Introduction to the Linguistic Study of English
Course title: Introduction to the Linguistic Study of English
Course leader: Asst. Prof. Kristijan Nikolić
Instructor: Asst. Prof. Kristijan Nikolić
ECTS credits: 4
Language: English
Semester: 1st (winter)
Status: Obligatory
Form of Instruction: Four hours of lectures per week (please check the timetable)
Prerequisites: None
Examination: Two continuous assessment tests, written
Course/module contents: This introductory course/module covers the basic topics in general linguistics and selected issues in the linguistic description of the English language. Language is defined on the basis of its unique properties. The course/module covers topics ranging from the origins of language, moving towards core linguistic disciplines such as syntax and semantics, and finishes with the place of the English language within culture.
Objectives: Students will acquire basic theoretical competences for the linguistic study of English. This course/module will serve as the basis for other linguistic courses/modules in the programme, and will enable students to compare and contrast the approaches.
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Week |
Topic |
Notes |
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1 |
The Origins of Language |
The Divine Source, The Natural Source, The Natural Sound Source, The Musical Source, The Physical Adaptation Source, The Tool-Making Source, The Gesture Source, The Genetic Source |
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Animals and Human language |
Communication, Properties of Human Language, Talking to Animals, Chimpanzees and Language, Using Language |
|
2 |
The Sounds of Language |
Phonetics, Consonants, Voiced and Voiceless Sounds, Place of Articulation, Manner of Articulation, A Consonant Chart, Vowels, Diphthongs, Subtle Individual Variation |
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The Sound Patterns of Language |
Phonology, Phonemes, Phones and Allophones, Phonotactics, Syllables, Coarticulation Effects |
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3 |
Word Formation |
Neologisms, Etymology, Borrowing, Compounding, Clipping, Conversion, Coinage, Derivation |
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Morphology |
Morphemes, Morphological Description, Morphs, Allomorphs, Special Cases, Other Languages |
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4 |
Grammar |
English Grammar, Traditional Grammar, The Prescriptive Approach, The Descriptive Approach, Subjects and Objects, Word Order |
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Syntax |
Syntactic Rules and Analysis, Phrase Structure Rules, Lexical Rules, Tree Diagrams, A Movement Rule |
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5 |
Semantics |
Meaning, Sematic Features, Sematic Roles, Lexical Relations, Collocation |
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Pragmatics |
Invisible Meaning, Context, Reference, Presupposition, Pragmatic Markers, The Co-operative Principle, Politeness, Speech Acts |
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6 |
Discourse Analysis |
Discourse, Cohesion, Coherence, Conversation Analysis, Conversational Repair, Background Knowledge |
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Language and the Brain |
Neurolinguistics, Language Areas in the Brain, Tongue Tips and Slips, Aphasia, Dichotic Learning, The Critical Period |
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7 |
Continuous assessment 1 |
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8 |
First Language Acquisition |
Acquisition, The Acquisition Schedule and Process, Developing Phonology, Morphology, Syntax and Semantics |
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Second Language Acquisition |
Second Language Acquisition, Focus on Teaching Method, Task-Based Learning, Focus on the Learner, Communicative Competence |
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9 |
Gestures and Sign Language |
Gestures, Types of Sign Gestures, Oralism, Signed English, Origins of Sign Language, The Structure of Signs, Representing Signs, The Meaning of Signs, Sign Languages and Natural Languages |
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Written Language |
Writing, Phonographic Writing, Syllabic Writing, Alphabetic Writing, Written English |
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10 |
Language History and Change |
Family Trees, Indo-European Tree, Comparative Reconstruction, The History of English, Sound Changes, Syntactic and Semantic Changes, Diachronic and Synchronic Variation |
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Regional Variation in Language |
The Standard Language, Dialectology, Regional Bilingualism, Language Planning, Pidgins, Creoles |
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11 |
Social Variation in Language |
Sociolinguistics, Speech Style and Style-Shifting, Speech Accommodation, Register, Slang |
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Language and Culture |
Culture, Categories, Language Relativity, Cognitive Categories, Social Categories, Gender |
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12 |
Continuous assessment 2 |
Obligatory reading:
– Yule, George (2022). The Study of Language. 8th ed. Cambridge University Press
Additional reading:
– Fasold, Ralph W., and Connor-Linton, Jeff (eds.) (2006). An Introduction to Language and Linguistics. Cambridge University Press
– Lyons, John (1981). Language and Linguistics. An Introduction. Cambridge University Press
