Aims

This course aims to provide a basic knowledge of Dutch grammar (spelling, morphology and syntax)

Main themes

The main themes are syntax, morphology and (elementary) spelling rules

Content and teaching methods

(i) Content : the following two linguistic fields are covered in detail :
1. Syntax: 30 h.00 (this part of the course takes place during the first semester) : the basics of Dutch syntax are taught. This includes :
- basic principles of Dutch word order (the two syntactic "poles" and the distribution of the phrases in between);
- grammatical categories;
- phrases ("zinsdelen"); nominal constituants ;
- simple, compound and complex sentences;
- syntactic and semantic functions and distribution;
- the sentence as part of a greater unit (the theme-rheme distribution of elements according to their degrees of communicative importance is introduced).
2. Morphology: the verb (main verbs, tense and modal auxiliaries), substantives (plural, diminutives), adjectives, pronouns, adverbials and pronominal adverbials
NB. Basic rules of pronunciation (esp. voice assimilation) and spelling are also provided.

(ii) Method :

- 45 hours of lectures divided into two parts : syntax (30 h.00) is taught during the first semester and the remaining 15 hours (taught in the second semester) are devoted to morphology and spelling problems.
- Systematic and personal study of the teaching material is coupled with interactive exercises on the web (http://www.gramlink.com)

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

Evaluation : Written exam (theory and practice).

Teaching (and learning) materials :
- P. Godin, P. Ostyn, F.Degreef, 1993. La Pratique du néerlandais avec ou sans maître, SPILL 18, Peeters, Leuven
- A Dutch (and French version) of the syllabus is available for the students (see: http://www.fltr.ucl.ac.be/fltr/germ/germ1133/germ1133.htm and
http://www.ilv.ucl.ac.be/gramlink-nl/index.htm)

Other credits in programs