Course 2023-2024

General linguistics : usage-based approaches to language study [LANGB207]

  • 5 credits
  • 30h
  • 2nd quarter
Language of instruction: English

Learning outcomes

Knowledge of central concepts and approaches in functional and cognitive linguistics, and in corpus linguistics

Skill and ease at reading scholarly articles and book chapters in linguistics

Across the learning activities, permit students to obtain at least level C1 for receptive skills, and B2 for productive skills, as defined by the Council of Europe in its Common European Framework of Reference for Languages

Objectives

To introduce students to a range of linguistic topics approached from a so-caled "functional" and/or "cognitive" linguistic angle, both theoretically and across more applied studies

To introduce students to the basic methords used in corpus linguistics

In terms of linguistic skills, the goal is to attain (or exceed) proficiency levels C1 for receptive skills, and B2 for productive skills, as defined in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

More specifically for this course, the aim is to stimulate and activate various skills, notably reading skills to a scientific level, writing up a linguistic piece of argumentation, and orally presenting research results

Content

This course introduces students to a number of basic concepts in functional and cognitive approaches to language and corpus linguistics on the basis of articles and book chapters. The main topics include the notion of a 'construction' as a form-meaning pairing, the distinction between 'representational' and 'interpersonal' constructions, aspects of cognitive semantics, and corpus linguistics. The theoretical notions taught will each time be applied to descriptive problems in English grammar. In this way, it is hoped students will acquire the ability to construct a linguistic argumentation on the basis of corpus data.


Prerequisites

English linguistics [LANGB101]

Teaching methods

Reading seminar requiring the students' active participation.

Taking part in any activities organised by the department (whether intra muros or extra muros) as part of this course is considered to be part and parcel of the learning experience and is obligatory.

Evaluations

A take home exam (students get to choose two questions from a set of four to six questions and get at least one week to prepare their written answers) + oral group presentation about a corpus linguistics research project.

Weighting of different course components:

  • Take home exam: 15/20
  • Group presentation: 5/20

Recommended readings

  • Vandelanotte, Lieven (2014) Introduction to cognitive-functional and corpus linguistics: An annotated reader. Part 1: Summaries and background information. University of Namur. (New edition)
  • Vandelanotte, Lieven (2014) Introduction to cognitive-functional and corpus linguistics: An annotated reader. Part 2: Reader. University of Namur. (New edition)

Language of instruction

English

Location for course

NAMUR

Organizer

Faculté de philosophie et lettres
Rue de Bruxelles, 61
5000 NAMUR

Degree of Reference

Undergraduate Degree