Study Programmes 2015-2016
LGER0105-2  
English diachronic linguistics (An introduction to grammaticalization)
Duration :
30h Th
Number of credits :
Master in modern languages and literatures : German, Dutch and English (120 ECTS)5
Master in modern languages and literatures : German, Dutch and English (120 ECTS)5
Master in modern languages and literatures : German, Dutch and English (120 ECTS)5
Master in modern languages and literatures : German, Dutch and English (120 ECTS)5
Master in linguistics (120 ECTS)5
Master in linguistics (120 ECTS)5
Master in modern languages and literatures : general (120 ECTS)5
Master in modern languages and literatures : general (120 ECTS)5
Master in modern languages and literatures : general (120 ECTS)5
Master in modern languages and literatures : general (120 ECTS)5
Master in modern languages and literatures : German, Dutch and English (60 ECTS)5
Master in modern languages and literatures : general (60 ECTS)5
Lecturer :
Lieselotte Brems
Language(s) of instruction :
English language
Organisation and examination :
Teaching in the second semester
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite :
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
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')
Prerequisite knowledge and skills :
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
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 :
- a take-home exam with theoretical questions on the course as well as data-based questions
Work placement(s) :
Organizational remarks :
Contacts :
Lieselotte Brems, chargée de cours lbrems@ulg.ac.be Département de Langues et littératures modernes 3, Place Cockerill, 6th floor
Items online :
Notes en ligne
Les notes sont disponibles sur eCampus.