Back to selection
77900-01 - Lecture: Contrastive-Linguistic Approaches to Modern English (2 CP)
| Semester | spring semester 2026 |
| Course frequency | Once only |
| Lecturers | Christian Mair (christian.mair@unibas.ch, Assessor) |
| Content | The lecture approaches present-day (standard) English through comparison with other languages. You will realise that this is useful from theoretical as well as applied linguistic perspectives. With regard to theory, contrastive linguistics is a first step towards language typology, the study of linguistic universals and the limits of possible variation among languages. From a practical perspective, insights from contrastive linguistics are valuable for a range of language-related professions, from foreign-language teaching to translation/ interpreting. We will cover phonology, grammar and the lexicon, and selectively touch on pragmatic issues such as politeness and communicative styles. We will generally start with comparisons of English and German, but complement this with other European languages. You will be introduced to relevant digital resources for the study of language, from learner and translation corpora to the World Atlas of Language Structures (WALS). |
| Learning objectives | You will develop a deeper understanding of the salient features of English in comparison to other European language and get acquainted with the theoretical and methodological state of the art in contrastive linguistics, including digital research infrastructure and tools. |
| Bibliography | Reading recommendations will be made available on ADAM. |
| Weblink | ADAM |
| Admission requirements | none |
| Language of instruction | English |
| Use of digital media | Online, mandatory |
| Course auditors welcome |
| Interval | Weekday | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|---|
| wöchentlich | Thursday | 10.15-12.00 | Nadelberg 6, Grosser Hörsaal |
Dates
| Date | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday 19.02.2026 | 10.15-12.00 | Nadelberg 6, Grosser Hörsaal |
| Thursday 26.02.2026 | 10.15-12.00 | Fasnachtsferien |
| Thursday 05.03.2026 | 10.15-12.00 | Nadelberg 6, Grosser Hörsaal |
| Thursday 12.03.2026 | 10.15-12.00 | Nadelberg 6, Grosser Hörsaal |
| Thursday 19.03.2026 | 10.15-12.00 | Nadelberg 6, Grosser Hörsaal |
| Thursday 26.03.2026 | 10.15-12.00 | Nadelberg 6, Grosser Hörsaal |
| Thursday 02.04.2026 | 10.15-12.00 | Ostern |
| Thursday 09.04.2026 | 10.15-12.00 | Nadelberg 6, Grosser Hörsaal |
| Thursday 16.04.2026 | 10.15-12.00 | Nadelberg 6, Grosser Hörsaal |
| Thursday 23.04.2026 | 10.15-12.00 | Nadelberg 6, Grosser Hörsaal |
| Thursday 30.04.2026 | 10.15-12.00 | Nadelberg 6, Grosser Hörsaal |
| Thursday 07.05.2026 | 10.15-12.00 | Nadelberg 6, Grosser Hörsaal |
| Thursday 14.05.2026 | 10.15-12.00 | Auffahrt |
| Thursday 21.05.2026 | 10.15-12.00 | Nadelberg 6, Grosser Hörsaal |
| Thursday 28.05.2026 | 10.15-12.00 | Nadelberg 6, Grosser Hörsaal |
| Modules |
Modul: Advanced English Linguistics (Bachelor's degree subject: English) Modul: English Linguistics (Master's degree subject: English) Modul: Interphilologie: Sprachwissenschaft BA (Bachelor's degree subject: English) Modul: Interphilologie: Sprachwissenschaft BA (Bachelor's degree subject: German Language and Literature) Modul: Interphilologie: Sprachwissenschaft BA (Bachelor's degree subject: French Language and Literature) Modul: Interphilologie: Sprachwissenschaft BA (Bachelor's degree subject: Spanish Language and Literature) Modul: Interphilologie: Sprachwissenschaft BA (Bachelor's degree subject: Italian Language and Literature) Modul: Interphilologie: Sprachwissenschaft BA (Bachelor's degree subject: Nordic Philology) Modul: Interphilologie: Sprachwissenschaft BA (Bachelor's Studies - Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences) Modul: Interphilologie: Sprachwissenschaft MA (Master's degree subject: Slavic Studies) Modul: Interphilologie: Sprachwissenschaft MA (Master's degree subject: English) Modul: Interphilologie: Sprachwissenschaft MA (Master's degree subject: German Language and Literature) Modul: Interphilologie: Sprachwissenschaft MA (Master's degree subject: French Language and Literature) Modul: Interphilologie: Sprachwissenschaft MA (Master's degree subject: Spanish Language and Literature) Modul: Interphilologie: Sprachwissenschaft MA (Master's degree subject: Italian Language and Literature) Modul: Interphilologie: Sprachwissenschaft MA (Master's degree subject: Latin Philology) Modul: Interphilologie: Sprachwissenschaft MA (Master's Studies - Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences) Module: Language as System (Master's degree program: Language and Communication) Module: Research and Extension (Master's degree program: Language and Communication) |
| Assessment format | record of achievement |
| Assessment details | 90 min. written exam ("Klausur") in the last session of term |
| Assessment registration/deregistration | Reg.: course registration; dereg.: not required |
| Repeat examination | one repetition, repetition counts |
| Scale | Pass / Fail |
| Repeated registration | no repetition |
| Responsible faculty | Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, studadmin-philhist@unibas.ch |
| Offered by | Fachbereich Englische Sprach- und Literaturwissenschaft |