Language (Re)construction 3301-JF1633-1ST
The course offers a phonological and morphological analysis of selected constructed languages (conlangs). First, the classes focus on the description of conlangs, their main characteristics and rules governing language construction, as well as distinguishing between a priori and a posteriori languages. Second, the students analyze the differences between constructed and natural languages, looking briefly at language typology as well as morphological and phonological processes that will be relevant for further study. The main part of the course constitutes the analysis and the evaluation of conlangs per se. Given that, the first two conlangs that are discussed are Dothraki and Valyrian, which appear in the saga “A Song of Ice and Fire”. Dothraki and Valyrian are juxtaposed with Arabic and Spanish, in the case of Dothraki, and Latin, in the case of Valyrian. Drawing a parallel between the conlangs and their natural language equivalents allows for conducting morphological and phonological analyses of Dothraki and Valyrian, focusing on word-formation processes, phonological features and the application of basic phonological rules. In order to enrich the experience of language construction, the students will be asked to watch selected clips from the tv series “Game of Thrones” and “House of the Dragon”, where those conlangs are being spoken by the actors.
The next conlangs that the students will analyze in a similar fashion are Elvish (specifically, Sarati, Tengwar and Cirth) and Interslavic. Finally, at the end of the course, the students will discuss Ithkuil, an experimental constructed language, which is one of the most challenging conlangs, famous for its grammatical complexity and robust segment inventory.
Type of course
Mode
Course coordinators
Learning outcomes
Knowledge
Students will be able to:
- K_W01
identify the place and specificity of English Studies against the background of other academic disciplines within the humanities
- K_W05
list and discuss the characteristics of English grammar, syntax, phonology, phonetics, morphology and pragmatics on an advanced level
- K_W07
explain principles of designing linguistic studies, with special focus on selecting appropriate methods and tools in formulating research questions and testing research hypotheses
- K_W08
describe language evolution on an advanced level, with special focus on English, and give examples of language change within its various subsystems
Abilities
Students will be able to:
- K_U01
employ the terminology and methodological tools from linguistics
- K_U02
employ the methodology of linguistics within English studies, respecting the ethical norms and copyright law
- K_U07
employ modern technology for the sake of obtaining information and using various communication channels and techniques
- K_U08
plan and organize working alone and in a team to attain goals
Social competences
Students will be ready to:
- K_K02
undertake life-long learning and personal development, applying skills and competences to select subjects and projects optimally suiting one’s personal interests
- K_K03
value responsibility for one’s own work and respect the work of others, adhering to the professional and ethical norms in various projects and other activities undertaken at work, voluntary services, etc.
- K_K04
apply the skill to critically assess communicated content to think and act independently in various social situations
- K_K05
function effectively in social and cultural interactions, through various forms and media, thanks to the ability to express oneself in a cohesive and lucid manner
Education at language level B2+.
Assessment criteria
- attendance
- participation in discussions
- final test
3 absences are allowed.
Bibliography
Chomsky, Noam & Morris Halle. 1968. The Sound Pattern of English. New York: Harper & Row.
Coulter, George H. 2020. How Dead Languages Work. United Kingdom: Oxford University Press.
Fromkin, Victoria A. 2000. Linguistics: An Introduction to Linguistic Theory. Malden, Mass. & Oxford: Blackwell.
Game of Thrones. 2011-2019. Created by David Benioff and D. B. Weiss, HBO Entertainment.
Halle, Morris. 1992. Phonological features. In William Bright (ed.), International Encyclopedia of Linguistics, 207-212. New York: Oxford University Press.
Haspelmath, Martin & Andrea D. Sims. 2010. Understanding Morphology (2nd ed.) London: Routledge.
House of the Dragon. 2022-. Created by Ryan J. Condal and George R.R, Martin, HBO Entertainment.
Jensen, John T. 1990. Morphology. Word Structure in Generative Grammar. Amsterdam: John Benjamins.
Kenstowicz, Michael. 1994. Phonology in Generative Grammar. Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishing.
Martin, George R.R. 2012. A Song of Ice and Fire. London, England: HarperVoyager.
McCarthy, John, J. & Alan S. Prince. 1995. Faithfulness and reduplicative identity. In Jill N. Beckman, Michael W. Dickey & Suzanne Urbanczyk (eds.), University of Massachusetts Occasional Papers in Linguistics, vol. 18, 249-384. Amherst, MA: GLSA Publications.
McColl Millar, Robert (ed.). 2015. Trask’s Historical Linguistics (3rd edition). London and New York: Routledge.
McWhorter, John. 2003. The Power of Babel: A Natural History of Language. London: Arrow House.
Mohanan, Karuvannur P. 1986. The Theory of Lexical Phonology. Dordrecht, D. Reidel.
Okrent, Arika. 2010. In the Land of Invented Languages: Adventures in Linguistic Creativity, Madness, and Genius. New York: Spiegel & Grau.
Peterson, David J. 2015. The Art of Language Invention: From Horse-Lords to Dark Elves to Sand Worms, the Words Behind World-Building. New York: Penguin Books.
Prince, Alan & Paul Smolensky. 2004. Optimality Theory: Constraint Interaction in Generative Grammar. Oxford: Blackwell. [Revision of 1993 technical report, Rutgers University Center for Cognitive Sciences. Available on Rutgers Optimality Archive, ROA-537]
Rosenfelder, Mark. 2010. The Language Construction Kit. Chicago: Yonagu Books.
Rubach, Jerzy. 1984. Cyclic and Lexical Phonology: The Structure of Polish. Dordrecht: Foris.
Sagey, Elizabeth. 1986. The Representation of Features and Relations in Non-Linear Phonology. Ph.D. dissertation, MIT.
Spencer, Andrew. 1991. Morphological Theory: An Introduction to Word Structure in Generative Grammar. Oxford & Cambridge, MA: Basil Blackwell.
Tolkien, J. R. R. 1991. The Lord of the Rings. London, England: HarperCollins.
Tolkien, John R. R. 2016. A secret vice. In Dimitra Finn and Andrew Higgins (eds.), A Secret Vice: Tolkien on Invented Languages. United Kingdom: Harper Collins.
Van Steenbergen, Jan. 2022. Interslavic Language. (Retrieved, October, 31, 2022). http://steen.free.fr/interslavic/index.html
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: