KSCB120 Introduction to Cultural Linguistics for Chinese Majors

Faculty of Arts
Spring 2026
Extent and Intensity
0/2/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
doc. Wei-lun Lu, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. Wei-lun Lu, Ph.D.
Department of Chinese Studies – Asia Studies Centre – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: doc. Wei-lun Lu, Ph.D.
Supplier department: Department of Chinese Studies – Asia Studies Centre – Faculty of Arts
Timetable
Thu 14:00–15:40 B2.34, except Mon 20. 4. to Fri 24. 4.
Prerequisites
KSCA005 Chinese Grammar II
English
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 6 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Abstract
This course provides an overview of cognitive linguistics in cultural context and its applications in Chinese Studies. In this course, we will go over selected linguistic phenomena that the students already know (from Grammar I and Grammar II) and will try analyzing them from the perspective of cognitive linugistics.  
Learning outcomes
After taking this course, students will:
- be equipped with basic skills of uncovering hidden conceptual and cultural patterns underlying the Chinese language via a cognitive linguistics approach
- know how to apply cognitive linguistic theories in practice.
Key topics

Session 1: Course overview 

Session 2: Polysemy of spatial terms in [V]-[上／下] and [上／下]-[V]; contemporary theory of metaphor

Session 3: Polysemy of 起來 (teacher's business trip)

Session 4: Classifiers and categorization; onomatopoeia and iconicity 

Session 5: Writing system and categorization; tonality, word plays and homophony 

Session 6: Polysemy of posture verbs and social meaning, diminutive aspect [V]-[一下] and verbal reduplication

Session 7: Individual consultations 

Session 8: Mid-term presentation 

Session 9: Numbers, animals, color or body parts

Session 10: Final presentation

Study resources and literature
  • A cognitive linguistics view of terminology and specialized language. Edited by Pamela B. Faber. Boston: De Gruyter Mouton, 2012, xiv, 307 p. ISBN 9783110277203. info
  • EVANS, Vyvyan. A glossary of cognitive linguistics. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2007, x, 239. ISBN 9780748622795. info
  • Cognitive linguistics : basic readings. Edited by Dirk Geeraerts. Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter, 2006, viii, 485. ISBN 3110190850. info
  • Polysemy in cognitive linguistics : selected papers from the fifth International Cognitive Linguistics Conference : Amsterdam, 1997. Edited by Britta Zawada - Hubert Cuyckens. Amsterdam: John Benjamins Publishing Company, 2001, xxvii, 296. ISBN 1556198949. info
Approaches, practices, and methods used in teaching
Seminar.
Method of verifying learning outcomes and course completion requirements

Attendance and contribution to discussion (with one unexcused absence tolerated, following the university regulations),

Oral presentation of own’s work (mid-term and final),

Final written proposal of 2-3 pages (to be submitted to Homework Vault in the IS.

Language of instruction
English
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught once in two years.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2016, Spring 2020, Spring 2021, Spring 2022, Spring 2023.
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