OJ105 Languages of the world

Faculty of Arts
Spring 2010
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
Teacher(s)
prof. RNDr. Václav Blažek, CSc. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
prof. RNDr. Václav Blažek, CSc.
Department of Linguistics and Baltic Languages – Faculty of Arts
Timetable
Wed 11:40–13:15 zruseno D21
Prerequisites
no requisitions
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 50 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
At the end of the course student should be able to understand the basic strategies in classification of languages: typological, areal and genetic. On the basis of the genetic classification the student could intepret the main features of the world language families or higher taxonomical units is presented, including the alternative models.
Syllabus
  • 1. Typological, areal and genetic classification of languages: differences in purposes. 2. Genetic clasification of languages, its principles and methods (qualitative vs. quantitative). 3. Convergence models vs. divergence models and language relativity 4. Survey of the standard language families and hypothetical higher taxonomic units: 4.1. Khoisan. 4.2. Kongo-Saharan. 4.3. Nostratic. 4.4. Dené-Sino-Caucasian. 4.5. Amerindian. 4.6. Austric. 4.7. Australian. 4.8. Indo-Pacific.
Literature
  • ERHART, Adolf. Základy jazykovědy. 2. upr. vyd. Praha: Státní pedagogické nakladatelství, 1990, 198 s. ISBN 8004246125. info
  • HJELMSLEV, Louis. Jazyk. Translated by Miloš Dokulil. Vyd. 1. Praha: Academia, 1971, 145 s. URL info
  • KRUPA, Viktor, Jozef GENZOR and Ladislav DROZDÍK. Jazyky sveta. 1. vyd. Bratislava: Obzor, 1983, 507 s. info
  • MEIER, Georg Friedrich and Barbara MEIER. Handbuch der Linguistik und Kommunikationswissenschaft. Berlin: Akademie-Verlag, 1979, xiv, 552. info
  • GREENBERG, Joseph H. Language, culture, and communication : essays. Edited by Anwar S. Dil. Stanford, Calif.: Stanford University Press, 1971, xiv, 367. ISBN 0804707812. info
  • GREENBERG, Joseph H. Language universals : with special reference to feature hierarchies. The Hague: Mouton, 1966, 89 p. info
Teaching methods
Teacher presents the most modern models of classification of the world's languages, in the case of doubts various alternatives. The cultural and historical circumstances are discussed together with students.
Assessment methods
At least 50% in the final test is necessary for Bc.+ Ms. students. The doctorands have to describe the grammatical structure of 5 languages according to their choice.
Language of instruction
Czech
Follow-Up Courses
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
Information on completion of the course: Ukončení zápočtem je možné pouze pro kredit typu C. Uděluje se na základě aktivní účasti při výuce.
The course is taught annually.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2000, Autumn 2000, Autumn 2001, Autumn 2002, Autumn 2003, Autumn 2004, Autumn 2005, Autumn 2006, Autumn 2007, Autumn 2008, Autumn 2010, Autumn 2011, Autumn 2012, Autumn 2013, Autumn 2014, Autumn 2015, Autumn 2016, Autumn 2017, Autumn 2018, Autumn 2019, Autumn 2020, Autumn 2021.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2010, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/spring2010/OJ105