A2BP_FUKS Functional and Communicative Syntax

Faculty of Education
Autumn 2015
Extent and Intensity
0/2/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
doc. Mgr. Olga Dontcheva-Navrátilová, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
Guaranteed by
doc. Mgr. Olga Dontcheva-Navrátilová, Ph.D.
Department of English Language and Literature – Faculty of Education
Contact Person: Jana Popelková
Supplier department: Department of English Language and Literature – Faculty of Education
Timetable of Seminar Groups
A2BP_FUKS/01: Mon 9:20–11:00 učebna 53, O. Dontcheva-Navrátilová
Prerequisites
( A2BP_PJ1B Practical Language 1B && A2BP_GR1B Grammar B && A2BP_SFFB Phonetics Seminar B ) || A2BP_SOZK Complex Exam
syntax A, synatx B
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
Course objectives
The aim of the course is to practice the communicative appproach in the study of English syntax using two strategies: a. the study of grammatical structures at sentence level with regards to their function as statements, questions, directives and exclamatives, b. the study of meaning in connected discourse (utterance level) - linking signals and constructions, word order and emphasis, functional sentence perspective etc.
The course presents the English grammar as a tool which enables users of English to achieve their purposes in communication and tries to help language learners to realise that grammar is used in a different way in spoken and written interaction and is further modified by the context of language use.
Students apply the knowledge gained in Syntax A and Syntax B courses and are able to put it into communicative and functional context. English grammar is thus viewed as a tool that enables them to achieve their particular communicative intentions and to interpret authentic English texts.
Throughout the semester students are encouraged to link theory in the classroom to practice at schools via practical tasks.
Syllabus
  • 1. Communicative syntax vs. normative syntax. Language in context.
  • 2. Analysing language structures - giving information and expressing opinion. Functions of language.
  • 3. Analysing language structures - expressing a point of view. Clauses with hypothetical meaning.
  • 4. Analysing language structures - expressing mood and emotion. Discourse functions of sentences.
  • 5. Analysing language structures - modality. Speech acts. The co-operative primciple and the principle of politeness.
  • 6. Analysing language structures - linking signals and constructions.
  • 7. Analysing language structures - referring expressions. Grammatical cohesion.
  • 8. Presenting and focussing information. Spoken vs. written language.
  • 9. Order and emphasis. Fronting.
  • 10. Order and emphasis. Postponement.
  • 11. Register variation - formal vs. informal, polite vs, familiar.
  • 12. Dialect variation.
  • 13. Discussion of approaches and activities for teaching functional syntax observed during teaching practice.
Literature
    required literature
  • DONTCHEVA-NAVRATILOVA, Olga. Grammatical Structures in English: Meaning in Context. 3. vydání. Brno: Masarykova univerzita, 2012, 168 pp. ISBN 978-80-210-5762-3. info
  • SVARTVIK, Jan and Geoffrey N. LEECH. A communicative grammar of English. 2nd ed. London: Longman, 1994, xiv, 423. ISBN 058208573X. info
  • QUIRK, Randolph and Sidney GREENBAUM. A Student s Grammar of the English Language. 1. vyd. London: Longman, 1990, 490 s. ISBN 0-582-07569-6. info
    recommended literature
  • THORNBURY, Scott. How to teach grammar. Harlow: Longman, 1999, ix, 182 s. ISBN 0-582-33932-4. info
  • VACHEK, Josef. A functional syntax of modern English. Vydání 1. Brno: Masarykova univerzita, 1994, 50 stran. ISBN 8021008636. info
  • TÁRNYIKOVÁ, Jarmila. Chapters from modern English syntax : (a communicative approach). Olomouc: Univerzita Palackého, 1993, 105 s. ISBN 8070672684. info
  • COOK, Guy. Discourse. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1989, xi, 167. ISBN 0194371409. info
  • UR, Penny. Grammar practice activities : a practical guide for teachers. First published. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1988, viii, 288. ISBN 0521329442. info
  • LEECH, Geoffrey N., M. (Margaret) DEUCHAR and Robert HOOGENRAAD. English grammar for today : a new introduction. London: Macmillan, 1982, xvi, 224 p. ISBN 0-333-30643-0. info
Teaching methods
Lectures, class discussions home assignments, compulsory reading. Tasks for teaching practice.
Assessment methods
Teaching methods: classroom discussions, lectures, students' presentations, home assignments, home projects.
Continuous assessment based on presence and participation at seminars. A mid-term test (passmark 65%) + a credit test (passmark 65%) + oral exam.
Language of instruction
English
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
Teacher's information
http://moodlinka.ped.muni.cz/course/view.php?id=143
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2004, Autumn 2005, Autumn 2006, Autumn 2007, Autumn 2008, Autumn 2009, Autumn 2010, Autumn 2011, Autumn 2012, Autumn 2013, Autumn 2014, Autumn 2016, Autumn 2017, Autumn 2018, Autumn 2019, autumn 2020, Autumn 2021.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2015, recent)
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