LING305: Topics in Linguistic Theory

This course is available to visiting students (ERASMUS, JYA etc) as follows:

  • Full Year (October to June) - 8 semester credits or 16 ECTS credits
  • Michaelmas Only (October to December) - 4 semester credits or 8 ECTS credits
  • Lent and Summer Only (January to June) - 4 semester credits or 8 ECTS credits.

Please note that visiting students who are at Lancaster for the full academic year must register for the full course. The Michaelmas Only and Lent and Summer Only options are only available to part-year visiting students.

Terms taught:

1 and 2

Aims and objectives:

You should acquire or develop, beyond the level achieved in the second year on LING202 The Structures of Language :

  • an understanding of the central concepts of modern linguistic theory in general and in particular a sound understanding of some current approaches to phonological and grammatical theories ;
  • independent critical thought ;
  • the ability to assimilate fast large amounts of unfamiliar materials and critically reflect on them, and general analytical competence ;
  • an understanding of the nature of empirical evidence ;
  • communication skills: ability to communicate ideas well to others, make oral presentations using prepared materials, participate in group discussions, write clearly and argue effectively ;
  • effective research skills, including the ability to use library and IT resources in the preparation of written work, and general computer literacy.

Course Description

The course seeks to provide a closer look at selected aspects of language structure and how they are analysed within various theoretical frameworks. It aims to develop a critical awareness of theoretical constructs and the extent to which they influence not only analyses but also the choice of data to be analysed. Students will also be taught to evaluate the appropriateness of specific analyses for individual languages or facets of language.  

By the end of the course, you should have a good knowledge of a variety of theoretical models and analytical approaches to phonology, morphology and syntax, in particular:

  • metrical and autosegmental phonology ;
  • optimality theory ;
  • approaches to morphology in generative grammar ;
  • the basic principles, notions and structures of Cognitive Linguistics, particularly of Cognitive Grammar.

In addition, you should develop:

  • the competence to analyse phonological and morphological data from a range of genetically and structurally diverse languages ;
  • the competence to analyse linguistic (corpus) data in terms of these theoretical constructs ;
  • an appreciation of the sense in which Cognitive Linguistics is grounded in cognitive psychology, and how this is different from formalist frameworks such as Generative Grammar and its derivatives ;
  • effective time management.

TOPICS WILL INCLUDE:

Term 1

  • Nonlinear phonological representations: autosegmental phonology
  • Nonlinear phonological representations : metrical phonology
  • The morphology-phonology interface
  • Prosodic morphology
  • Introducing Optimality Theory
  • Optimality Theory and morphology
  • The interaction between morphology-syntax: Inflection
  • Morphology-syntax demarcation: is derivation the syntax of words?
  • The nature and status of the word: is morphology necessary?
  • Review

Term 2

  • What is - and what isn't - Cognitive Linguistics?
  • From cognitive psychology to linguistics 1:  Categorisation
  • More than words:  Lexical categories in Cognitive Linguistics
  • From cognitive psychology to linguistics 2:  Frames and attention
  • From cognitive psychology to linguistics 3:  Other construal operations
  • Putting two and two together:  How concepts are combined      
  • A new twist on an old story:  Idioms
  • One thing leads to another:  From idioms to construction grammar
  • From cognitive psychology to linguistics 4:  Frequency, resemblance and the usage-based model

Recommended reading:

Booij, G. (2007) The Grammar of Words. Oxford : OUP

Croft, William and D. Alan Cruse. 2004 Cognitive linguistics . Cambridge CUP.

Gussenhoven C. and H. Jacobs 1998 Understanding Phonology . London  Arnold.

Haspelmath, M. 2002  Understanding Morphology . London Arnold.

Katamba, F.and J. Stonham  2006  Morphology (2 nd ed.). London Macmillan.

Kenstowicz, M. 1994  Phonology in Generative Grammar . Oxford Blackwell.

McCarthy, J. (2004) Optimality Theory in Phonology: A Reader. Oxford: Blackwell

Rocca, I.  and Johnson, W 1999 A Course in Pho nology. Oxford Blackwell.

Spencer, A.  1991 Morphological Theory . Oxford Blackwell.

Taylor, John R. 2002 Cognitive grammar . Oxford OUP.  

Restrictions:

Final-year students only.

Compulsory for:

Linguistics (single and combined) majors must take this course in their final year.

English Language and Linguistics combined majors must take either this course or LING306 in their final year

Prerequisites:

LING202 must have been taken in the second year

Assessment:

Two assignments (10% Term 1, 10% Term 2), plus seminar group work (10% Term 1, 10% Term 2), plus exam (60%)

   

For further information contact Francis Katamba and Willem Hollmann.