Universität Wien

120224 SE MA Seminar - Focus: Functional and Cognitive Linguistics / Linguistics Seminar (2017W)

Linguistic Categorization

10.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 12 - Anglistik
Continuous assessment of course work
Moodle

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 20 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Wednesday 11.10. 18:00 - 20:00 Seminarraum 6 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-22.A
  • Wednesday 18.10. 18:00 - 20:00 Seminarraum 6 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-22.A
  • Wednesday 25.10. 18:00 - 20:00 Seminarraum 6 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-22.A
  • Wednesday 08.11. 18:00 - 20:00 Seminarraum 6 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-22.A
  • Wednesday 15.11. 18:00 - 20:00 Seminarraum 6 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-22.A
  • Wednesday 22.11. 18:00 - 20:00 Seminarraum 6 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-22.A
  • Wednesday 29.11. 18:00 - 20:00 Seminarraum 6 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-22.A
  • Wednesday 06.12. 18:00 - 20:00 Seminarraum 6 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-22.A
  • Wednesday 13.12. 18:00 - 20:00 Seminarraum 6 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-22.A
  • Wednesday 10.01. 18:00 - 20:00 Seminarraum 6 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-22.A
  • Wednesday 17.01. 18:00 - 21:00 Seminarraum 6 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-22.A
  • Wednesday 24.01. 18:00 - 21:00 Seminarraum 6 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-22.A
  • Wednesday 31.01. 18:00 - 21:00 Seminarraum 6 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-22.A

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

The notion of categorization plays a crucial role in any approach to grammar, whether descriptive, generative, functional or cognitive: one cannot do linguistics without assuming the existence (in some form or other) of linguistic categories. What linguists disagree about, however, is the nature of those categories. Are they discrete and clear-cut, i.e. is category membership a matter of all or nothing? Or are grammatical categories blurred at the edges, with some members being better examples than others? And if the latter, is it always possible (and desirable) to determine category membership at all? In this course, two basic approaches to categorization - the classical approach and the prototype approach - are compared and tested on categories within the fields of semantics, morphology, syntax and phonology.

Assessment and permitted materials

Students will be assessed on the basis of a midterm assignment, a presentation and a final essay. Active participation is required.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

The aim of this course is to provide insight into the process of linguistic categorization, i.e. in the way humans use language to categorize objects and events from the external world (‘cat’, ‘love’, ‘art’) and in the way the linguistic items used to describe this world are themselves categorized (as nouns or verbs, as subjects or objects, or as vowels or consonants). Students will be made aware of the kind of criteria used for distinguishing linguistic categories and the problems involved in applying and evaluating these criteria.

Examination topics

Readings, assignments, classroom discussions, presentation, individual research project.

Reading list

John Taylor (2003). Linguistic Categorization. 3rd edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Additional reading will be made available during the course.

Association in the course directory

Studium: MA812 (2); UF 344
Code/Modul: MA 4, MA 5; UF 4.2.3-222
Lehrinhalt: 12-0496

Last modified: Mo 07.09.2020 15:33