Elective course:Linguistic theories. Basic assumptions and research postulates 3200-L2-PF-TLB
“There is nothing more practical than a good theory” (Lewin 1952, 169). In relation to linguistic theories, the assessment of which theory is good and which is less so, must consider not only the purpose of its practical application, but also its basic assumptions and research postulates. Their thorough analysis helps in research practice to select suitable theoretical models. The proposed discussion of the assumptions of contemporary linguistic theories and their research postulates will be preceded by an in-depth reflection on their subject, and therefore the thematic scope of the lecture will include the following questions:
1. Natural language and its definitions
2. Language as a system
3. Speech, or language in use
4. Predicate-argument structure of the sentence
5. Texts in discourses or discourses in texts?
6. De Saussure’s methodological project
7. Structuralist Approaches to language (Glosematics, Distributionalism, Contextualism)
8. Generative grammars (transformative-generative grammar, semantic role grammar, construction grammar)
9. Linguistic Pragmatics
10. Cognitive linguistics (prototype theory, Langacker’s cognitive grammar, metaphor theory, Fillmore’s interpretive frame theory)
11. Linguistic image of the world
Student contribution to the programme (2 ECTS):
30h - participation in the lecture
15h - doing homework
15h - preparation for the final exam
Type of course
Mode
Prerequisites (description)
Course coordinators
Learning outcomes
Upon the course completion students
- have the knowledge of
• major assumptions, concepts and methods of the specific directions in linguistics;
• terminology linked to these currents;
- are able to
• identify main proponents of the currents discussed and contexts in which the latter have developed;
• compare the trends theoretically and empirically in order to apply them correctly to linguistic research, language teaching and translation;
- are socially competent in
• recognizing correctly and influencing constructively communicative phenomena in the world;
• shaping consciously their linguistic environments toward using appropriate norms of social interaction.
Assessment criteria
Didactic methods giving: description, conversation lecture,
Didactic methods seeking: problem-based: problem solving, tasks, questions and answers, case analysis;
Exposing teaching methods: preparing a presentation / paper;
Working methods: individual work, discussions.
Assessment methods
- continuous assessment (ongoing preparation for classes)
- written exam (100% of the final grade)
% score in the final credit:
55-69% - 3
70-74% - 3+
75-84% - 4
85-89% - 4+
90-100% - 5
Students are allowed two unexcused absences per 30 contact hours.
Failing results in receiving a failing grade in USOS in the first term and the need to retake the final test in the same form during the retake exam session.
Bibliography
Apresjan J. (1971): Koncepcje i metody współczesnej lingwistyki strukturalnej, cz. 1: Z historii lingwistyki strukturalnej. Warszawa.
Apresjan J. (1990): Semantyka leksykalna, Warszawa.
Chomsky N. (1982): Zagadnienia teorii składni. Transl. I. Jakubczak. Wrocław.
Chomsky N. (2005): O naturze i języku. Transl. J. Lang. Poznań.
Danielewiczowa M. (2016): Dosięgnąć przedmiotu. Warszawa.
Fillmore Ch. (1991): Gramatyka przypadka. In: Semiotyka wczoraj i dziś, Warszawa.
Grice H.P. (1977): Logika a konwersacja, Przegląd Humanistyczny 6, p.85-99.
Hjelmslev L. (1979): Prolegomena do teorii języka. In: Językoznawstwo strukturalne. Wybór tekstów, red. H. Kurkowska, A. Weinsberg, Warszawa, p. 44-70.
Kalisz R. (1994): Teoretyczne podstawy językoznawstwa kognitywnego. In: Podstawy gramatyki kognitywnej, red. H. Kardela, Warszawa.
Langacker R. (2001): Wykłady z gramatyki kognitywnej, Lublin.
Mioduszewska E. , Teoria relewancji. In: Metodologie językoznawstwa. Podstawy teoretyczne, red. P. Stalmaszczyk, Łódź, s.155-173.
Stalmaszczyk P. (1991): „Gramatyka generatywna Noama Chomsky'ego – najnowsze tendencje i niektóre implikacje”. In: H. Kardela, Z. Muszyński (red.): Noam Chomsky. Inspiracje i perspektywy. Lublin, Warszawa, p. 139-156.
Stalmaszczyk P. (1992): „Współczesna gramatyka generatywna Noama Chomsky'ego - przegląd problematyki i implikacje”. In: F. Grucza (red.): Gramatyka - konstrukt imtelektualny czy rzeczywistość: glottodydaktyczne implikacje tej alternatywy. Warszawa, p. 85-101.
Tabakowska E. (1995): Gramatyka i obrazowanie. Wprowadzenie do językoznawstwa kognitywnego, Kraków.
Wierzbicka A. (1999). Język — umysł — kultura, Warszawa .
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: