German linguistics: cognitive theories of language and second language acquisition [ LGERM2813 ]

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Introduction to linguistics.

The study of different theoretical concepts with respect to second language acquisition exemplified with German as a second language.

At the end of the course, the students should:
- have developed knowledge of the principles and foundations of explanatory, cognitive linguistics.
- have acquired central concepts of applied and theoretical linguistics.
- have developed the ability to transfer theoretical linguistic knowledge of second language acquisition into the domain of language teaching.
- have developed his ability in linguistic argumentation.
- be able to present competently one of the topics of this course.

Presentation of one of the topics of the course and a written exam.

The course requires the student's active participation in discussions, in reading scientific texts. Furthermore, every student has to give a short presentation on "cognitive theories of second language acquisition" at the end of the course.

- Study of problems concering German grammar (syntax and morphology): Acquisition of word order in German.
- Study of problems concerning linguistic theory. The topics are: the idea of principles and parameters in grammatical theory; the nature of specific parameter settings in a language, parameterisation in synchrony and diachrony; parameters and (universal) principles in acquisition of first (native) and second language acquisition; differences between acquisition of German as native and as a second language; acquisition of verb positions in French and German (in first and second language acquisition); the critical period hypothesis; differences between grammatical principles (UG) and the language acquisition device (LAD); acquisition of foreign languages with respect to parameter setting, acquisition in terms of rules or by analogy.

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 Support. 1. scientific articles/chapters in books, 2. a written guideline " how to present a linguistic work ", 3. the students get aid with the workout of their presentations (content, structuring, ').