Introduction to Linguistics 3200-L1-0WJA
The aim of the course is to present an overview of contemporary linguistics and its basic concepts. During the course, students learn about the components of the language system and relationships between them, and are shown tools and methodologies used for analysing these dimensions.
The first part of the semester discusses the basic levels and units of linguistic analysis, theories regaridng the origins of language, and the unique features of language that distinguish it from other forms of communication. In the second part of the semester, the issues concerning the history of writing and related to computational lingsuitics and natural language processing are discussed. Subsequent lectures are devoted to a discussion of basic concepts in psycholinguistics, theories of language acquisition (first and second language acquisition), historical linguistics, dialectology, sociolinguistics and sign linguistics.
Student workload:
Lecture (contact hours): 30 hours
Self-study: 20 hours
Total: 50 hours
Prerequisites (description)
Course coordinators
Type of course
Mode
Learning outcomes
Knowledge:
- knows the structure of language as a system, has basic knowledge about the place and importance of sciences in the field of linguistics (general and applied) in the system of sciences, and also understands their subject-specific specificity (K1-W01;
- knows the basic terminology in the field of linguistics (general and applied) (K1_W02);
- knows the stages of development of linguistics as a field of knowledge in historical terms, understands the complex nature of language as well as its complexity and historical variability, (K1_W03);
- outlines the main directions of development and the most important new scientific achievements in the field of linguistics (general and applied) (K1_W04);
- knows and understands the specificity of contemporary linguistics paradigms (general and applied), has ordered general knowledge in the field of theory and methodology in the field of linguistics (K1_W05);
- knows and understands the links between applied language studies and other study domains and academic disciplines,
Skills:
- has elementary research skills,(K1_U02);
- is capable of the appropriate use of theoretical knowledge related to linguistics in typical professional situations, such as team projects, including interdisciplinary projects,
Social competence:
- is ready to critically assess his own knowledge in the field of applied linguistics, appreciates the importance of substantive argumentation in solving research and practical problems (in professional situations) (K1_K02).
Assessment criteria
Assessment criteria:
attendance (required to get credit and take exam)
written exam (winter exam session)
Two unexcused absences are allowed. IIf there are more than 50% of absences, the student may not obtain credit for the course, pursuant to the Regulations of Studies.
Exam results: percentages and grades:
99% -100 - 5!
98% - 91% - 5
90% - 86% - 4,5
85% - 76% - 4
75% - 71% - 3.5
70% - 60% - 3
less than 60% - 2
Failing the exam in the main session results in a failing grade (2.0) being entered into the USOS system for the first attempt, and requires the student to retake the examination during the retake session.
The retake exam is conducted under the same conditions and in the same format as the exam in the main session.
Practical placement
n/a
Bibliography
Primary sources
1. O’Grady, W., J. Archibald, M. Aronoff and J. Rees-Miller, 2017, Contemporary Linguistics: An Introduction, Boston/New York: Bedford/St Martin’s.
2. Yule, G. 2020, The Study of Language, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
Additional sources:
1. Akmajian, A., R. Demers, A. Farmer and R. Harnish 2001. Linguistics: An Introduction to Language and Communication. (5th edition) MIT Press.
2. Aronoff, M. and J. Rees-Miller (eds) 2001. The Handbook of Linguistics. Blackwell Publishers. Crystal, D. 1987. The Cambridge Encyclopaedia of Language. Cambridge University Press.
3. Crystal, D. 2010. A Little Book of Language. Yale University Press.
4. Fromkin, V., R. Rodman and N. Hyams 2011. An Introduction to Language (9th edition). Wadsworth. Radford,
5. Atkinson, A.M, D. Britain, H. Clahsen and A. Spencer 1999. Linguistics. An Introduction. Cambridge University Press.
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: