Introduction to general linguistics

Duration

30h Th

Number of credits

Lecturer

Julien Perrez

Language(s) of instruction

French 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

Learning unit contents

Language seems commonplace to us. However, it is central to every single human interaction. We're literally immersed in since we were born (and in fact even before that). As a child, we naturally develop language skills without any apparent effort. Language makes it possible to communicate and to simply function in our social community. We use language to work, to study, to have fun, to get information. In fact, all these basic activities would be impossible without language. Even when we are asleep, we use language in our dreams. And would it be possible to think without language ? All these questions point to the relevance of language in human societies.
In this course, we will precisely tackle the questions of the nature and the function of language by (i) introducing the students to the fundamental notions of linguistics and (ii) making them familiar with the study of language (more precisely its structure, development and functioning).
This course of Introduction to linguistics consists of five main parts:
1. Part 1: Introduction : basic principles of linguistics

• Unit 1: linguistics, objects and methods
• Unit 2: how is language working?

• Unit 3: phonetics and phonology
• Unit 4: meaning in language: morphology
• Unit 5: meaning in language: lexical semantics
• Unit 6: combining words: syntax
• Unit 7: meaning in language: pragmatics and multimodality

• Unit 8: origin of language and development of languages

• Unit 9: linguistic variation
• Unit 10: the power of words

• Unit 11: first language acquisition and second language learning

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

At the end of this course, students should be able to:

• desribe the different linguistic modules and list their characteristics;
• Distinguish linguistics messages from non-linguistic messages;
• Analyze a fragment and identify its linguistic units;
• Appropritaley describe a given linguistic situation;
• describe the different criteria of linguistic classification;
• describe the meachnisms which underlie first language acquisition;
• describe the mechanisms which underlie foreign language learning

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

• Good knowledge of French
• Curiosity about language(s)

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

This course consists of formal lectures.
At the end of each main, exercises will be prepard by the students and discussed in the auditorium.

Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning)

Face-to-face mode of delivery
An online platform is also acessible (http://www.ecampus.ulg.ac.be/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_tab_group_id=_2_1&url=%2Fwebapps%2Fblackboard%2Fexecute%2Flauncher%3Ftype%3DCourse%26id%3D_5922_1%26url%3D).
It contains the slides of the lectures and additional illustrative material (audio and vido fragments, articles, exercises).

Recommended or required readings

Lecture notes will be available after each session. There isn't any compulsory reading material.
Reference books are:

• Appel, R., Baker, A., Hengeveld, K., Kuiken, F. & P. Muysken (2002)(eds). Taal en taalwetenschap. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing.
• Bloomer, A., Griffiths, P. & A.J. Merrison (2005). Introducing Language in Use. London: Routledge.
• McGregor, W.B. (2009). Linguistics: An Introduction. London: Continuum International Publishing Group.

• Moeschler, J. & Auchlin, A. (2009). Introduction à la linguistique contemporaine, 3è édition. Armand Colin.

• Siouffi, G. & Van Raemdonck, D. (1999). 100 fiches pour comprendre la linguistique. Bréal.

Assessment methods and criteria

The exam is organised during the three exam sessions (January, June & September). Written exam consisting of MCQ. The questions aim at measuring the memory and comprehension of the main concepts of the course, as well as the ability to apply them to describe new situations.

Work placement(s)

Organizational remarks

Contacts

Julien Perrez Département de langues et littératures modernes Place Cockerill 3 Office: A2/5/17 (5è étage du bâtiment A2) Tel.: +32 4 3665837 Julien.Perrez@ulg.ac.be
Office hours - Tuesday's from 10 to 12 - Wednesday's from 10.30 to 12.00 (bâtiment L1, Place Delcour)
Any question related to the course should be posted on the forum of the eCampus platform.

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