Friday 16 February 2024

Courses at Ružomberok

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Spring/summer 2023                            
Consultations:

video meetings by appointment (in e-mail): 24/7 but primarily Tue & Wed;
in person: by appointment (!) Mon 16:30 - 18:00 Rm F325;
my dates are 26 Feb, 11 March, 25 March, 8 April, 22 April, 6 May, (+14-15 May).


** Below and above, any piece of text in
orange is a link. **

Courses 

Sémantika / Semantics   Mon 8.50-10.20, 10.30-12.00 (F010) on specified dates (see above!)

Lecture course for MA students
Introduction to the study of meaning relations in languages, with a focus on (i) English, and (ii) cognitive linguistics. Readings: parts of FRH and of Ungerer & Schmid.
SCHEDULE.

Morfológia a syntax / Morphology and syntax     Moodle
Mon 13.00-14.30, 14.40-16.10 (F010) on specified dates (see above!)      
Lecture course for BA students.  
Topics: Morphology - 
Category vs. function - Word-level categories - Phrases - The simple sentence - The complex sentence, subclauses - Information packaging - Pro-forms and ellipsis. 
Reading: Balogné Bérces (2016) The Structure of English: Ch. 1.1-12.1 (= StrE). (N.B. We only read the first subchapter in each chapter. The rest is for extension.) 
Downloads: key to the StrE exercises (Sept 2019 version) - sample test (in fact, an old and slightly outdated exam test).
ONLINE SCHEDULE.


(
Rozširujúce štúdiumSyntax 2 schedule -- Stylistics schedule -- History of English topics)

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Winter 2023

Štylistika / Stylistics - ONLINE in MS Teams
Lecture course/prednáška for 1st-semester MA students. 
Topics: the scope of stylistics - aims of stylistic analysis - linguistic levels and stylistic analysis - stylistic markers - texts as discourse - functional categories and style (transitivity, modality, cohesion) - cognitive stylistics - schema theory, figure and ground, cognitive metaphor theory - the main genres and their characteristics - conversation, media, law, science, advertising.
ReadingsSimpsonP. (2004) Stylistics: A Resource Book for StudentsLondon and New York: Routledge. Available in the library, plus here :-) Supplementary: Jeffries, L., McIntyre, D. (2010) Stylistics. Cambridge: CUP. Bhatia, V. K. (1993) Analyzing Genre. Essex: Longman Group.
Assessment: 30-100% oral exam (terms & definitions from a list posted in the schedule) + by choice: 30% in-class performance, 2x20% homework (pre-reading and presenting chapters from Part A of Simpson 2004, 4-5-page long readings). SCHEDULE.

Kritické skúmania 5 / Critical studies 5: A brief history of English - ONLINE in MS Teams - "KS5 BBK 2023" in Moodle

Elective seminar/cvičenie for 5th-semester BA students. 
This is Kritické skúmania – Critical studies because we will critically study the English language: investigate how its present form emerged during the centuries and how it became the controversial structure (Germanic? Romance? no grammar? illogical spelling system?) and the global lingua franca that it is today.
Assessment will be based on the results of three tests (planned dates: 17 Oct, 14 Nov, 12 Dec). The 5 Dec class is cancelled. Marking policy: A 100%-, B 90%-, C 80%-, D 70%-, E 60%-, Fx 50%-.
Readings: selected from: Smith, J. J. (2023) Essentials of Early English. 3rd edn. - Algeo, J. (2010) The Origins and Development of the English Language. 6th edn. - Kristó, L. (ms.) Introduction to the history of the English language.
Students' projects: students choose from Smith's Part II: Illustrative texts, present the text's background (on the basis of Smith and their own research), find a video or other audio material to watch/listen to, etc. Please sign up in pairs here.
HW for 12 Dec: read EModE (Smith Ch.5, pp. 110-134) + revise for Test3. Previously, you had to read Smith Ch.4 pp.98-109 (ME Part 2) and watch this video; Smith Ch.4 pp.81-98 (ME Part 1) and watch this video. [To revise for Test2, you had to read Smith pp.60-80 (OE Part 2) and revise the matching game (link below) and Smith pp.42-60 (OE Part 1), with help and video illustrations from my slideshow. Previously, for Test1, you had to check out Proto-Indo-European spoken, Beauty of the Germanic Languages video, this Germanic languages tree, Saga in Proto-Germanic; revise Smith Ch.1 Introduction, Kristó (ms.): pp. 73-79 in Ch.5, Kristó (ms.): pp.54-64 in Ch.4, this brief blogpost, and this map, and Yule (2020): Ch.17.]
Textový seminár 3 / Text seminar 3: Working with and producing academic texts - ONLINE in MS Teams - "TS3 BBK 2023" in Moodle 

