Dutch linguistics: Discourse and cognition

5 credits

15.0 h

This biannual learning unit is being organized in 2017-2018

Teacher(s)

Degand Elisabeth;

Language

Dutch

Prerequisites

Main themes

Overview of different theories of coherence and cohesion, with a focus on relational coherence as a cognitive phenomenon. Introduction to psycho-experimental methods of investigation in the field of discourse processing.

Aims

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :
1	After succesfully completing this course, students * have an overview of the field of discourse studies and discourse processing, as well as of the leading questions in the field * can formulate specific research questions and operationalizations of research that contributes to the field * are able to relate research on language use and discourse representation to issues of optimal communication * have some hands-on experience with the design and analysis of a psycho-experimental discourse processing study

The contribution of this Teaching Unit to the development and command of the skills and learning outcomes of the programme(s) can be accessed at the end of this sheet, in the section entitled “Programmes/courses offering this Teaching Unit”.

Content

First, we investigate the way in which various languages express coherence. Detailed corpus studies - of languages like English, Dutch, German, French, Russian and Chinese - provide interesting information on cross-linguistic similarities and differences. Second, the cognitive part studies the way language users process and represent these discourse structures during on-line processing and comprehension experiments; this part includes basic training in the design and analysis of processing experiments.

Teaching methods

Research seminar, with group discussions of theory and experimental methods.

Evaluation methods

Essay on a topic connected with the course. Presentation of the results during a « class workshop » (20%), essay in article form (50%). Group exams (2 students) will be encouraged.
20% of the final grade goes to language proficiency of the oral and written productions (grammatical and lexical code)
10% goes to class work (reading notes, class preparations)

Other information

A course in linguistic statistics is recommended (LCLIG2240 or LFIAL2260).

Online resources

Bibliography

Portfolio sur Moodle

Faculty or entity

LMOD

Programmes / formations proposant cette unité d'enseignement (UE)

Title of the programme

Sigle

Credits

Prerequisites

Aims

Master [120] in French and Romance Languages and Literatures : General

ROM2M

Master [120] in Linguistics

LING2M

Master [120] in Modern Languages and Literatures : General

ROGE2M

Master [60] in Modern Languages and Literatures : General

ROGE2M1

Master [120] in Ancient Languages and Literatures: Classics

CLAS2M

Master [60] in Modern Languages and Literatures : German, Dutch and English

GERM2M1

Master [120] in Ancient and Modern Languages and Literatures

LAFR2M

Master [120] in Ancient Languages and Literatures: Oriental Studies

HORI2M

Master [120] in Modern Languages and Literatures : German

GERM2M