NJ_G330 Introduction to Phrase Structure Grammar

Faculty of Education
Spring 2024
Extent and Intensity
0/1/0. 2 credit(s) (plus 2 for the colloquium). Recommended Type of Completion: z (credit). Other types of completion: k (colloquium).
Teacher(s)
Roland Anton Wagner, M.A., Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
Roland Anton Wagner, M.A., Ph.D.
Department of German Language and Literature – Faculty of Education
Contact Person: Helena Rytířová
Supplier department: Department of German Language and Literature – Faculty of Education
Timetable of Seminar Groups
NJ_G330/Kombi01: Fri 15. 3. 10:00–11:50 učebna 54, Fri 19. 4. 10:00–11:50 učebna 54, Fri 17. 5. 10:00–11:50 učebna 54, R. Wagner
Prerequisites
Capability to follow class lectures in German.
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
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Course objectives
The aim of the course is to introduce students to the basics of phrase-structure grammar applied to German language. As grammar classes in Czech Republic are mainly based on dependency grammar, students usually lack basic knowledge on the hierarchical organization of sentences into immediate constituents. This course provides an opportunity to remedy this deficiency.
Learning outcomes
At the end of the course students should be able
- to enumerate the basic differences between descriptions based on dependency syntax and phrase-structure syntax,
- to read simple tree diagrams showing the structure of German sentences,
- to relate traditional concepts of German syntax such as “Vorfeld” to structural positions within constituent structure models,
- to draw constituent trees for simple German sentences.
The course is conceived for students of German language in teacher training programs who are interested in an alternative view on German syntax which in Czech linguistics (and also at the PdF MU) is mainly described from the standpoint of dependency syntax.
Syllabus
  • - Dependency and constituency as basic principles of syntactic descriptions;
  • - the concept of constituency in syntax;
  • - operational tests to identify the constituency structure of German sentences;
  • - endocentric constructions: the “head” of a construction/phrase;
  • - nominal phrases;
  • - verbal phrase; definition of “subject” within phrase structure;
  • - functional phrases (projections): auxiliaries and complementisers;
  • - problems of a grammar based on constituency; transformations / different levels of representation as solution to the problem;
  • - the passive in phrase structure grammar;
  • - word order in German main clauses and embedded clauses;
Literature
    required literature
  • MEIBAUER, Jörg. Einführung in die germanistische Linguistik. 2., aktualisierte Aufl. Stuttgart: J.B. Metzler, 2007, xi, 369. ISBN 9783476021410. info
    recommended literature
  • Fanselow, Gisbert - Felix, Sascha W. Sprachtheorie Bd. 2. Die Rektions- und Bindungstheorie. Túbingen: UTB Francke, 1993. ISBN 3-8252-1442-7
  • HENTSCHEL, Elke and Harald WEYDT. Handbuch der deutschen Grammatik. Berlin: Walter de Gruyter, 1990, x, 451. ISBN 3110115964. info
Teaching methods
The work in class is based on compulsory reading of selected linguistic texts (written summaries may be required during the term), analysis of German language material (partly to be done at home) and the comparison of different grammars and text books of German in oral (short presentations) and written (homework) form.
Assessment methods
For completing the course by a "zapocet" (credit), students have to hand in all compulsary homework. Students who wish to acquire the "kolokvium" have to write a short paper (5 pages) providing an analysis of a some German constructions.
Language of instruction
German
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
Information on the extent and intensity of the course: 6 hodin v kombinované formě.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2016, Spring 2018, Autumn 2019, Spring 2022, Spring 2023, Spring 2025.
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  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/ped/spring2024/NJ_G330