Linguistics

The course introduces students to the variation observed in the languages of the world, to the analytical and theoretical challenges that such variation poses, and to responses that have been given to these challenges. The issues are first introduced from a "bird's eye" view; then actual examples are given and explored in detail in the areas of (morpho)syntax and phonology; and finally the course concludes with a module on the implications of cross-linguistic variation for our understanding of how language is acquired (and vice versa). There are four blocks of teaching: 1. The implications of variation (6 lectures): This block introduces the issue of cross-linguistic variation, shows why it is fundamental to our understanding of language, and presents and explores the responses that have been given by linguists, often from very different points of view. 2. Grammars and syntax (11 lectures): This block presents case-studies of cross-linguistic differences in syntax and explores how the syntactic theory that the students have already learned can account for these differences, and where it has to be extended or adapted. Students will both become familiar with a wider range of linguistics phenomena, and develop their understanding of the theoretical tools for explaining them. 3. Phonology (10 lectures): This block explores universals and variation in the module of phonology, covering phenomena from segmental phonology, tonal phonology, syllable structure, and stress. As in the previous segment, students will both be exposed to some important points of variation, and develop their understanding of the theories that have been developed to account for the topography of this variation. A theme that recurs throughout this and the previous segment is the constant tension in theory building between descriptive coverage and predictive power. 4. Language acquisition (6 lectures): Languages can vary from each other because some aspects at least of linguistic knowledge are not genetically determined; what is not genetically determined has to be learned. This final block sets out how the question of possible limits to variation have, in modern linguistic theory, become intimately intertwined with the question of how language is acquired, and explores how language acquisition has become central to linguistic theory. It will also look at how language development is shaped by the interaction of internal factors (language-specific and domain-general predispositions), external factors (quantity and quality of input), and children's developing processing abilities.

This course explores phonetics and phonology, including a grounding in practical phonetic skills and basic phonological concepts. Students learn how all of the sounds of the world's languages are produced, transcribe speech sounds using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), understand basic acoustic and aerodynamic properties of speech, and understand how speech sounds are used and distributed in the world's languages.

It is widely accepted that more than half of the 6,900 or so languages that exist are in danger of dying within a few generations. Topics examined in this course include the assessment of the vitality or level of endangerment of language; the factors that contribute to language endangerment and to language shift; language revitalization; language rights and policies; language attitudes; language loss and death; and parallels between language endangerment and global species endangerment.

The lecture introduces fundamental questions and findings of second language acquisition research as well as other research areas dealing with the acquisition of languages after the acquisition of the native language(s) (tertiary language research, multilingualism research). Various theoretical approaches as well as empirical findings on the following topics are covered: learner language (survey, analysis, development), external influencing factors (input, interaction, control), learner-internal influencing factors (transfer from already acquired languages, age, individual cognitive and affective factors), Multilingual language acquisition. A special focus is on the acquisition of German as a target language. The seminar further discusses the topics raised in the lecture.

This course offers an introduction to the study of the interrelationship between language and society. It is concerned with phenomena of language change and how that leads to varieties in a language. It answers the following questions: How are these varieties linked to social differences? What distinguishes male speech from female speech and what are the linguistic styles of different social classes or ethnic groups? What is slang, or jargon, and what distinguishes a casual conversation from an interview?