05.866.114 Introduction to English Linguistics

Lehrende/r: Dr. Matthias Eitelmann; Sven Leuckert

Veranstaltungsart: Vorlesung

Anzeige im Stundenplan: 05.866.114

Semesterwochenstunden: 2

Credits: 2,0

Unterrichtssprache: Englisch

Min. | Max. Teilnehmerzahl: - | 480

Voraussetzungen / Organisatorisches:
One of the most characteristic features that distinguishes animal communication from human language is that human language users are aware of their ability to speak and are thus capable of talking about language on a meta-level: namely by being able to rethink and revise their language use. This prerequisite is in effect what allows for the discipline of linguistics - or in other words, the study of language on a scientific level.

This class provides an insight into the various angles from which speech and language can be approached and familiarises students with the fundamental terminology and methodology of linguistics. All levels of linguistic analysis will be covered: i.e. phonetics (the description of speech sounds), phonology (the function of speech sounds), morphology (the structure of words), syntax (the structure of sentences), semantics (the analysis of meaning), and pragmatics (the study of language use in context). Thus, the core areas of linguistics will be thoroughly investigated by analysing linguistic data taken from the English language. Also, we will take a look at different schools of linguistics, in particular Structuralism, which could be called the foundation of modern linguistics, and Empiricism, which befits linguistics of the digital age.

Empfohlene Literatur:
The coursebook for the Introduction to English Linguistics is

Kortmann, Bernd (2005) English Linguistics: Essentials. Berlin: Cornelsen