Modul II
Introduction to Linguistics
This course is designed to provide an introduction to the study of language. Starting with general definitions and properties of language, we will then look at basic issues in the field of linguistics. The primary concern will be with the different levels of linguistics, i.e. phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics and pragmatics. Matters to be discussed include some of the major areas of linguistics, e.g. sociolinguistics, varieties of English, language change and language acquisition.Students are expected to participate regularly and actively in the course. These are two prerequisites for taking the final exam. The exam is scheduled for 10/02/2009 and the resit for 11/03/2009.
The Reader (Reader 6 = Introduction to Linguistics) is available at Reckhammerweg 4.
- Group 1: Ingo Bachmann, Thursday 14-16, Room R11 T04 C94
- Group 2: Melanie Borchers, Wednesday 8-10, Room R11 T04 C59
- Group 3: Ingo Bachmann, Thursday 10-12, Room R11 T04 C59
- Group 4: Ingo Bachmann, Tuesday 14-16, Room R11 T04 C94
Modul III or Grundstudium
'Let's try and find a B & B' -- Coordination, Subordination and Related Phenomena
Ingo Bachmann, Tuesday 10-12, Room R11 T04 C94
Kommentar folgt
Modul IV or Grundstudium
The English Lexicon
Claudia Claridge, Thursday 10-12, Room S07 S00 D07
Lecture course!!!
The lecture will deal with the structural properties of the English lexicon. One important aspect to be treated is its etymologically mixed character, together with the consequences such as wide-spread synonymy, delicate stylistic levels and the requirements for lexicography. Another aspect concerns the morphological make-up of the lexicon, which - partly due the analytic character of English - shows a high degree of flexibility and innovativeness (cf. for example the numerous conversions and blends). A third aspect concerns combinability and fixedness within the lexicon, i.e. collocation, colligation and idiomaticity. Another point to be treated concerns the semantic relationships between words (e.g. antonymy) and how this shows up in actual English usage.
Click here for the results of the final exam!
Click here for the results of the final exam (re-sit)!
And as the Frensshe booke saith ...
Melanie Borchers, Thursday 8-10, Room V15 S02 C87
Sirs and Frendis, ye be welcome ywisse to learne the vse of the Inglise tung in Inglonde vndir the Frensshe Kynges. William Bastard of Normandy, éat conquerede Engelond in 1066 & Zeven hys influence bothe vpon londys and people. We shalbe lokying manifolde langwage feture; be yt wordys formynge, any pronounsyng off rymes or the connyng of dialetykk. A thorugh excercyse shalbe ur suete taske.
Yf you coome, ye shalbe welcome; yf you come not, I will not take it in evill part.
Makyng sure tat illc an understandys: Students are required to prepare chapters 5 and 6 of Baugh & Cable’s (2006) A History of the English Language (cf. Semesterapparat) as a reading test will be distributed during the first week of the semester.
'Let's try and find a B & B' -- Coordination, Subordination and Related Phenomena
Ingo Bachmann, Tuesday 10-12, Room R11 T04 C94
Description cf. above
Modul VI or Hauptstudium
Comparing English and German
Claudia Claridge, Tuesday 10-12, Room R11 T04 C59
English and German are close relatives, having developed from a common West-Germanic root. Modern English and German, however, reveal interesting structural differences, which are due the different historical development of the two languages. Some examples: In contrast to German, English has an etymologically mixed lexicon, a fact which has both morphological and stylistic consequences. While English has grammaticalized many important distinctions in the tense, mood and aspect system, German tends to deal with these things in a more lexical manner (e.g. by modal particles). German word order is fairly free and flexible, whereas English word order possibilities tend to be more heavily regulated. We will look at a number of specific examples of such differences, paying attention both to typological aspects of language comparison and to communicative and stylistic points.
Representing Spoken English
Claudia Claridge, Wednesday 10-12, Room R11 T05 C84
Spoken and written English are two very distinct varieties of English, having two “different grammars” (Leech) and a very distinctive array of features. They also make different contributions to language change, with spoken English usually being the more innovative variety. It is therefore a problem that there is no first-hand evidence of historical spoken language – this is often solved by using drama or trial transcripts as evidence for historical language change. We will approach this problem by first comparing authentic spoken English with modern written representations of speech, such as in modern drama or in the Hansard (parliamentary proceedings), to assess the reliability of such ‘transcriptions’. Then we will also look at historical material to see how speech was represented in the past.
The Evolution of English Registers
Claudia Claridge, Thursday 14-16, Room R11 T04 C59
Registers are functional language varieties, which are characterised by a common subject field and similar communicative contexts, e.g. the language of religion or of science. Registers are distinguished from each others by a characteristic assortment of linguistic features, and by typical text types within them. Registers existing in modern English as distinct varieties have very different time depth and histories. While the registers of religion and historiography, for example, go back to the very beginning of the history of English, the register of science only arise from about the 15th century onward. Press language is even more recent, starting in the 17th century. In this course, we will be looking at selected registers in modern English, analyse their features and then trace them back in time.
The Language of 'Emotion'
Claudia Claridge, Tuesday 14-16, Room R11 T04 C59
Speakers use language not only for imparting objective information, but also for subjective expression. This latter may actually be the more prominent and unavoidable language function. Whatever we say, we will always be expressing our attitude to the topic, to the addressee, to the situation in general and even to ourselves – and even a lack of an overt attitude can be taken as subjective expression. These aspects have been treated in the literature by such concepts as involvement or emotive communication. We will look both at theoretical approaches to this field of linguistic study and at specific features and choices for emotional expression. Among those are lexical items (e.g. evaluative terms, terms of address), morphological choices (e.g. superlative), syntactic options (e.g. past tense for politeness) and intonation.
Modul VIII or Hauptstudium
Comparing English and German
Claudia Claridge, Tuesday 10-12, Room R11 T04 C59
Description cf. above
Representing Spoken English
Claudia Claridge, Wednesday 10-12, Room R11 T05 C84
Description cf. above
The Evolution of English Registers
Claudia Claridge, Thursday 14-16, Room R11 T04 C59
Description cf. above
Modul X or Hauptstudium
Comparing English and German
Claudia Claridge, Tuesday 10-12, Room R11 T04 C59
Description cf. above
Representing Spoken English
Claudia Claridge, Wednesday 10-12, Room R11 T05 C84
Description cf. above
The Evolution of English Registers
Claudia Claridge, Thursday 14-16, Room R11 T04 C59
Description cf. above