Universität Wien

122227 SE Linguistics Seminar / BA Paper / MA historical & descriptive linguistics / MA applied linguistics (2011W)

Introduction to Cognitive Grammar

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

  • Wednesday 12.10. 18:00 - 20:00 Raum 4 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-19
  • Wednesday 19.10. 18:00 - 20:00 Raum 4 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-19
  • Wednesday 09.11. 18:00 - 20:00 Raum 4 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-19
  • Wednesday 16.11. 18:00 - 20:00 Raum 4 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-19
  • Wednesday 23.11. 18:00 - 20:00 Raum 4 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-19
  • Wednesday 30.11. 18:00 - 20:00 Raum 4 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-19
  • Wednesday 07.12. 18:00 - 20:00 Raum 4 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-19
  • Wednesday 14.12. 18:00 - 20:00 Raum 4 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-19
  • Wednesday 11.01. 18:00 - 20:00 Raum 4 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-19
  • Wednesday 18.01. 18:00 - 20:00 Raum 4 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-19
  • Wednesday 25.01. 18:00 - 20:00 Raum 4 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-19

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

Cognitive Linguistics was developed during the 1970s and 80s by a group of linguists who were dissatisfied with the then prevailing generative enterprise and now forms one of the main paradigms in linguistics, with adherents from all of the world and from many different backgrounds (functional and descriptive linguistics, psycholinguistics, pragmatics, discourse studies, etc.). It offers an innovative approach to the study of language and mind, seeking to formulate the cognitive principles that motivate the structure of language. Although over the years a number of different cognitively-based approaches and models have been developed, they all shared the following basic assumptions.
In this course we will:
- Discuss a number of influential papers to trace the origin and development of the cognitive approach to language description and to become familiar with its underlying principles and the most important basic concepts and terminology.
- Discuss a number of topics of special interest for cognitive linguistics, such as conceptual structure and organization, the relationship between language and thought, the experiential and pragmatic background of language-in-use, the issue of embodiment, figurative language (metaphor and metonymy), prototypicality and systematic polysemy
- Apply the theory of Cognitive Grammar (as developed by Ronald Langacker) to some core areas of the English language.

Assessment and permitted materials

Students will be assessed on the basis of a midterm assignment, a presentation (part of a mini-conference) and a final essay. Active participation is required.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

The aim of this course is to acquaint students with the basic principles of Cognitive Linguistics, as well as with some of the most important cognitive models and approaches, and to teach them to apply one of these models to (certain areas of) the English language.

Examination topics

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

Reading list

Günther Radden & Rene Dirven, 2007. Cognitive English Grammar. Amsterdam: John Benjamins
Dirk Geeraerts (ed.), 2006. Cognitive Linguistics: Basic readings. Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter.

Association in the course directory

Studium: Diplom 343, UF 344, BA 612, ME 812;
Code/Modul: Diplom 222, 226/228, 236/238, 721-723, 821, UF 4.2.3-222, BA06.2, M04, M05
Lehrinhalt: 12-0312

Last modified: Mo 07.09.2020 15:33