Study Programmes 2015-2016
LGER0106-5  
Dutch synchronic linguistics a (Introduction to cognitive linguistics as applied to issues of Dutch linguistics)
Duration :
30h Th
Number of credits :
Master in multilingual communication (120 ECTS)5
Master in multilingual communication (120 ECTS)5
Master in multilingual communication (120 ECTS)5
Master in multilingual communication (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 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 :
Julien Perrez
Substitute(s) :
Bert Oben
Language(s) of instruction :
Dutch language
Organisation and examination :
Teaching in the first semester, review in January
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite :
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Course contents :
What role does language play on the development of human cognition? Does our environment influence our use of the language or does the structure of our mother tongue determine our perception of the world? How do we categorize our experience into linguistic units. These are central quetsions (among many other) to cognitive linguistics.
This course of modern Dutch linguistics A is a theoretical and practical introduction to cognitive linguistics, applied to specific questions of Dutch linguistics (in a contrastive framework Dutch-French).
The course more specifically consists of three modules:
The first module focuses on the main theoretical concepts of cognitive linguistics.
In the second module, we will tackle Conceptual Metaphor Theory. We will more specifically analyze the following questions:
  • What is a conceptual meaphor?
  • How do they materialize on the linguistic level? And on other levels (gesture for instance)?
  • How can we identify conceptual metaphors in discourse?
  • What role do conceptual metaphors play in different kinds of discourse (political, academic, media discourse)?
  • What role can conceptual metaphors play on foreign language learning?
In the third module, we will discuss the linguistic expression of spatial relations in a contrastive framework (Dutch-French). We will more particularly focus on the use of posture and motion verbs and of prepositions.

These various modules will allow the students to sharpen their linguistic understanding of the functioning of Dutch.
Learning outcomes of the course :
At the end of this course, students should be able to:
  • Describe the main features of cognitive linguistics;
  • Describe the main features of Conceptual Metaphor Theory;
  • Describe the methodological limits of Conceptual Metaphor Theory;
  • Identify metaphors in political or academic discourse;
  • Analyze the linguistic realizations of spatial expressions in Dutch and French;
  • Understand the typological differences between Dutch and French as far as spatial expressions are concerned;
  • Analyse and present a scientific article;
  • make a critical study of a scientific article;
  • make a quantitative study on a cognitive linguistic subject;
  • to write a scientific paper in Dutch;
  • present the results of their study.
Prerequisite knowledge and skills :
Having earned the ECTS credits for the following courses: Having followed the course of Modern Dutch Linguistics A might be an asset.
Planned learning activities and teaching methods :
The course includes various teaching methods, among which:
  • formal lectures on theoretical concepts related to cognitive linguistics and conceptual metaphor theory;
  • research seminars (discussion and presentation of scientific articles)
  • teamwork (paper)
The course will be as interactive as possible. The active participation of the students is required to guarantee the quality of the course interactions.
Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning) :
Face-to-face mode of delivery
An online platform is also acessible ().
It contains all the material of the course, the schedule of the courses, slides of the lectures and a portfolio of articles.
Recommended or required readings :
Lecture notes will be available after each session.
During the course, the students will have to carefully read and analyse two scientific articles at choice (to choose from the portfolio of articles). Reference books are:
  • Dirven, R. & Verspoor, M. (reds.)(2001). Cognitieve inleiding tot taal en taalwetenschap, 2de druk. Leuven: Acco.
  • Geeraerts, D. (red.)(2006). Cognitive Linguistics: Basic Readings. Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter.
  • Gibbs, R.W. (2005). Embodiment and cognitive science. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  • Kövecses, Z. (2010). Metaphor: A Practical Introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  • Lakoff, G. & Johnson, M. (1986). Leven in metaforen. Nederlandse versie van Metaphors We Live By. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
  • Steen, G. e.a. (2010). A Method for Linguistic Metaphor Identification. John Benjamins Publishing Company.
Assessment methods and criteria :
The final grade will be determined by different parts.
  • Class participation (20%), including the presentation of a scientific article and the degree of interactions of the students during the seminar sessions;
  • Research paper (40%) on a subject related to one aspect of the course;
  • Oral exam (50%) consisting of two parts: (1) prssentation of the paper, (2) theoretical part of the course.
The oral and written exams of the first session will take place during the june exam session; the oral and written exams of the second session will take place during the september exam session.
The final version of the research paper should be handed in at least three (working) days before the oral exam.
Work placement(s) :
Organizational remarks :
Dutch will be used for all course interactions. It is nonetheless possible that some scientific articles to be discussed are written in English.
Contacts :
Julien Perrez Département de langues et littératures modernes Place Cockerill 3 bureau: 5/17 (5è étage du bâtiment A2) Tel.: +32 4 3665837 Julien.Perrez@ulg.ac.be
Office hours - Tuesday's from 10 to 13
- Wednesday's from 10.30 to 11.30
The students will use Dutch for all communication with the professor.
Items online :
Online Notes
Notes are available on eCampus.