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76624-01 - Lecture: Languages and Literatures in Africa: Plural Forms of Living-Together (2 CP)
| Semester | fall semester 2025 |
| Course frequency | Once only |
| Lecturers |
Isabelle Chariatte (isabelle.chariatte@unibas.ch, Assessor)
Sandra Schlumpf-Thurnherr (sandra.schlumpf@unibas.ch) |
| Content | The intersection of diverse languages and cultures on the African continent is both a source of conflict and a catalyst for innovation. This Ringvorlesung asks key questions: How do national literatures evolve when they are rooted in colonial languages? What kinds of power struggles emerge through language and art? How do complex dynamics of multilingualism shape everyday communication? What new language codes are currently emerging, especially in urban areas? Which linguistic, literary and cultural innovations are unfolding? And how might African perspectives challenge and enrich our academic paradigms? This Ringvorlesung provides a space for transdisciplinary exploration of the creative innovations emerging from Africa’s rich linguistic and literary landscapes. Experts in linguistics and literary studies from English, French, Hispanic, Middle Eastern Studies, Department of Ancient Civilizations, African Studies and Swiss TPH will offer insights and impulses for further thoughts. Invited writers, philosophers and scholars from the African continent will also share their conceptual and artistic perspectives. Some lectures will be in English, others in French. For French lectures, English slides and/or summaries will be provided. |
| Learning objectives | The participants are familiar with recent trends, dynamics and challenges that arise as a result of interaction of diverse languages and cultures on the African continent. They know current lines of research and can relate perspectives from inside and outside the African continent. In an individual essay, they deepen their knowledge of a transversal topic of their choice. |
| Comments | The Ringvorlesung is linked to the Culturescapes Sahara 2025 festival (https://culturescapes.ch/en/magazine/2025-sahara), with some events held as part of the Ringvorlesung. |
| Language of instruction | English |
| Use of digital media | No specific media used |
| Course auditors welcome |
| Interval | Weekday | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|---|
| wöchentlich | Tuesday | 16.15-18.00 | Alte Universität, Hörsaal -101 |
Dates
| Date | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday 16.09.2025 | 16.15-18.00 | Alte Universität, Hörsaal -101 |
| Tuesday 23.09.2025 | 16.15-18.00 | Alte Universität, Hörsaal -101 |
| Tuesday 30.09.2025 | 16.15-18.00 | Alte Universität, Hörsaal -101 |
| Tuesday 07.10.2025 | 16.15-18.00 | Alte Universität, Hörsaal -101 |
| Tuesday 14.10.2025 | 16.15-18.00 | Alte Universität, Hörsaal -101 |
| Tuesday 21.10.2025 | 16.15-18.00 | Alte Universität, Hörsaal -101 |
| Tuesday 28.10.2025 | 16.15-18.00 | Alte Universität, Hörsaal -101 |
| Tuesday 04.11.2025 | 16.15-18.00 | Alte Universität, Hörsaal -101 |
| Tuesday 11.11.2025 | 16.15-18.00 | Alte Universität, Hörsaal -101 |
| Tuesday 18.11.2025 | 16.15-18.00 | Alte Universität, Hörsaal -101 |
| Tuesday 25.11.2025 | 16.15-18.00 | Alte Universität, Hörsaal -101 |
| Tuesday 02.12.2025 | 16.15-18.00 | Alte Universität, Hörsaal -101 |
| Tuesday 09.12.2025 | 16.15-18.00 | Alte Universität, Hörsaal -101 |
| Tuesday 16.12.2025 | 16.15-18.00 | Alte Universität, Hörsaal -101 |
| Modules |
Doktorat Iberoromanische Literaturwissenschaft: Empfehlungen (PhD subject: Ibero-Romance Literature) Doktorat Iberoromanische Sprachwissenschaft: Empfehlungen (PhD subject: Ibero-Romance Linguistics) Doktorat Italienische Literaturwissenschaft: Empfehlungen (PhD subject: Italian Literature) Doktorat Italienische Sprachwissenschaft: Empfehlungen (PhD subject: Italian Linguistics) French Linguistics: Recommendations (PhD subject: French Linguistics) French Literature: Recommendations (PhD subject: French Literature) German Literature: Recommendations (PhD subject: German Literature) Literary Studies: Recommendations (PhD subject: Literary Studies) Modul: Forschungspraxis und Vertiefung (Master's degree program: Language and Communication) Modul: Interphilologie: Literaturwissenschaft BA (Bachelor's degree subject: English) Modul: Interphilologie: Literaturwissenschaft BA (Bachelor's degree subject: Ancient Civilizations) Modul: Interphilologie: Literaturwissenschaft BA (Bachelor's degree subject: German Language and Literature) Modul: Interphilologie: Literaturwissenschaft BA (Bachelor's degree subject: French Language and Literature) Modul: Interphilologie: Literaturwissenschaft BA (Bachelor's degree subject: Spanish Language