1.Cognitive Linguistics

Cognitive Linguistics: an overview
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Goals of module The struห้องสมุดไป่ตู้ture of this module Course Content Cognitive Linguistics: An Introduction
Goals of this module
Some guidance
• These following "Ts" may help you to successfully and more efficiently organize your groupwork. In each neighbourhood, at least one student (or better, two) should be in charge of one of these "Ts" when working in groups: • Task (Stay focused on the task) • Teamwork (Make sure that all group members are involved) • Take notes (Write down your findings) • Time management (Make sure you are done with the worksheet within the time limit you have agreed on in the beginning) • Talk (Talk to each other and make sure to appoint one student to represent your group in the meeting with the lecturer)
• Chomskyan linguistics as „cognitive linguistics‟ and the „cognitive turn‟ in linguistics • Syntactic Structures (Chomsky 1957), Aspects of the Theory of Syntax (Chomsky 1965): grammar exists in speakers„ minds; innate UG; language as autonomous component of the mind: knowledge of language forms an autonomous module/faculty independent of other mental processes • Cognitive Linguistics: definitions and descriptions
Textbook and reading list
• Evans, V. and Green, M. 2006. Cognitive linguistics: an introduction. Edinburgh University Press. • Croft, W. and Cruse, D. Cognitive linguistics. 2004. Cambridge University Press. • Geeraerts, D. and Cuyckens, H. 2007. Oxford handbook of cognitive linguistics. Oxford University Press. • Reading list • Journals • Cognitive linguistics • Metaphor and symbol • Cognitive science
Standards of Grading
• • • • Participation In-class discussion Weekly meetings Final examination/term paper 10% 15% 15% 60%
1. Cognitive Linguistics: an Introduction
Organization 1
• This lecture is based on a teaching model that involves some elements that do not typically occur in more traditional lectures. There are three central elements that are important in this model: • neighborhood groups of 10 students at most who cooperate in study groups throughout the semester. • weekly meetings of the neighborhood groups (only one student per group each week) with the lecturer on Wednesday evening prior to the plenary lecture. • the plenary lecture each Wednesday, lasting up to 90 minutes
Organization 2
• Neighborhood groups (short "neighborhoods") are study groups that consist of 10 students at most. Neighborhoods are best formed by students who sit next to each other in the lecture hall • The central function of the neighborhoods is to meet once a week for 60-90 minutes to work on worksheets that will be available after each plenary lecture. These worksheets are homework assignments that contain linguistic data and analytic tasks to familiarize you with and prepare you for the topic that will be dealt with in the plenary lecture in the coming week. worksheets serve as a basis for our discussion and data analysis during the plenary lecture.
• This class aims to introduce you to Cognitive Linguistics, by explaining and applying its key concerns: prototypes, conceptual metaphors, metonymy, image schema, conceptual blending, iconicity, polysemy, frame semantics, cognitive grammar, construction grammar, cognitive poetics. In doing so, not only will you gain insight into a new approach to linguistics, but you will also learn more about how human cognition seems to work.
• “[A] descriptive label for a rather broad movement within modern linguistics. It includes a variety of approaches, methodologies, and emphases, which are, however, unified by a number of common assumptions. Foremost among these is the belief that language forms an integral part of human cognition, and that any insightful analysis of linguistic phenomena will need to be embedded in what is known about human cognitive abilities.” (Taylor 2002: 3.)
More on organization
• Weekly meetings of one representative per neighborhood group with the lecturer on Wednesday evenings (7:00-9:00) in Room 409 Humanity Building. These meetings are designed to collect questions and discuss problems that may have emerged when dealing with the worksheets. Neighborhood representatives in charge for the respective meeting need to take down questions and problems that have occurred so that they can report these to the lecturer during the meeting. The most frequently mentioned questions/difficulties will then be discussed in the plenary lecture. • Important: These Wednesday meetings are obligatory (attendance will be checked). Each week, a new student will act as the representative of their neighborhood, so that every student needs to attend a weekly meeting only once per semester.