Inhalt
| Kommentar |
The focus of this seminar is on the cognitive mechanisms involved in the emergence of linguistic structure and in language change. As the mechanisms relevant for language are the same as for other cognitive phenomena such as visual and auditory perception, memory or reasoning, the analysis of language usage and language change can be related to general processes of cognition. This seminar will examine the cognitive processes that are considered relevant for the emergence of language structure, including: rich memory, chunking (formation of units through repetition or practice), analogy, categorization, and cross-modal association (cognitive capacity to link form and meaning) (Bybee 2010). The discussion will address the importance of diachronic processes for the analysis of grammar, in particular the processes whereby grammar is created in the course of language change (grammaticalization). Finally, attention will be given to the role of frequency as an essential factor in many cognitive processes involved in language usage, acquisition and change, including its reducing effect (articulatory reduction, e.g. of auxiliaries) and conserving effect (retention of frequent patterns in language, e.g. irregular plural forms) (e.g. Bybee 2006).
Voraussetzungen: Registrationvia WUSEL during the official registration period is obligatory.
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| Literatur |
Bybee, J. 2010. Language, Usage and Cognition. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Bybee, J. 2006. Frequency of Use and the Organization of Language. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
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| Leistungsnachweis |
Presentation and term paper |
| Zielgruppe |
LPO 2003: B 2a
MEd GymGe, BK: EN Ia
MEd Bilingualer Unterricht: M-ENG-S1
MA LING 1a |
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