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Introduction to Research in Langauge and Literature

Code: 43018
Credits: 6
2026/2027
Degree programme Type Course
Spanish Language, Hispanic Literature and Spanish as a Foreign Language OP 0

Contact lecturer

Name :
Matthias Ulrich Raab
Email :
matthias.raab@uab.cat

Teaching staff

Sònia Boadas Cabarrocas

Group languages

You can consult this information at the end of the document.

Prerequisites

Since this subject is intended for students who optionally want to enter the field of research it is recommended to be studying or having studied the subject of Principles and methods. Also, it is convenient to have training in a humanistic degree that allows students to have formative foundations in the main methodological lines of the humanities and in the great paradigms of reflection of the XX and XXI century. Training in Spanish language and literature is highly recommended, although not essential.

Objectives

The course has the following objectives:

1. To show, with practical examples, the conditions that define research in language and literature, the axes on which the disciplines are organised and the relationship between theory and data.

2. To introduce students to the main theoretical paradigms and the corresponding practical applications from which research in Spanish language and literature has been conceived.

Learning outcomes

  1. Esquematitzar i comparar les idees en les quals se sustenten diferents treballs sobre un mateix fenomen lingüístic o literari.
  2. Realitzar recerques bibliogràfiques i d'informació utilitzant els mitjans tecnològics propis dels estudis lingüístics i literaris.
  3. Aplicar els conceptes i les eines que capaciten per a l'argumentació gramatical a l'anàlisi de les dades de l'espanyol.
  4. Interpretar de manera crítica la bibliografia i la informació recollides relacionades amb l'àmbit d'estudi del mòdul.
  5. Presentar i disposar gràficament un text i el seu aparell de variants amb els mitjans d'impressió o electrònics disponibles per poder relacionar i comprendre les dades proporcionades en l'aparell crític.
  6. Interpretar críticament la bibliografia, procedent de diferents perspectives d'anàlisi, sobre els temes d'estudi del mòdul.
  7. Adaptar el contingut d'una exposició, oral i escrita, a les característiques de l'auditori.
  8. Elaborar un esquema explicatiu sobre un problema lingüístic o literari de l'àmbit del màster i reformular-lo en funció de la introducció de noves idees.
  9. Relacionar els models explicatius elaborats amb idees procedents d'altres camps relacionats i modificar-los adequadament.
  10. Argumentar la pertinència dels propis judicis sobre un tema determinat de l'àmbit del màster.
  11. Planificar les etapes de desenvolupament d'un pla d'acció sobre un dels problemes del màster.
  12. Identificar els indicis literaris que segons les últimes publicacions permeten inserir un autor o un text literari en un gènere o un corrent determinats.
  13. Identificar els indicis lingüístics que permeten inserir un autor o un text literari en un gènere o un corrent determinats en funció dels seus usos del llenguatge segons les recerques fetes en aquest camp.
  14. Aplicar les tècniques i els mètodes propis del comentari filològic de textos.
  15. Planificar una exposició oral l'objectiu de la qual sigui defensar la pròpia posició respecte a un dels temes d'estudi del màster.
  16. Planificar una exposició escrita l'objectiu de la qual sigui defensar la pròpia posició respecte a un dels temes d'estudi del màster.
  17. Interpretar críticament la bibliografia relacionada amb un dels temes d'estudi de l'àmbit del màster.
  18. Utilitzar la terminologia pròpia dels estudis lingüístics i literaris per a l'elaboració del TFM.

Contents

I. Introduction to research in Linguistics



  • The scientific study of language. Units of analysis. The branches of linguistics.


  • Research in linguistics. From pre-scientific linguistics to current linguistics. Synchrony and diachrony. Unity and variation. Linguistic change.


  • From theory to practice. Documentation methods in linguistics. Fonts, Digital Humanities and Linguistics.


  • Process of writing a research paper. Thematic selection. State of the question. Theoretical framework. Methodology. Analysis, discussion and argumentation. Conclusions. The bibliography as a source of support. Formal aspects.



II. Introduction to research in Spanish literature


  • Instruments of philological research. The literary work and models of analysis. Reference works and critical bibliography. Digital tools.


  • Editing texts. Editing and critical editing. Textual criticism. Punctuation and annotation. Foreword and study.


  • Text editing. Editing and critical editing. Textual criticism. Punctuation and annotation. Prologue and study. The process of writing a research paper. Choice of the topic. Introduction and state of the question. Methodology. Starting hypothesis. Work planning. Analysis and argumentation. Conclusions. Citations and bibliography. Style and revision.



Learning activities and methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Tutorial 27 1.08 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18
Class 40 1.6 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18
Preparation of classes and papers, study 73.5 2.94 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18

 Being a research subject, which seeks to introduce students to the main methodologies of Spanish language and literature study, all of them will be combined as detailed in the content section.

 The learning of this subject by the students is distributed as follows:

  •  Directed activities. These activities are divided into master classes and classroom practices led by the teacher, which are combined with theoretical explanations and discussion around examples.
  •  Supervised activities. These tutorials are programmed by the teacher, dedicated to correcting and commenting on problems that students may have when preparing the subject.
  •  Autonomous activities. These activities include both time devoted to individual study and production of papers.
  •  Evaluation activities. The evaluation of the subject will be carried out through written tests. 