2/3x45' seminar/cvičenie for 3rd-semester BA students (medzi/jednoodbor). 
Practice exercises in selected aspects of academic writing and text typography: academic language - stylistic consistency - formal language - using sources - punctuation conventions. Assessment will be based on the results of two tests (planned dates: 23-25 Oct; 11-13 Dec). The 4-6 Dec class is cancelled. Check Moodle for mock quizzes for practice. Folder for downloadable class materials. Marking policy: A 100%-, B 90%-, C 80%-, D 70%-, E 60%-, Fx 50%- (A 30-28, B 27-25, C 24-22, D 21-19, E 18-16, Fx 15-)

Historický vývin jazyka / History of English - ONLINE in MS Teams

2x45' lecture course/prednáška for 3rd-semester MA students. Topics, sources.

(Rozširujúce štúdium: Úvod schedule -- Syntax 1 schedule -- Lexicology schedule )


Spring 2023

Úvod do štúdia jazyka / Introduction to the study of language
ONLINE in MS Teams (team code: 32mhf9c) and Moodle
Lecture course for BA studentsMon 17.10-
A general intro to the fields of linguistic study: Functions and origins of language - Pragmatics - Discourse - Psycho/neuro/sociolinguistics - The history of writing - Language families - A brief history of English. 
Reading: Yule (2020) The Study of Language (download).
ONLINE SCHEDULE with extra materials, quizzes, downloads.
 


Autumn 2022

Lexikológia anglického jazyka -- "LAJ BBK" in Moodle
Lecture course/prednáška. Part 1: Mon 11.20-12.05 F013. Part 2: either Mon 12.10-12.55 F013; or Tues 11.20-12.05 F010. Reading: Crystal, D. 1995. The Cambridge Encyclopedia of the English Language. Part II "English Vocabulary" (pp.116-187) (apologies for the quality). A coloured scan of Part II (still not perfect but much better...). Balogné Bérces, K. 2016. The Structure of English: Ch. 1.1. SCHEDULE. Optional mid-term test: 15 Nov, 11.20, Rm F010, multiple-choice quiz (will only count against your final result if, added to your exam result, it makes it better). Practise with the mock quiz in Moodle!
Štylistika / Stylistics
Lecture course/prednáška for 1st-semester MA students. F010. Monday/pondelok 15.30-17.00.
Topics: the scope of stylistics - aims of stylistic analysis - linguistic levels and stylistic analysis - stylistic markers - texts as discourse - functional categories and style (transitivity, modality, cohesion) - cognitive stylistics - schema theory, figure and ground, cognitive metaphor theory - the main genres and their characteristics - conversation, media, law, science, advertising.
ReadingsSimpsonP. (2004) Stylistics: A Resource Book for StudentsLondon and New York: Routledge. Available in the library, plus here :-) Supplementary: Jeffries, L., McIntyre, D. (2010) Stylistics. Cambridge: CUP. Bhatia, V. K. (1993) Analyzing Genre. Essex: Longman Group.
Assessment: 30-100% oral exam (terms & definitions from a list posted in the schedule) + by choice: 30% in-class performance, 2x20% homework (pre-reading and presenting chapters from Part A of Simpson 2004, 4-5-page long readings). SCHEDULE.

