8 are also available, in a directed study format. Interested students should contact Assistant Director Peter Quella for further information.

Kiswahili (Swahili)

• CAS LE 111 Swahili 1
• CAS LE 112 Swahili 2
• CAS LE 211 Swahili 3
• CAS LE 212 Swahili 4
• CAS LE 311 Swahili 5
• CAS LE 312 Swahili 6
• Swahili 7 and 8 are also available, in a directed study format. Interested students should contact Assistant Director Peter Quella for further information.

Pulaar

• CAS LU 111 Pulaar 1
• CAS LU 112 Pulaar 2
• CAS LU 211 Pulaar 3
• CAS LU 212 Pulaar 4

Setswana/Sesotho

• CAS LD 117 Setswana/Sesotho 1
• CAS LD 118 Setswana/Sesotho 2
• CAS LD 217 Setswana/Sesotho 3
• CAS LD 218 Setswana/Sesotho 4

Wolof

• CAS LW 111 Wolof 1
• CAS LW 112 Wolof 2
• CAS LW 211 Wolof 3
• CAS LW 212 Wolof 4
• CAS LW 311 Wolof 5
• CAS LW 312 Wolof 6
• CAS LW 411 Wolof 7
• CAS LW 412 Wolof 8

isiXhosa

• CAS LM 111 isiXhosa 1
• CAS LM 112 isiXhosa 2
• CAS LM 211 isiXhosa 3
• CAS LM 212 isiXhosa 4

Yoruba

• CAS LO 111 Yoruba 1
• CAS LO 112 Yoruba 2
• CAS LO 211 Yoruba 3
• CAS LO 212 Yoruba 4

isiZulu

• CAS LD 115 isiZulu 1
• CAS LD 116 isiZulu 2
• CAS LD 215 isiZulu 3
• CAS LD 216 isiZulu 4
• CAS LD 315 isiZulu 5
• CAS LD 316 isiZulu 6
• isiZulu 7 and 8 are also available, in a Directed Study format. Interested students should contact Assistant Director Peter Quella for further information.

Other African Languages and Linguistics

• CAS LD 491, 492 Directed Study in African Languages and Linguistics
• CAS LX 250 Introduction to Linguistics
• CAS LX 501 Linguistic Field Methods
• CAS LX 533 The Structure of Creole Languages