 

Annotation: within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.

Assessment

Continuous assessment activities

Title Weight Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Evaluation activities (literature) 45% 4.5 0.18 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18
Evaluation activities (language) 45% 4.5 0.18 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18
Reading test 10% 0.5 0.02 4, 6, 12, 13, 17

Continuous Assessment

The assessment will consist of three tests: a reading test (10% of the grade), a test on language (45% of the grade), and a test on literature (45% of the grade). The characteristics and submission dates will be indicated on the Virtual Campus.

Students will receive a grade of \"Not Assessable\" if they have not submitted more than 30% of the assessment activities. Those who have completed or submitted more than 30% will be assessed according to the established weighting. Students must achieve an average score of 5 to pass.


Reviews

On carrying out each evaluation activity, lecturers will inform students (on Moodle) of the procedures to be followed for reviewing all grades awarded, and the date on which such a review will take place.


Single Assessment

The assessment will consist of three tests: a reading test (10% of the grade), a test on language (45% of the grade), and a test on literature (45% of the grade). The characteristics and submission dates will be indicated on the Virtual Campus. Students must submit all tests and achieve an average score of 5 to pass.


Resit

Students who have previously completed all parts of the assessment activities are entitled to participate.


Warnings

The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies is not permitted at any stage of this course. Any work that includes AI-generated content will be considered a breach of academic integrity and will result in a grade of 0 for the activity, with no opportunity for resubmission. More severe penalties may apply in serious cases.

Bibliography

The teacher will indicate recommended and mandatory readings for each content.

Basic References:

Ariño, A. & López-Cortés, N. (coords.) (2022): Metodologías lingüísticas: de los datos empíricos a la teoría del lenguaje. Número monográfico de la revista Estudios de Lingüística del Español (número 55). Disponible en https://infoling.org/elies.

Blecua, A. (1983): Manual de crítica textual. Madrid: Castalia.

Booth, W., C. Gregory, G. Colomb y J. Williams (2001): Cómo convertirse en un hábil investigador. Barcelona: Gedisa.

Bosque, I & V. Demonte, eds. (1999): Gramática descriptiva de la lengua española, 3 vols. Madrid: Espasa Calpe.

Chalmers, A. F. (1982): ¿Qué es esa cosa llamada ciencia? Madrid: Siglo XXI.

Colobrans, J. (2001): El doctorando organizado. Zaragoza: Mira Editores.

Díez Borque, J. M. (coord.) (1985): Métodos de estudio de la obra literaria. Taurus: Madrid

Eco, U. (2002): Cómo se hace una tesis. Barcelona: Gedisa [1977].

García de la Fuente, O. (1994): Metodología de la investigación científica. Madrid: Ediciones CEES.

Guillén, C. (1985): Entre lo uno y lo diverso. Introducción a la literatura comparada. Barcelona: Crítica.

Gutiérrez Reixach, J. (2015): Enciclopedia de Lingüística Hispánica. London: Routledge. 2 vols.

Hualde, J. I., A. Olarrea, y E. O’Rourke (eds.) (2012): The Handbook of Hispanic Linguistics. Malden: Wiley-Blackwell.

Kertész, A. y C. Rakósi (2012): Data and Evidence in Linguistics. A Plausible Argumentation Model. Cambridge: CUP.

Litosseliti, L. (ed.) (2010): Research Methods in Linguistics. London: Bloomsbury.

Muñoz-Alonso López, G. (2003): Técnicas de investigación en ciencias humanas.  Madrid: Dykinson.

Molina, H. B. (2004): “La ciencia literaria y el método de investigación”, en V. M. Castel, S. M. Aruani y V. C. Ceverino (eds.), Investigación en ciencias humanas y sociales: del ABC disciplinar a la reflexión metodológica, Editorial de la Facultad de Filosofía y Letras de la Universidad de Cuyo, pp. 225-250.

Montaner Frutos, A. (1999): Prontuario de bibliografía: pautas para la realización de descripciones, citas y repertorios. Gijón: TREA.

Paun de García, S. (2004): Manual práctico de investigación literaria. Madrid: Castalia.

Podesva, R. J. y D. Sharma (eds.) (2013): Research Methods in Linguistics. Cambridge: CUP.

Polacco, M. (1998): L’intertestualità. Roma-Bari: Editori Laterza.

Primo Yúfera, E. (1994): Introducción a la investigación científica y tecnológica. Madrid: Alianza.

Prolope (2008): La edición del teatro de Lope de Vega: las «Partes» de comedias. Criterios de edición. Bellaterra: Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona.

RAE y ASALE (2009): Nueva gramática de la lengua española. Madrid, Espasa.

Thompson, S. (1955-1958): Motif-Index of Folk Literature. A classification of narrative elements in folktales, balads, miths, fables, medieval romances, exempla, fabliaux, jest-books and local legeds. Copenhague y Bloomington: Indiana University Press. 6 vols.

Walker, M. (2000): Cómo escribir trabajos de investigación. Barcelona: Gedisa.

Software

In this course it is not necessary to use specific computer programs.

Course groups and languages

The information provided is provisional until November 30. After this date, you will be able to consult the language of each group through this link. To access the information, you will need to enter the course CODE

Type of teaching Group Language Semester Shift
(TEm) Theory (master) 1 Spanish first semester afternoon