Kritické skúmania 5 / Critical studies 5: A brief history of English -- RESULTS

Elective seminar/cvičenie for 5th-semester BA students. F010. Tuesday/utorok 8.00-9.30.
This is Kritické skúmania – Critical studies because we will critically study the English language: investigate how its present form emerged during the centuries and how it became the controversial structure (Germanic? Romance? no grammar? illogical spelling system?) and the global lingua franca that it is today.
Assessment will be based on the results of three tests (dates: 25 Oct, 22 Nov, 13 Dec)Marking policy: A 100%- (35-33), B 90%- (32-30), C 80%- (29-26), D 70%- (25-22), E 60%- (21-18), Fx 50%- (17-)
Reading: Algeo, J. (2010) The Origins and Development of the English Language. 6th ed. Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.
Reading HW (for 13 Dec): Ch.9 181-190 (LateModE). (Optional reading: Ch.9 190-202 (national differences).) Test3 will be based on topics discussed in class + pp.112-122, 139-147, 156-160 and 181-190. (Previously, we read pp.20-34, 49-64, 78-92Optional reading: pp. 92-108, 122-136, 147-152, 160-180.)
Links: The phon/morph/synt/sem quiz. Mandarin tonesThe Click SongThis is the fun trivia quiz we played on 25 Oct. Proto-Indo-European spoken. Beauty of the Germanic Languages video. Germanic languages tree. Saga in Proto-Germanic. Anglo-Saxon invasion map. Hist. of E. summary. Revision quiz. External and internal history overview exercise and chartBEOWULF: Reading and translating the opening lines. The Battle of Maldon: Passage 1 (scroll down for sound recording). Caedmon's HymnThe Lord's Prayer in OE, ME, EModE and ModE. The analysis of The Lord's Prayer in OE. Sumer is icumen in Early ME song. GVS chart. The final video: Why is English Spelling So Weird?
Extra homework to compensate for absences (only for those who missed classes and have been assigned this task): Watch language-related videos by Simon Roper, select 3 of them, and write short summaries of what we learn from these videos (at least 8-10 sentences about each video).
Textový seminár 3 / Text seminar 3: Working with and producing academic texts -- "TS3 BBK 2022" in Moodle -- RESULTS

2/3x45' seminar/cvičenie for 3rd-semester BA students (medzi/jednoodbor). F010. Tuesday/utorok 13.00-15.15.
Practice exercises in selected aspects of academic writing and text typography: academic language - stylistic consistency - formal language - using sources - punctuation conventions. Assessment will be based on the results of two tests (dates: 8 Nov 15 Nov, 13 Dec). Check Moodle for mock quizzes for practice. Folder for downloadable class materials. Marking policy: A 100%-, B 90%-, C 80%-, D 70%-, E 60%-, Fx 50%- (A 30-28, B 27-25, C 24-22, D 21-19, E 18-16, Fx 15-)
Rozširujúce štúdium: Úvod schedule -- Syntax 1 schedule -- Lexicology schedule 

Spring 2022

Sémantika / Semantics
Lecture course for MA students. Tue 11:20.

Syntax   
Lecture course for BA studentsMon 10:30.

Úvod do štúdia jazykov / Introduction to the study of language
Lecture course for BA studentsMon 13:50.

Syntax 2
Lecture course for MA correspondence/external students. SCHEDULE.

Autumn 2021

Lexikológia a úvod do štylistiky -- "LUŠ 2021" in Moodle -- "LUŠ 2021" in MS Teams
Lecture course/prednáška. F108. Monday/pondelok 09:40 - 11:10.
Štylistika / Stylistics -- "MA Štyl Zim 2021" in MS Teams
Lecture course/prednáška for 1st-semester MA students. F008. Monday/pondelok 11:20 - 12:50.

