Lingüística comparada

Pla docent

Code: 31386 Fall 2011-2012

Crosslinguistic Analysis/Linguistica comparada

M.A. in Theoretical and Applied Linguistics

Departament de Traducció i Ciències del Llenguatge

Titulació/estudi: Màster en Lingüística Teòrica i Aplicada
Trimestre: primer
Nombre de crèdits ECTS: 5
Llengua de docència: anglès

Professor/s GG: Montserrat González (setmanes 1-5);

Enric Vallduví (setmanes 6-10)

1. Course description

The course is concerned with the systematic comparison of two or more languages or subsystems of languages in order to define and account for differences and similarities between them. First, some of the theoretical and applied foundations of contrastive linguistics, as a methodological approach to crosslinguistic analysis, are discussed. Then, the semantic, pragmatic, and morphosyntactic aspects of several linguistic domains are explored in more detail: evidentiality, intersubjectivity and speaker stance, discourse markers, linearization, intonation, and the expression of context-dependent meaning in general.

2. Course content

In the first part of the course we will look at the representation of emotion and attitude through lexis from a contrastive perspective, and will deal with issues related to epistemic modality and to the conceptualization of motion verbs in various languages. The framework of analysis and discussion will be descriptive, functional and/or cognitive, depending on the issue we discuss. Topics will be exemplified with natural language corpora. In the second half of the course, we will look at linearization (word order) and intonational differences between languages. Candidates for discussion are: (a) typological variation that reflects (in)flexibility of word order (configurationality), (b) the concept of basic word order (SVO, SOV, VOS, etc.), (c) linearization phenomena like V2 or cliticization, (d) intonational patterns and the notion of plasticity, (e) crosslinguistic variation in the expression of context-dependent meaning.

3. Course requirements

Students are required to read, on a weekly basis, articles related to the topics of the course. The readings will be uploaded in moodle (pdf docums). Students should read the articles before coming to class (see calendar below) and be ready to present and discuss issues raised in the readings.

4. Course work and evaluation

· Mid-term paper with presentation

Length: 5-10 pages

Due: October 21

Weight: 30%

· Assignments in weeks 6 to 10

Weight: 20%

· Final paper (M. González) or take-home exam (E. Vallduvi)

Final paper length: 10-20 pages

Due: December 12

Weight: 50%

5. References

Aijmer, Karin (ed.) 2011. Contrastive Pragmatics. Benjamins Current Topics 30. Amsterdam/Philadelphia: John Benjamins.

Haspelmath, Martin / König, Ekkehard / Oesterreicher, Wulf / Raible, Wolfgang (eds.). 2001. Language Typology and Language Universals. An International Handbook. 2 vols. Berlin / New York: Walter de Gruyter.

James, Carl. 1980. Contrastive Analysis. London/NY: Longman.

Kiss, K. É. 1995. Discourse configurational languages. Oxford: Oxford U. Press

Krzeszowski, Tomasz P. 1990. Contrasting Languages. The Scope of Contrastive Linguistics. Berlin/NY: Mouton de Gruyter.

Myhill, J., 1992, Typological discourse analysis. Oxford: Basil Blackwell.

Pütz, Martin (ed.) 2008. Developing Contrastive Pragmatics: interlanguage and

cross-cultural perspectives. Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter.

Rojo, Ana. 2009. Step by Step. A Course in Contrastive Linguistics and Translation.

Oxford: Peter Lang.

Sörés, Anna. 2008. Typologie et linguistique contrastive: théories et applications dans

La comparaison des langues. Bern: Peter Lang.

6. Readings for the course (partial list; pdf docums - in moodle)

Carretero, Marta and Asunción Villamil. 2011. A contrastive study of verbs of remembering and forgetting in English and Spanish. In Languages in Contrast 11:1 (2011), 40-69. John Benjamins.

Defrancq, Bart & DeClerk, Bernard. 2009. Intersubjective positioning in French and English. A contrastive analysis of 'ça dépend' and 'it depends'. In Languages in Contrast 9:1, 37-72. John Benjamins.

González, Montserrat. 2008. The role of compound pragmatic markers in the construction of Catalan oral narrative. In Andrea Tyler, Yiyoung Kim and Mari Takada (eds.): Languages in the Context of Use. Discourse and Cognitive Approaches to Language. Berlin/NY: Mouton de Gruyter.

James, Carl. 1980. Contrastive Analysis. London/NY: Longman.

Rabadán, Rosa. 2006. Modality and modal verbs in contrast. Mapping out a translation(ally) relevant approach English-Spanish. In Languages in Contrast

6:2, 260-306. John Benjamins.

Rojo, Ana and Javier Valenzuela. 2004-2005. Verbs of sensory perception. An English-Spanish comparison. In Languages in Contrast 5:2, 209-243. John Benjamins.

Squartini, Mario. 2008. Lexical vs. grammatical evidentiality in French and Italian. In Linguistics 46-5, 917-947. Walter de Gruyter.

Van Olmen, Daniël. 2010. The imperative of intentional visual perception as a pragmatic marker. A contrastive study of Dutch, English and Romance. In Languages in Contrast 10:2, 223-244. John Benjamins.

Wierzbicka, Anna. 1994. Semantics and epistemology: the meaning of 'evidentials' in a cross-linguistic perspective. In Language Sciences 16:1, 81-137. Pergamon.