Universität Wien
Warning! The directory is not yet complete and will be amended until the beginning of the term.

120226 SE MA Seminar - Focus: Functional and Cognitive Linguistics / Linguistics Seminar (2021W)

Fuzzy Grammar

10.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 12 - Anglistik
Continuous assessment of course work
ON-SITE
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

Due to new COVID regulations, all classes will take place online from 22 November until further notice.

  • Thursday 07.10. 10:15 - 11:45 Raum 2 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-09
  • Thursday 14.10. 10:15 - 11:45 Raum 2 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-09
  • Thursday 21.10. 10:15 - 11:45 Raum 2 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-09
  • Thursday 28.10. 10:15 - 11:45 Raum 2 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-09
  • Thursday 04.11. 10:15 - 11:45 Raum 2 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-09
  • Thursday 11.11. 10:15 - 11:45 Raum 2 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-09
  • Thursday 18.11. 10:15 - 11:45 Raum 2 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-09
  • Thursday 25.11. 10:15 - 11:45 Raum 2 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-09
  • Thursday 02.12. 10:15 - 11:45 Raum 2 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-09
  • Thursday 09.12. 10:15 - 11:45 Raum 2 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-09
  • Thursday 16.12. 10:15 - 11:45 Raum 2 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-09
  • Thursday 13.01. 10:15 - 11:45 Raum 2 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-09
  • Thursday 20.01. 10:15 - 11:45 Raum 2 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-09
  • Thursday 27.01. 10:15 - 11:45 Raum 2 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-09

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

Course Content
The notion of categorization plays a crucial role in any approach to grammar, whether descriptive, generative, functional or cognitive: one cannot do linguistics without assuming the existence (in some form or other) of grammatical categories. What linguists disagree about, however, is the nature of those categories. Are they discrete and clear-cut, i.e. is category membership a matter of all or nothing? Or are grammatical categories blurred at the edges, with some members being better examples than others? And if the latter, is it always possible (and desirable) to determine category membership at all? In this course, key texts from philosophy, psychology, cognitive science, and linguistics will be studied to get a clearer picture of the kinds of vagueness inherent in (linguistic) categorization and the consequences of this vagueness for the study of grammar. In addition, attention will be paid to important work that is critical of the concepts of fuzziness and indeterminacy in grammar.

Course Aim
The aim of this course is to provide insight into the process of grammatical categorization, and in particular into the fuzzy nature of this process, by considering the criteria used for distinguishing grammatical (syntactic, semantic) categories (nouns, verbs, adjectives, prepositions; active vs. passive; coordination vs. subordination, etc.). Students will be made aware of the kind of criteria used for distinguishing linguistic categories and the problems involved in applying and evaluating these criteria.

Assessment and permitted materials

Course assessment
Students will be assessed on the basis of a midterm assignment (20%), a presentation (20%) and a seminar paper (60%). Active participation is required.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

Course evaluation is based on:
(a) regular (online) class attendance (max. 2 absences)
(b) handing in the midterm assignment (on time; 20%)
(c) giving the oral presentation (on set date; 20%)
(d) handing in the seminar paper (on time; 60%)

Students must attain 60 of the maximum of 100 points.

Examination topics

Readings, exercises, midterm assignment, classroom discussions, individual research project

Reading list

Aarts, Bas, David Denison, Evelien Keizer & Gergana Popova (eds). 2004. Fuzzy Grammar: a reader. Oxford: Oxford University Press (selected chapters)

Additional articles/chapters will be made available on Moodle.

Association in the course directory

Studium: MA 812 [2];
Code/Modul: MA 4, MA 5;
Lehrinhalt: 12-0496

Last modified: Su 21.11.2021 11:48