Universität Wien

122220 SE Linguistics Seminar / BA Paper (2019W)

Linguistic Categorization

11.00 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. 18 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Tuesday 08.10. 14:00 - 16:00 Seminarraum 6 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-22.A
  • Tuesday 15.10. 14:00 - 16:00 Seminarraum 6 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-22.A
  • Tuesday 22.10. 14:00 - 16:00 Seminarraum 6 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-22.A
  • Tuesday 29.10. 14:00 - 16:00 Seminarraum 6 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-22.A
  • Tuesday 05.11. 14:00 - 16:00 Seminarraum 6 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-22.A
  • Tuesday 12.11. 14:00 - 16:00 Seminarraum 6 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-22.A
  • Tuesday 19.11. 14:00 - 16:00 Seminarraum 6 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-22.A
  • Tuesday 26.11. 14:00 - 16:00 Seminarraum 6 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-22.A
  • Tuesday 03.12. 14:00 - 16:00 Seminarraum 6 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-22.A
  • Tuesday 10.12. 14:00 - 16:00 Seminarraum 6 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-22.A
  • Tuesday 17.12. 14:00 - 16:00 Seminarraum 6 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-22.A
  • Tuesday 07.01. 14:00 - 16:00 Seminarraum 6 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-22.A
  • Tuesday 14.01. 14:00 - 16:00 Seminarraum 6 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-22.A
  • Tuesday 21.01. 14:00 - 16:00 Seminarraum 6 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-22.A
  • Tuesday 28.01. 14:00 - 16:00 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 lingusitic analysis, 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 linguistic 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.

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.

Assessment and permitted materials

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

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

Students will be assessed on the basis of a midterm assignment (20%), a research proposal (20%) and a term paper (60%). Active participation is required.
To pass the course, each of these components need to be completed, and an overall average of 60% needs to be obtained.

Examination topics

Readings and classroom discussions.

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: UF 344, BA 612
Code/Modul: UF 4.2.3-222, BA06.2
Lehrinhalt: 12-2222

Last modified: Mo 07.09.2020 15:20