Kritické skúmania 5 / Critical studies 5: A brief history of English -- "KS5 2021" in MS Teams

Elective seminar/cvičenie for 5th-semester BA students. F008. Monday/pondelok 13:00 - 13:45.
Textový seminár 3 / Text seminar 3: Working with and producing academic texts -- "TS3 BBK 2021" in Moodle -- "TS3 2021" in MS Teams

2/3x45' seminar/cvičenie for 3rd-semester BA students (medzi/jednoodbor). F008. Tuesday/utorok 8:00 - 9:30/10:15.

Spring 2021

Sémantika / Semantics   ONLINE in MS Teams
Lecture course for MA students. Mon 16.20-17.50(?).
Introduction to the study of meaning relations in languages, with a focus on (i) English, and (ii) cognitive linguistics. Readings: parts of FRH and of Ungerer & Schmid.
SCHEDULE.

Syntax   ONLINE in MS Teams and Moodle
Lecture course for BA studentsMon 8.00-9.30.
Topics: 
Category vs. function - Word-level categories - Phrases - The simple sentence - The complex sentence, subclauses - Information packaging - Pro-forms and ellipsis. 
Reading: Balogné Bérces (2016) The Structure of English: Ch. 2.1-12.1 (= StrE). (N.B. We only read the first subchapter in each chapter. The rest is for extension.) 
Downloads: key to the StrE exercises (Sept 2019 version) - sample test (in fact, an old and slightly outdated exam test).
ONLINE SCHEDULE.

Úvod do štúdia jazykov / Introduction to the study of language
ONLINE in MS Teams and Moodle
Lecture course for BA studentsMon 11.20-12.50.
A general intro to the fields of linguistic study: Functions and origins of language - Pragmatics - Discourse - Psycho/neuro/sociolinguistics - The history of writing - Language families - A brief history of English. 
Reading: Yule (2020) The Study of Language (download).
ONLINE SCHEDULE with extra materials, quizzes, downloads.

Syntax 2
Lecture course for MA correspondence/external students.

Autumn 2020

Kritické skúmania 5 / Critical studies 5: A (critical) revision of linguistic issues -- "KS5" in Moodle -- "KS5" in MS Teams

Elective seminar/cvičenie for 5th-semester BA students. F201 ONLINE. Pondelok 11:20 - 12:05.
Topics: Phonetics and Phonology - Morphology - Syntax. Students prepare "exam notes" in selected topics, which are discussed, clarified, corrected (if need be), and amended in class discussions. At the end of the semester, we play a mock exam. SCHEDULE.
Textový seminár 3 / Text seminar 3: Close reading of linguistics essays -- "TS3" in Moodle -- "TS3" in MS Teams

3x45' seminar/cvičenie for 3rd-semester BA students (jednoodbor). F007 ONLINE. Pondelok 14:40 - 16:10! (- 16:55).
Vocab and grammar practice based on linguistic and language-related essays read and analysed. Students read the essays and present their content, then teach some vocab of their choice (min. 10 words / expressions). Assessment will be based on the results of two electronic tests (planned dates: 2 Nov and 14 Dec), and a 1-page summary written up of the essay presented. SCHEDULE.
Reading: Smith, N. 2005. Language, Frogs and Savants.

Spring 2020                          

Štylistika / Stylistics
Lecture course for MA correspondence/external students.
Topics: the scope of stylistics - aims of stylistic analysis - linguistic levels and stylistic analysis - stylistic markers - texts as discourse - functional categories and style (transitivity, modality, cohesion) - cognitive stylistics - schema theory, figure and ground, cognitive metaphor theory - the main genres and their characteristics - conversation, media, law, science, advertising. Note. These topics cover part of the linguistics module of the final exam.
ReadingsSimpson
P. (2004) Stylistics: A Resource Book for StudentsLondon and New York: Routledge. Available hereSupplementary: Jeffries, L., McIntyre, D. (2010) Stylistics. Cambridge: CUP. Bhatia, V. K. (1993) Analyzing Genre. Essex: Longman Group.
Assessment: oral exam. SCHEDULE.

