University of Liege | Version française
Study programmes 2012-2013Last update : 18/06/2013
LGER0105-2  English diachronic linguistics (An introduction to grammaticalization)

Duration :  30h Th
Number of credits :  
Master in Modern Languages and Literatures : General, Teaching Focus, 1st year5
Master in Modern Languages and Literatures : General, Teaching Focus, 2nd year5
Master in Modern Languages and Literatures : German, Dutch and English, Research Focus , 1st year5
Master in Modern Languages and Literatures : German, Dutch and English, Research Focus , 2nd year5
Master in Modern Languages and Literatures : German, Dutch and English, Teaching Focus, 1st year5
Master in Modern Languages and Literatures : German, Dutch and English, Teaching Focus, 2nd year5
Master in Modern Languages and Literatures : German, Dutch and English, Research Focus5
Master in Linguistics, Research focus, 1st year5
Master in Modern Languages and Literatures : General, Research Focus, 1st year5
Master in Modern Languages and Literatures : General, Research Focus, 2nd year5
Master in Modern Languages and Literatures : General5
Master in Languages and Literatures : General, Professional Focus in Translation, 1st year5
Master in Languages and Literatures : General, Professional Focus in Translation, 2nd year5
Modern Languages and Literatures : German, Dutch and English, Professional Focus in Translation, 1st year5
Modern Languages and Literatures : German, Dutch and English, Professional Focus in Translation, 2nd year5
Lecturer :  Lieselotte Brems
Language(s) of instruction :  
English language
Organisation and examination :  
Teaching in the second semester
Course contents :  
  • Introduction to the framework of grammaticalization as a specific kind of language change (i.e. the process by which lexical/less grammatical constructions acquire (more) grammatical functions in specific contexts)
Learning outcomes of the course :  
  • Insight into the (crosslinguistic) mechanisms of and motivations behind grammaticalization processes and the changes that this research paradigm has gone through, with a focus on grammaticalization in binominal NP of NP-syntagms
  • Insight into how synchronic variation links up with diachronic processes of change, e.g. bunch in a bunch of grapes ('une grappe de raisin') > a whole bunch of people ('un tas/une flopée de gens') or Pop is the favourite type of recorded music ('pop est le genre préféré de la musique enregistrée') > It was sort of a drag ('c'était genre glauque')
Prerequisites and co-requisites/ Recommended optional programme components :  
Good knowledge of English
Planned learning activities and teaching methods :  
A theoretical introduction, followed by sessions on specific case studies of grammaticalization in the nominal ( 'very', 'a bunch of') and verbal ('to' infinitive) domain as well as less typical grammaticalization in sign languages.
Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning) :  
face-to-face
Recommended or required readings :  
A reader will be available with selected articles; hand-outs with exercises
Assessment methods and criteria :  
Depending on the number of students and their preference the evaluation of this course will either be
- a paper in which students report on their own grammaticalization research
- a take-home exam with theoretical questions on the course as well as data-based questions
Work placement(s) :  
Organizational remarks :  
Depending on the number of students and their preference the evaluation of this course will either be
- a paper in which students report on their own grammaticalization research
- a take-home exam with theoretical questions on the course as well as data-based questions
Contacts :  
Lieselotte Brems, chargée de cours lieselotte.brems@arts.kuleuven.be Département de Langues et littératures modernes 3, Place Cockerill, 6th floor


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