FF:AJ42012 Intro. to Functional Syntax - Course Information

AJ42012 Introduction to Functional Syntax

Extent and Intensity

0/0/0. 6 credit(s) (plus 2 credits for an exam). Type of Completion: zk (examination).

Teacher(s)

doc. PhDr. Jana Chamonikolasová, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Jiří Lukl, Ph.D. (lecturer)

Guaranteed by

doc. PhDr. Jana Chamonikolasová, Ph.D.
Department of English and American Studies – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Tomáš Hanzálek
Supplier department: Department of English and American Studies – Faculty of Arts

Prerequisites

( AJ41002 Practical English II || AJ01002 Practical English II ) && 42001
The course is taught in English. It is designed for students who are able to communicate in fluent English about scientific topics. The prerequisites are knowledge of the basics of syntax (normative syntax) and semantics, and an ability of analytical reasoning.

Course Enrolment Limitations

The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.

fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with

• English Language and Literature (programme FF, B-FI)

Course objectives

The course is taught in English. It denotes the position of functional syntax in linguistic theory. It analyzes the function of language units in the act of communication. The course presents the Brno theory of Functional Sentence Perspective and outlines other approaches to the analysis of the information structure of language. The seminars include exercises in text analysis. Main course objectives: 1. Understanding the difference between static and dynamic approaches to syntax and semantics. 2. Mastering the basics of the theory of the information structure, especially the Brno theory of functional sentence perspective. 3. Acquiring the capacity of functional analysis of discourse. 4. Understanding the dynamics of language as a communication system. 5. Mastering translation methods respecting typological differences between languages especially at the syntactic level.

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the following outcomes will be achieved: 1. The students will understand the difference between static and dynamic approaches to syntax and semantics. 2. The students will master the basics of the Brno approach to the information structure of language. 3. The students will acquire the capacity of functional analysis of discourse. 4. The students will understand the dynamics of language as a communication system.

Syllabus

• Week 1 Approaches to the study of Syntax The position of functional syntax in linguistic theory Syntactic analysis of a sentence. Sentence types. Basic sentence elements. Text analysis Week 2 The theory of functional sentence perspective (FSP). FSP and translation. The distribution of communicative dynamism Text analysis. Week 3 Factors of FSP. The linear modification factor. The contextual factor. Text analysis. Week 4 The contextual factor: the ‘immediately relevant context’ The semantic factor. Text analysis. Week 5 Foundation and core of a message. FSP functions. Text analysis. Final assignment guidelines.

Literature

recommended literature
• FIRBAS, Jan. Functional sentence perspective in written and spoken communication. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1992, xv, 239. ISBN 0521373085. info
• BIBER, Douglas, Susan CONRAD and Geoffrey N. LEECH. Longman student grammar of spoken and written English. First published. Harlow: Longman, 2002, vii, 487. ISBN 9780582237278. info
• DRÁPELA, Martin. Sbírka textů k předmětu Úvod do syntaxe (A Corpus of Texts for the Introduction to Syntax Course). 1. vyd. Brno: Masarykova univerzita, 2014, 220 pp. ISBN 978-80-210-7104-9. Digitální knihovna FF MU info

not specified
• BIBER, Douglas. Longman grammar of spoken and written English. Edited by Randolph Quirk. Harlow: Pearson Education, 2000, xxviii, 12. ISBN 0582237254. info
• HUDDLESTON, Rodney and Geoffrey K. PULLUM. A student's introduction to English grammar. 1st pub. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2005, viii, 312. ISBN 9780521612883. info
• HUDDLESTON, Rodney and Geoffrey K. PULLUM. The Cambridge grammar of the English language. Edited by Laurie Bauer. 1st pub. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2002, xvii, 1842. ISBN 9780521431460. info
• QUIRK, Randolph. A comprehensive grammar of the English language. Edited by David Crystal. London: Longman, 1985, x, 1779. ISBN 9780582517349. info
• DUŠKOVÁ, Libuše. Mluvnice současné angličtiny na pozadí češtiny. 1. vyd. Praha: Academia, 1988, 673 s. info
• Příruční mluvnice češtiny. Edited by Miroslav Grepl - Petr Karlík - Marek Nekula - Zdenka Rusínová. Vyd. 2., opr. Praha: Lidové noviny, 1996, 799 s. ISBN 8071061344. info
• SGALL, Petr, Eva HAJIČOVÁ and Jarmila PANEVOVÁ. The meaning of the sentence in its semantic and pragmatic aspects. 1. vyd. Prague: Academia, 1986, ix, 353 s. info
• CHAFE, Wallace L. Discourse, consciousness, and time : the flow and displacement of conscious experience in speaking and writing. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1994, xiii, 327. ISBN 0226100545. info

Teaching methods

The course makes use of the following teaching and learning methods: lecture, interactive in-class exercise (text analysis), out-of class exercise -text analysis, homework - reading and critical analysis of a scholarly texts.

Assessment methods

Final assessment is based on the results of (1) a written exam in syntactic analysis focusing on the FSP interpretation of a text, (2) a critical analysis of a translation text from the viewpoint of the FSP theory, and/or (3) an essay summarizing a paper on some aspect of the information structure theories in focus

Language of instruction

English

Further comments (probably available only in Czech)

The course is taught once in two years.
The course is taught: every other week.
General note: This course is NOT designated for Erasmus students! List of courses offerd by the Department of English and American studies for Erasmsus students is available at http://www.phil.muni.cz/wkaa/ under "Information for Erasmus students".

Information about innovation of course.

This course has been innovated under the project "Faculty of Arts as Centre of Excellence in Education: Complex Innovation of Study Programmes and Fields at FF MU with Regard to the Requirements of the Knowledge Economy“ – Reg. No. CZ.1.07/2.2.00/28.0228, which is cofinanced by the European Social Fond and the national budget of the Czech Republic.

Teacher's information

http://elf.phil.muni.cz/elf/course/view.php?id=2490

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