UCL - Comparative grammar and contrastive linguistics

[GERM2719]

[15h] 5 credits

This course is taught in the 2d semester.

Teacher(s): Philippe Hiligsmann

Language: English

Level: Second

Aims
Main themes
Content and teaching methods
Other information (prerequisite, evaluation (assessment methods), course materials recommended readings, ...)

Aims

At the end of the course students should :
have developed theoretical and practical knowledge in comparative grammar and contrastive linguistics, especially with respect to a comparative study of the Germanic and the Romance languages,
have developed the ability to describe and and compare the functioning of several language systems on the basis of linguistic varieties,
be able to apply the acquired theoretical knowledge on a certain subject in the field of contrastive linguistics.

Main themes

The course deals with the comparative study of language with respect to language typology (and language universals), with comparative grammar, and with contrastive linguistics. The methodological aspects and the areas of research will be illustrated with examples from the Germanic and the Romance languages. Modern aspects of contrastive linguistics will be especially highlighted.

Content and teaching methods

This course will make the students sensitive to comparative language studies. It will briefly deal with the origins of the most European languages, with special emphasis on the origins of Germanic and Romance languages, as well as on the process of standardisation of different languages and the influences of these different languages with respect to each other. Afterwards the methodological aspects of language typology and contrastive linguistics will be adressed. The examples that will be discussed are mainly from the Germanic and Romance languages.

Other information (prerequisite, evaluation (assessment methods), course materials recommended readings, ...)

Evaluation : Written exam and group work on a topic of contrastive linguistics.
Support : Scientific articles dealing with comparative grammar, contrastive linguistics and/or the typology of language, illustrating the material presented in the course.