Introduction to linguistics 09-WJ-FŁ-22

Introduction of basic linguistic problems. Description of language subsystems (phonology, morphology, syntax), language change, etymological analysis of words, development of grammatical categories. Semantic changes, metaphor and metonymy, the role of implicature in language change. An analysis of language manipulation in advertising, politics and media. Language as the medium of communication.

Module learning aims

The aim of the lectures is introduction to scientific inquiry of language and detailed description of language units, their function i relations. The student will be acquainted with general information on languages of the world and application of linguistics, as well as other sciences about language, such as psychology, sociology or philosophy.

Major

Philology - Latvian Philology

Cycle of studies

1st cycle

Module type

compulsory

Year of studies (where relevant)

Year 1

Learning outcomes

After the course the student:

Can discuss the methodological grounds of linguistics and indicate its relationship to other sciences;
- provide a typological classification of languages;
- characterize the types of writing system;
- elucidate the definition of language as a system and describe its subsystems (phonology, morphology, syntax);
- carry out a morphological analysis of word;
- explain the concept of grammaticalization + its examples;
- specify and describe metaphor and metonymy;
- indicate subject, predicate and other sentence parts; distinguish coordination and subordination; explain the difference rheme : theme;
- identify the elements that ensure a cohesy of the text, such as conjunctions, adverbs, particles, discourse markers;
- define what is an assertion, presupposition and implicature; provide examples of the manipulation of language in advertising, politics etc.; role of the implicature in language change.

Assessment criteria

Receving a credit for a class on the basis of passing tests and a final exam.

Bibliography

Current publications in this field of study, e.g.:
1. Tabakowska, E. 2001. Kognitywne podstawy języka i językoznawstwa. Kraków: Universitas,
2. Wierzbicka, A. 1965. O języku dla wszystkich. Warszawa: Wiedza Powszechna.
3. Majewicz, A. 1989. Języki świata i ich klasyfikowanie. Warszawa: Państwowe Wydawnictwo Naukowe
4. Polański, K. et al. 1999. Encyklopedia językoznawstwa ogólnego. Warszawa: PWN.

Additional information

Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system:

Description of 09-WJ-FŁ-22 in USOSweb