English diachronic linguistics (An introduction to grammaticalization)

Duration

30h Th

Number of credits

Lecturer

Lieselotte Brems

Language(s) of instruction

English language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the second semester

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit 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 learning unit

• 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.
I will first present a number of seminal papers on grammaticalization, after which students will present more specific articles on recent case studies to their fellow-students. For each presentation a selected group of students will act as respondents. The evaluation of the presentations and respondents will count for the global mark for this course.

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
 
-Permanent evaluation:
students have to present (in groups) certain articles in class 
students will act as respondents for certain articles

Work placement(s)

Organizational remarks

Contacts

Lieselotte Brems, chargée de cours lbrems@uliege.be Département de Langues et littératures modernes 3, Place Cockerill, 6th floor

Items online