English linguistics [LANGB101]

Learning outcomes

Introduction to the phonology, morphology and grammar of contemporary English. Students are expected to acquire the skill to analyse attested language data, showing on the basis of formal and semantic criteria which linguistic categories are instantiated.

Objectives

To introduce students to the linguistic study of contemporary English, to linguistic reasoning and to the analysis of attested language data. In addition to this theoretical knowledge, support the students in their efforts to obtain the objectives for the Proficiency course during the second semester.

(N.B. Prérequis au niveau langagier: niveau B1, conformément aux référentiels pour les socles de compétences en langues modernes dans l'enseignement secondaire général (4h/sem). Toutefois, nous soutiendrons les étudiant.e.s ne disposant pas de ce niveau dans leurs démarches pour atteindre celui-ci.)

Content

The course includes a brief introduction to articulatory phonetics and the phonology and morphology of present-day English. The bulk of the course is devoted to a descriptive and usage-based approach to the grammatical structure of contemporary English. The aim of the course is to acquaint students with the main categories in the grammar of the noun phrase (such as determination, modification, categorization), the verb phrase (tense, aspect, modality) and the clause (mood, transitivity). In each of these areas, the goal is to teach students to demonstrate their grasp of English grammar in their own analyses of attested data.