General Linguistics and History of Linguistic Studies

Master 2022/2023

Type: Compulsory course (Foreign Languages and Intercultural Communication)

Area of studies: Linguistics

Delivered by: School of Foreign Languages

Where: School of Foreign Languages

When: 1 year, 3 module

Mode of studies: distance learning

Online hours: 20

Open to: everyone

Instructors: Ekaterina Yakovenko

Master’s programme: Иностранные языки и межкультурная коммуникация

Language: English

ECTS credits: 3

Contact hours: 50

Full Syllabus

Abstract

Human language can be defined in dozens of ways: as a means of communication, a universal code, a ramified system, cultural legacy, an innate gift, a miracle… Whatever it is, language always remains in the focus of scholarly attention and its study requires much effort. Students taking this course will be able to find their way in the language hierarchy, detect change in phonetics, grammar and vocabulary of modern languages, investigate language contacts arising in all corners of the world, observe linguistic diversity and discuss endangered languages, contrast languages and reveal their common and specific features, as well as plunge into the history of linguistics and follow the evolution of the linguistic thought from the earliest times up to the present. A short preliminary course making part of the discipline and familiarizing participants with basics of linguistics will facilitate its mastering even by students having no professional linguistic training.

Learning Objectives

To study the main aspects and properties of language, as language structure, origin of language, language change, language contacts, etc.
To study typology of languages, to reveal common and specific features of languages of the world in their phonetic, phonological, lexical, morphological, syntactic, as well as genetic and social aspects.
To study the history of linguistic studies starting with the earliest linguistic theories.

Expected Learning Outcomes

Students identify, analyze, and comment on the main main aspects and properties of language, as language structure, origin of language, language change, functioning in the society, language contacts, etc.
Students indentify, analyze, and comment on the principles of phonetic, phonological, lexical, morphological, syntactic typology of languages, as well as their genealogical and social classification.
Students identify, describe, and comment on the history of linguistic studies, starting with the earliest linguistic theories.

Course Contents

Key issues of linguistics
Linguistic typology
History of linguistic studies

Assessment Elements

Class Participation
The teacher determines the way of the control, either encouraging students eager to answer or keeping to random choice of students for the answer. Students' activity and creativity should be taken into consideration.
Online-course
Students study the course Miracles of Human Language: An Introduction to Linguistics (URL: https://www.coursera.org/learn/human-language) and inform the teacher of the results by sending a screenshot.
Examination
The student's answer includes 2 theoretical issues, 50% each.
Written Assignments
Written assignments usually conclude the study of a part of the course. These are: 1) detailed description of particular language change in phonetics, vocabulary, or grammar in any language (1 page A4, Times 14, single-spaced, 400-450 words); 2) detailed description of a language in accordance with typological and sociolinguistic parameters (3 pages A4, Times 14, single-spaced, 1200 words); 3) an essay on a linguistic theory (up to the 19th c.) (3 pages A4, Times 14, single-spaced, 1200 words). For work submitted without a valid reason with a delay of more than 1 week there is a one-point penalty, for a longer delay the score is decreased by two points.
Presentations
The number and content of presentations are determined by the teacher.
Tests
The number as well as the content of testsis is determined by the teacher.

Interim Assessment

2022/2023 3rd module
0.2 * Presentations + 0.1 * Class Participation + 0.1 * Tests + 0.1 * Written Assignments + 0.3 * Examination + 0.2 * Online-course

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

An introduction to language and linguistics, , 2011
Rowe, B. M., & Levine, D. P. (2018). A Concise Introduction to Linguistics (Vol. Fifth edition). London: Routledge. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1775794
Даниленко В.П. - Общее языкознание и история языкознания - Издательство "ФЛИНТА" - 2016 - ISBN: 978-5-9765-0708-1 - Текст электронный // ЭБС ЛАНЬ - URL: https://e.lanbook.com/book/84584
История лингвистических учений : учеб. пособие, Алпатов, В. М., 2005
Общее языкознание. Структурная и социальная типология языков : учеб. пособие, Мечковская, Н. Б., 2001

Recommended Additional Bibliography

Brian D. Joseph, & Hans Henrich Hock. (2009). Language History, Language Change, and Language Relationship : An Introduction to Historical and Comparative Linguistics. [N.p.]: De Gruyter Mouton. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=756297
Hengeveld, K., & Baker, A. (2012). Linguistics. Malden, Mass: Wiley-Blackwell. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=421931
How languages work : an introduction to language and linguistics, , 2014
Joe E. Pierce. (2019). Languages and Linguistics : An Introduction (Vol. Reprint 2019). Berlin/Boston: De Gruyter Mouton. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=2040319
Почему языки такие разные : популярная лингвистика, Плунгян, В. А., 2010
Сравнительная типология основных европейских языков : учеб. пособие для вузов, Зеленецкий, А. Л., 2004

Authors

YAKOVENKO EKATERINA BORISOVNA
BAKULEV ALEKSEI VALENTINOVICH

Course Syllabus