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| Semester | fall semester 2015 |
| Course frequency | Every fall sem. |
| Lecturers | Thomas Messerli (thomas.messerli@unibas.ch) |
| Content | This course is an introduction to the cognitive dimensions of language. It focuses on the ways people use linguistic structures to produce and construe meaning by providing an outline of the central concepts of cognitive linguistics (CL). CL describes linguistic patterns on the basis of general cognitive processes of knowledge formation; it thus offers an interesting model of how our use of words and syntactic patterns is derived from basic experiences and concepts. Socio-cognitive theories focus more closely on the dynamic and context-specific construction of meaning in language use. The course sketches various areas of CL, such as language acquisition, cognitive semantics and pragmatics, and linguistic relativity. It provides you with the corresponding theoretical apparatus as well as some basic methods of analysis. In a next step, you will learn to apply this knowledge to the analysis of concrete linguistic data. |
| Learning objectives | - You know the fundamental theoretical concepts of CL. - You can apply these concepts to analyses of linguistic data. - You define and discuss a key theoretical notion in a written assignment. |
| Bibliography | Course readings are accessible on the course platform ADAM. |
| Weblink | ADAM |
| Admission requirements | Old BA curriculum (2005): This course may only be taken after successful completion of the first-year module "Learning about Linguistics". New BA curriculum (2013): It is strongly recommended that this course be taken after completion of the "Introduction to Linguistics I + II" proseminars. |
| Course application | Sign up sheets for the four classes will be posted on the notice board on the 2nd floor, rear building, of the English Seminar once the course directory for the AT 2015 is made available. The number of participants in each class is limited. If a class is full, you must sign up for one of the alternative classes. You may not register for more than one of the parallel courses. |
| Language of instruction | English |
| Use of digital media | Online, mandatory |
| Interval | Weekday | Time | Room |
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No dates available. Please contact the lecturer.
| Modules |
Modul Introduction to English Linguistics (Bachelor's degree subject: English) Modul Refining Skills in Linguistics (Bachelor's degree subject: English (Start of studies before 01.08.2013)) |
| Assessment format | continuous assessment |
| Assessment details | - Attendance and active participation - Written assignment - Group presentation |
| Assessment registration/deregistration | Reg.: course registration; dereg.: not required |
| Repeat examination | no repeat examination |
| Scale | Pass / Fail |
| Repeated registration | as often as necessary |
| Responsible faculty | Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, studadmin-philhist@unibas.ch |
| Offered by | Fachbereich Englische Sprach- und Literaturwissenschaft |