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  5. Introduction to Language Sciences

Introduction to Language Sciences

Objectives

1. To recognize language as a cognitive activity;
2. To relate the concepts of ´language´ and ´languages´;
3. To acquire tools to describe natural languages;
4. To develop different tools to describe and analyse human languages;
5. To establish points of difference and similarity between languages;
6. To be aware of the interaction between Language Sciences and other areas of knowledge.

 

General characterization

Code

711131043

Credits

6.0

Responsible teacher

Helena Virgínia Topa Valentim, Mariana Rosa Moita Silva Ninitas, Maria do Céu Sernache Caetano Mocho, Joana Alexandra Vaz Teixeira

Hours

Weekly - 4

Total - 168

Teaching language

Portuguese

Prerequisites

Available soon

Bibliography

Akmajan, Adrian et al. 2010. Linguistics. An Introduction to Language and Communication. Cambridge (Mass.): The MIT Press, 6th ed.
Aronoff, Mark & Janie Rees-Miller (eds). 2003. The Handbook of Linguistics. MA/Oxford: Blackwell Publishers.
Crystal, David. 2010. A Little book of Language. New Haven and London: Yale University Press.
Duarte, Inês. 2000. Língua Portuguesa. Instrumentos de análise. Lisboa: Universidade Aberta.
Fromkin, Victoria; Robert Rodman & Nina Hyams. [2003] 2007. An Introduction to Language. Belmont: Thomson Wadsworth.
Mateus, Maria Helena M. & Alina Villalva. 2006. O Essencial sobre Linguística. Lisboa: Caminho.
Pullum, Geoffrey K. 2018. Linguistics: Why It Matters. Medford (USA): Polity Press.

 

Teaching method

The course will include a balanced combination of theoretical and practical classes. A detailed schedule will be handed out to the students at the beginning of the semester.

Teaching Language: Portuguese (one class taught in English- Class F)

 

Evaluation method

an independent study on a specific topic / a take home exercise(20%), two written tests(80%)

Subject matter

1. Language as a cognitive activity: speaking / listening / understanding;
1.1 The origins of language: from non-linguistic to linguistic evidence;
1.2 How and why do we speak: the language faculty;
2. Language manifestations: verbal language and sign language;
3. Natural languages: levels of linguistic analysis;
3.1 The sounds of language: Phonetics & Phonology;
3.2 The structure of words: Morphology;
3.3 The structure of sentences: Syntax;
3.4 The study of meaning: Semantics;
4. Interdisciplinary approaches in Language Sciences.