Universität Wien

122226 SE Linguistics Seminar / BA Paper / MA historical & descriptive linguistics / MA applied linguistics (2013S)

The grammar of conversation

11.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 12 - Anglistik
Continuous assessment of course work

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

  • Tuesday 12.03. 12:00 - 14:00 Seminarraum 6 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-22.A
  • Tuesday 19.03. 12:00 - 14:00 Seminarraum 6 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-22.A
  • Tuesday 09.04. 12:00 - 14:00 Seminarraum 6 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-22.A
  • Tuesday 16.04. 12:00 - 14:00 Seminarraum 6 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-22.A
  • Tuesday 23.04. 12:00 - 14:00 Seminarraum 6 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-22.A
  • Tuesday 30.04. 12:00 - 14:00 Seminarraum 6 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-22.A
  • Tuesday 07.05. 12:00 - 14:00 Seminarraum 6 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-22.A
  • Tuesday 14.05. 12:00 - 14:00 Seminarraum 6 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-22.A
  • Friday 17.05. 11:00 - 13:00 Seminarraum 6 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-22.A
  • Tuesday 28.05. 12:00 - 14:00 Seminarraum 6 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-22.A
  • Tuesday 04.06. 12:00 - 14:00 Seminarraum 6 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-22.A
  • Tuesday 11.06. 12:00 - 14:00 Seminarraum 6 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-22.A
  • Tuesday 18.06. 12:00 - 14:00 Seminarraum 6 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-22.A
  • Tuesday 25.06. 12:00 - 14:00 Seminarraum 6 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-22.A

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

Grammar is often given an unduly narrow definition as Sentence Grammar, i.e. the organisation of language in terms clauses expressing some propositional content. In this seminar we will explore grammar beyond Sentence Grammar and investigate how grammar is used in conversation and spoken language more generally. We will look particularly at elements that are often considered to be outside grammar, such as ‘inserts’ or ‘non-clausal elements’, which do not fit into ordinary Sentence Grammar but have important communicative functions. This domain of spoken language comprises a range of diverse elements and constructions, such as discourse markers, fillers, comment clauses (e.g. I think, I guess) and other parentheticals, reporting clauses (e.g. she said), tag questions (e.g. isn’t it), left-dislocation (John, I haven’t seen him for a while), right-dislocation, afterthoughts, appositions, interjections (shit!), formulae of social exchange (Good morning), imperatives, non-restrictive relative clauses etc. We will investigate not only their formal properties but also their importance for communication.

Assessment and permitted materials

Participants will be assessed on the basis of their oral presentations, written research papers, and in-class participation. All presentations take place during a seminar conference on Friday 31 May (afternoon) and Saturday 1 June.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

Participants will
- develop an understanding of the functional properties of grammar and the close link between grammar and context
- conduct their own empirical investigations and gain insight into linguistic methods
- work with and deepen their understanding of basic syntactic concepts and the use of grammar in conversation
- become aware of problems of grammatical modeling and different theoretical approaches to grammar

Examination topics

The initial sessions will be used to introduce participants to the topic and help them develop their research questions. This introductory phase involves the discussion of articles and book chapters as well as practical work with computer corpora and other language data. The second phase of the course is reserved for individual project work. In the final phase participants will present their projects and findings in oral presentations and written research papers.

Reading list

Biber, Douglas et al. 1999. The Longman grammar of spoken and written English. Harlow: Longman.
Dik, S. C. 1997. The Theory of Functional Grammar, Part 2: Complex and Derived Constructions. Berlin, New York: Mouton de Gruyter, chapter 17
Huddleston, R. and G. K. Pullum 2002. The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1350-62
Kaltenböck, G., Heine, B. and T. Kuteva 2011. “On thetical grammar”. Studies in Language 35, 4: 848-93.
Peterson, Peter 1999. “On the boundaries of syntax: non-syntagmatic relations”. In P. Collins and D. Lee (eds.). The Clause in English: In Honour of Rodney Huddleston. Amsterdam, Philadelphia: John Benjamins, 229-50.

Association in the course directory

Studium: Diplom 343, UF 344, BA 612, ME 812;
Code/Modul: Diplom 222, 226/228, 236/238, 721-723, 821, UF 4.2.3-222, BA06.2, M04, M05
Lehrinhalt: 12-0312

Last modified: Mo 07.09.2020 15:33