Universität Wien
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122222 SE Linguistics Seminar / BA Paper (2023W)

Linguistic models: A case study of the noun phrase

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. 17 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Friday 13.10. 08:15 - 09:45 Raum 2 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-09
  • Friday 20.10. 08:15 - 09:45 Raum 2 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-09
  • Friday 27.10. 08:15 - 09:45 Raum 2 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-09
  • Friday 03.11. 08:15 - 09:45 Raum 2 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-09
  • Friday 10.11. 08:15 - 09:45 Raum 2 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-09
  • Friday 17.11. 08:15 - 09:45 Raum 2 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-09
  • Friday 24.11. 08:15 - 09:45 Raum 2 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-09
  • Friday 01.12. 08:15 - 09:45 Raum 2 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-09
  • Friday 15.12. 08:15 - 09:45 Raum 2 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-09
  • Friday 12.01. 08:15 - 09:45 Raum 2 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-09
  • Friday 19.01. 08:15 - 09:45 Raum 2 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-09
  • Friday 26.01. 08:15 - 09:45 Raum 2 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-09

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

Contemporary linguistics offers a plethora of language models from formal ones, e.g. different Generative Grammars and Head-driven Phrase Structure Grammar, to functional-cognitive ones, e.g. Systemic Functional Grammar, Construction Grammar and Cognitive Grammar. Linguists often assume that their readers are familiar with their chosen models when presenting their research and fail to explain central concepts and premises that underlie their approaches and influence their findings. This presents a challenge for students of linguistics, who, when researching a particular linguistic phenomenon, are often confronted with a number of unfamiliar concepts, terminology and assumptions that they need to understand in order to comprehend the conclusions.

This course sets out to explore the different linguistic elements of and problems posed by the noun phrase through the eyes of different theoretical approaches to syntax. Through the readings, classroom discussion and interactive exercises, it will provide students with a basic understanding of three of the central models used in contemporary linguistics and allow students to reflect on meta-level questions, such as how these different models draw on evidence from other fields (e.g. first language acquisition) to support their conceptualization of language.

Assessment and permitted materials

Course evaluation is based on:
Participation (20%)
Project proposal (15%)
Presentation of research project (15%)
BA paper (50%)

Pass grade: 60%

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

Minimum requirements:
-) regular class attendance (max. 2 absences)
-) regular participation in class and completion of regular readings and assignments
-) submitting a project proposal (on set date)
-) giving an oral group presentation (on set date)
-) conducting a small research project and submitting a BA paper (on set date)
-) refraining from plagiarism in all tasks

Grades:
1: 90-100%
2: 80-89.9%
3: 70-79.9%
4: 60-69.9%
5: < 60%

Examination topics

Students should be familiar with the required reading and the main concepts discussed in class, should be able to find further literature on a topic relevant to the course, and should be able to apply the theoretical concepts in an individual (qualitative and/or quantitative) research project (demonstrated in their bachelor paper).

Reading list

Selected chapters from:
Butler, Christopher S.; Gonzálvez-García, Francisco. 2014. Exploring Functional Cognitive Space. Amsterdam/Philadelphia: John Benjamins.
Carnie, Andrew. 2002. Syntax: A Generative Introduction. Oxford: Blackwell.
Cinque, Guglienmo. 2010. The Syntax of Adjectives: a comparative study. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
Davidse, Kristin; Breban, Tine. 2019. A cognitive functional approach to the order of adjectives in the English noun phrase. Linguistics 57(2): 327-371.
Ghesquière, Lobke. 2014. The Directionality of (Inter)subjectification in the English Noun Phrase: Pathways of Change. Berlin: De Gruyter Mouton.
Hoffman, Thomas. 2022. Construction Grammar: The Structure of English. Cambridge: CUP.
Kim, Jong-Bok; Sells, Peter. 2015. English binominal NPs: A construction based-perspective. Journal of Linguistics 51, 41-73.
Langacker, Roland W. 2015. Cognitive Grammar. In Bernd Heine; Narrog, Heiko (eds.). The Oxford Handbook of Linguistic Analysis, Oxford: OUP, 99-120.
Napoli, Donna J. 1989. Predication Theory: A case study for indexing theory. Cambridge: CUP.
Radden, Günter; Dirven, René. 2007. Cognitive English Grammar. Amsterdam/Philadelphia: John Benjamins.
Scott, Gary-John. 2002. Stacked Adjectival Modification and the Structure of Nominal Phrases. IN Cinque, Guglielma (ed.), Functional Structure in DP and IP: The Cartography of Syntactic Structures, Vol 1. Oxford: OUP, 91-120.

Association in the course directory

Studium: BA 612
Code/Modul: BA06.2
Lehrinhalt: 12-2222

Last modified: Mo 09.10.2023 18:07