| CODE | LIN3010 | ||||||||
| TITLE | Language Typology and Universals | ||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 03 - Years 2, 3, 4 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 6 | ||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 4 | ||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Institute of Linguistics and Language Technology | ||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit presents an in-depth exploration of the major differences between languages (typology) and the similarities among languages (universals), in particular within the core areas of linguistic analysis, namely phonology, morphology, syntax and semantics. The concepts of ‘language type’ and ‘language universal’ are investigated and discussed critically, and the linguistic evidence presented in the literature is explored in detail with examples from a wide spectrum of languages. Study-unit Aims: This study-unit is aimed at familiarising the student with research on language typology and with the study of language universals, two areas of study that are closely linked in content and methodology. It is intended for students who have already acquired a basic knowledge of the core areas of linguistics (phonology, morphology, syntax and semantics), as well as basic skills in language analysis, and who can build upon that knowledge and apply their skills by investigating a wide range of linguistic phenomena, such as case marking systems and phoneme inventories, from a large number of often unfamiliar languages, such as Dyirbal, Plains Cree and Yupik, from different language families. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - critically evaluate the notion of language universals, which has been a topic of considerable debate among linguists; - identify parameters that provide insights into the range of variation among different languages; - develop an understanding of the methodology required to avoid genetic and areal bias in the typological classification of languages; - appraise the richness of variation among languages while also identifying the limits of that variation. 2. Skills By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - compare and contrast languages on the basis of specific parameters that allow for insightful generalisations across languages; - organise and analyse data from a large set of genetically unrelated languages; - utilise effective sampling methods for the purposes of a typological classification- analyse and formally represent complex data within a given theoretical framework. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main: - Comrie, Bernard (1989) Language Universals and Linguistic Typology: Syntax and Morphology (2nd edition). Chicago: University of Chicago Press. Supplementary: - Aikhenvald, A.Y., R. M. W. Dixon (eds) (2017) The Cambridge Handbook of Linguistic Typology. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press - Croft, William (2002) Typology and Universals (2nd edition). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press - Moravcsik, E.A. (2013) Introducing Language Typology. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press - Song, Jae Jung (2001) Linguistic Typology: Morphology and Syntax. Harlow: Longman - Song, Jae Jung (2013) The Oxford Handbook of Linguistic Typology. Oxford: Oxford University Press. |
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| ADDITIONAL NOTES | Pre-Requisite Study-units: LLT1011 & LLT1012 or LLT1013 or equivalent | ||||||||
| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture | ||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Ray Fabri |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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