and Literature) Modul: Interphilologie: Literaturwissenschaft BA (Bachelor's degree subject: Italian Language and Literature) Modul: Interphilologie: Literaturwissenschaft BA (Bachelor's degree subject: Nordic Philology (Start of studies before 01.08.2022)) Modul: Interphilologie: Literaturwissenschaft BA (Bachelor's degree program: Ancient Civilizations) Modul: Interphilologie: Literaturwissenschaft BA (Bachelor's degree subject: Nordic Philology) Modul: Interphilologie: Literaturwissenschaft MA (Master's degree subject: Slavic Studies) Modul: Interphilologie: Literaturwissenschaft MA (Master's degree subject: English) Modul: Interphilologie: Literaturwissenschaft MA (Master's degree subject: German Language and Literature) Modul: Interphilologie: Literaturwissenschaft MA (Master's degree subject: French Language and Literature) Modul: Interphilologie: Literaturwissenschaft MA (Master's degree subject: Spanish Language and Literature) Modul: Interphilologie: Literaturwissenschaft MA (Master's degree subject: Italian Language and Literature) Modul: Interphilologie: Literaturwissenschaft MA (Master's degree subject: German Literature) Modul: Interphilologie: Literaturwissenschaft MA (Master's degree subject: Latin Philology) Modul: Interphilologie: Literaturwissenschaft MA (Master's degree subject: Nordic Philology) Modul: Interphilologie: Literaturwissenschaft MA (Master's Studies - Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences) Modul: Interphilologie: Sprachwissenschaft BA (Bachelor's degree subject: English) Modul: Interphilologie: Sprachwissenschaft BA (Bachelor's degree subject: German Language and Literature) Modul: Interphilologie: Sprachwissenschaft BA (Bachelor's degree subject: French Language and Literature) Modul: Interphilologie: Sprachwissenschaft BA (Bachelor's degree subject: Spanish Language and Literature) Modul: Interphilologie: Sprachwissenschaft BA (Bachelor's degree subject: Italian Language and Literature) Modul: Interphilologie: Sprachwissenschaft BA (Bachelor's degree subject: Nordic Philology (Start of studies before 01.08.2022)) Modul: Interphilologie: Sprachwissenschaft BA (Bachelor's degree subject: Nordic Philology) Modul: Interphilologie: Sprachwissenschaft MA (Master's degree subject: Slavic Studies) Modul: Interphilologie: Sprachwissenschaft MA (Master's degree subject: English) Modul: Interphilologie: Sprachwissenschaft MA (Master's degree subject: German Language and Literature) Modul: Interphilologie: Sprachwissenschaft MA (Master's degree subject: French Language and Literature) Modul: Interphilologie: Sprachwissenschaft MA (Master's degree subject: Spanish Language and Literature) Modul: Interphilologie: Sprachwissenschaft MA (Master's degree subject: Italian Language and Literature) Modul: Interphilologie: Sprachwissenschaft MA (Master's degree subject: Latin Philology) Modul: Interphilologie: Sprachwissenschaft MA (Master's Studies - Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences) Modul: Lectures complexes: Littérature moderne et contemporaine (Bachelor's degree subject: French Language and Literature) Modul: Literaturtheorie (Master's degree program: Literary Studies) Modul: Sachthemen der Ethnologie (Bachelor's degree subject: Anthropology) Modul: Spanische Literaturwissenschaft (Master's degree subject: Spanish Language and Literature) Modul: Spanische Sprachwissenschaft (Master's degree subject: Spanish Language and Literature) Modul: Spécialisation en linguistique française (Master's degree subject: French Language and Literature) Modul: Spécialisation en littérature française (Master's degree subject: French Language and Literature) Modul: Sprache als Prozess (Master's degree program: Language and Communication) Modul: Sprache und Gesellschaft (Master's degree program: Language and Communication) Modul: Themen der Nahoststudien (Bachelor's degree subject: Near & Middle Eastern Studies) Modul: Themen der Near & Middle Eastern Studies (Master's degree subject: Near & Middle Eastern Studies) Module: Fields: Media and Imagination (Master's degree program: African Studies) |
| Assessment format | record of achievement |
| Assessment details | Assessment will take the form of an essay, with room for individual focus and creative approaches. Further details and guidance will be provided at the beginning of the semester. |
| Assessment registration/deregistration | Reg.: course registration; dereg.: not required |
| Repeat examination | one repetition, repetition counts |
| Scale | Pass / Fail |
| Repeated registration | no repetition |
| Responsible faculty | Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, studadmin-philhist@unibas.ch |
| Offered by | Fachbereich Französische Sprach- und Literaturwissenschaft |