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Autumn 2019                           
Office hours (by appointment): Mon 8-10am, 12-1pm, 

Courses (in alphabetical order)                                                     3.15-4.20pm; Rm F325

Kritické skúmania |5 / Critical studies 
|5: The logic (?) of English spelling
Elective seminar for 5th-semester BA students. 2 credits.
The final class on 9 Dec is cancelled due to its clash with the Christmas Party :-) If you accept the average mark I offered you on the basis of the two test results as a final mark, you don't need to do anything. If you'd like to get a better mark and therefore write Test 3, contact me ASAP so that we can make an appointment for 9 or 10 Dec. Those with intermediate marks (e.g., A/B) are automatically offered the weaker one -- if you want the better one, you'll have to fight for it and write Test 3 (see instructions in previous sentence).
Topics: sounds vs. letters - historical evolution: internal sound changes and external influence - graphic position and sound value (vowel laxing unmarked in spelling - consonantal letters and digraphs: the special cases - foreignisms and other irregularities).
Course folder for Test 2.  Course folder for Test 1.
Sources: Nádasdy, Á. (2006) Background to English Pronunciation. Budapest. - BBK, Szentgyörgyi, Sz. (2006) The Pronunciation of English. Budapest. - Carney, E. (1994) A Survey of English SpellingRoutledge. - Carney, E. (1997) English Spelling. Language WorkbooksRoutledge. - Cook, V., Ryan, D. (eds.) (2016) The Routledge Handbook of the English Writing System. Routledge.
Assessmentbased on in-class performance and the results of three two written tests (14 Oct, 18 Nov, 9 Dec CANCELLED!). Not more than 3 absences are tolerated
Please note that the 28 Oct class is cancelled, and we'll have the final class on 9 Dec as compensation CANCELLED!

Textový seminár 3 / Text seminar 3: Variation in written English in space and time
2/3x45' classes for 3rd-semester BA students. 5/11 credits.
Topics: variation in time: a (very!) brief history of English - dialects before and after the Norman Conquest - the emergence of standard English and standard spelling in Britain and in the USA; variation in space: grammar, vocab and spelling differences betw. AmE and BrE - colloquialisms - Cockney Rhyming Slang, Geordie, Scots - eye dialect (Strine etc.).
Extras: the introductions to the chapters in 
BegEngDial - watch this extra video about CRS - watch this extra video about AmE-BrE spelling.
Course material for Test2: reading: BegEngDial Ch.7-8-9 - ain't - circles - accents video - Australianisms - NAm and SHemScotland and Ireland 2 - European Scots by Sheena Blackhall - videos on Scots here and here (switch on subtitles! (and brace yourselves even that way :-P)) - Scotland and Ireland 1 - on research published in ScotsCall Me Maybe Geordie Cover - CRS in LS2SB here and here (read about LS2SB here) - Cockney - grammar and spelling differences exercises - AmE-BrE slides - AmE-BrE exercise
Course material for Test1 (21 Oct): slides (dialect variation, standard English(es)) - reading #2: BBK (2008) Beginner's English Dialectology (Ch.1, pp.1-8) slides (Caxton, variation) - weird spelling video - reading #1: Freeborn, D. (1986) Varieties of English (Ch.2, pp.22-40) GVS practice exercise - history of English summary chart + FYI: timeline
Sources, links: Hugh Laurie at Ellen's - cool whip videoFreeborn, D. (1992) From Old English to Standard English. Macmillan. - Wolfram, W., Schilling, N. (2016) American English: Dialects and Variation. 3rd ed. Malden/Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell. (accompanying website) - Kortmann, B. et al. (eds.) (2004) A Handbook of Varieties of English. Berlin/New York: Mouton de Gruyter.
Assessment: based on in-class performance and the results of two written tests (rescheduled: 21 Oct, 2 Dec). Not more than 3 absences are tolerated. Please note that the 28 Oct class is cancelled, and we'll have the final class on 9 Dec as compensation.