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2020/2021

Lexis and Grammar

Code: 105827 ECTS Credits: 6
Degree Type Year Semester
2503998 Catalan Philology: Literary Studies and Linguistics OB 2 1
The proposed teaching and assessment methodology that appear in the guide may be subject to changes as a result of the restrictions to face-to-face class attendance imposed by the health authorities.

Contact

Name:
Jaume Mateu Fontanals
Email:
Jaume.Mateu@uab.cat

Use of Languages

Principal working language:
catalan (cat)
Some groups entirely in English:
No
Some groups entirely in Catalan:
Yes
Some groups entirely in Spanish:
No

Prerequisites

It is required for the students to have an excellent oral and written command of the Catalan language and it is also necessary for them to master the associated prescriptive grammar.
 
It is also important for the students to be acquainted with the contents of lexical morphology (word formation) and basic syntax, which were dealt with during the first-year subjects devoted to descriptive grammar.

Objectives and Contextualisation

The subject of Lexis and Grammar consists of the study of the relations between the lexicon and the syntax of Catalan. This course is part of the set of compulsory subjects included in "Catalan language: synchrony and diachrony".
 
MAIN GOALS:
  • to be capable of analyzing basic syntactic structures
  • to be capable of relating the properties of the lexicon with the form of syntactic structures
  • to be capable of distinguishing which aspects of lexical meaning are relevant to grammar and which are not
  • to be capable of analyzing the syntactic and semantic properties of different types of predicates and argument structures
  • to be capable of analyzing the syntactic and semantic properties of idioms and other lexicalized expressions of Catalan
  • to be capable of analyzing the syntactic and semantic properties of word formation (derivation and compounding) of Catalan
  • to be capable of distinguishing, by using a lexical theory, which words are (im)possible

Competences

  • Act with ethical responsibility and respect for fundamental rights, diversity and democratic values.
  • Analyse the phonetic, phonological, morphological, syntactic, lexical and semantic properties of the Catalan language, its evolution over time and its present structure.
  • Assess gender inequalities when acting in this field of knowledge.
  • Critically read and interpret texts.
  • Demonstrate a mastery of the rules of the Catalan language, its linguistic bases and all its application in the academic and professional fields.
  • Display teamwork skills.
  • Innovate in the methods and processes of this area of knowledge in response to the needs and wishes of society.
  • Interpret the political, social and cultural factors that affect the use of the Catalan language and its evolution over time and at the present day.
  • Produce written work and oral presentations that are effective and framed in the appropriate register.
  • Students must be capable of collecting and interpreting relevant data (usually within their area of study) in order to make statements that reflect social, scientific or ethical relevant issues.
  • Students must be capable of communicating information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialised and non-specialised audiences.
  • Students must develop the necessary learning skills to undertake further training with a high degree of autonomy.
  • Students must have and understand knowledge of an area of study built on the basis of general secondary education, and while it relies on some advanced textbooks it also includes some aspects coming from the forefront of its field of study.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Analyse linguistic structures.
  2. Analyse the most problematic phonetic, phonological, morphological, syntactic, lexical and semantic properties of the present-day language.
  3. Analyse the principles of lexical semantics that affect the internal structure of words and their syntactic combination.
  4. Analyse the syntactic structures of simple, complex, modalised and discursively marked clauses.
  5. Apply the principles of correctness required in the standard language and the different registers and variants.
  6. Correctly identify linguistic units.
  7. Describe the combinatory processes for creating linguistic units.
  8. Determine register types on the basis of phonology, morphology, syntax and semantics.
  9. Distinguish between grammatical gender and natural gender.
  10. Gain a greater capacity for reading, interpreting and critically analysing literary and linguistic texts.
  11. Identify and describe the processes of inflection, derivation, composition and lexicalisation.
  12. Identify principal and secondary ideas and express them using correct language.
  13. Identify the contexts in which historical processes are immersed.
  14. Identify the origin of errors made by non-native speakers when using the language.
  15. Identify the pragmatic factors that condition the use of the various linguistic structures .
  16. Interpret texts in depth and provide standpoints from which to analyse them critically.
  17. Make appropriate use of the knowledge acquired in order to collect data and handle documentary sources in the study of Catalan language and literature.
  18. Match the known internal and external properties of the language to the different conditions of use.
  19. Plan, organise and carry out work in a team.
  20. Produce normatively correct written and oral texts.
  21. Produce written work and oral presentations that are effective and framed in the appropriate register.
  22. Respect the opinions, values, behaviour and customs of others.
  23. Single out the grammatical and pragmatic factors that determine the overall interpretation of the clause.
  24. Troubleshoot errors made by non-native speakers when using the language.
  25. Use technological resources (digital and audiovisual) to acquire knowledge and apply it in language and literature.
  26. Work self-sufficiently on the synchronic and diachronic study of Catalan language and literature.
  27. Write text commentaries from a critical standpoint.

Content

According to the set of subjects included in "Catalan language: synchrony and diachrony", the contents to be dealt with in the Lexis and Grammar subject are the following ones:
 
o Syntax as a projection from the lexicon
o Categorial selection and semantic selection
o Argument structure and types of predicates
o Lexical aspect and grammatical aspect
o Syntactic and semantic properties of derivation and compounding
 

Methodology

The calendar will be available on the first day of class. Students will find all information on the Virtual Campus: the description of the activities, teaching materials, and any necessary information for the proper follow-up of the subject. In case of a change of teaching modality for health reasons, teachers will make readjustments in the schedule and methodologies..

Activities

Title Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Type: Directed      
Classroom practice 17 0.68 18, 3, 1, 4, 2, 17, 5, 7, 8, 9, 23, 21, 6, 15, 11, 14, 12, 16, 22, 10, 20, 27, 24, 26
Lectures 35 1.4 18, 3, 1, 4, 2, 17, 5, 7, 8, 23, 6, 13, 15, 11, 14, 12, 16, 22, 10, 24
Type: Supervised      
Discussion of texts from bibliography and resolution of exercises 19 0.76 18, 3, 1, 4, 2, 17, 5, 7, 8, 9, 23, 6, 13, 15, 11, 14, 12, 16, 22, 10, 20, 24
Type: Autonomous      
Study of lecture notes and bibliography 40 1.6 18, 3, 1, 4, 2, 17, 5, 7, 8, 9, 23, 21, 6, 13, 15, 11, 14, 12, 16, 22, 19, 10, 20, 27, 24, 26, 25

Assessment

The evaluation will be based on the following activities:

(a) Final exam: 50%

(b) Lexicogrammatical analysis exercises: 20%

(c) Team work: 20%

(d) Other complementary activities: 10%

The teacher will inform students about the procedure and dates for reviewing grades. The minimum grade to pass the course is 5.

Re-assessment for this subject will consist of a test, which will stand for 50%. For the student to be able to do this test, the following two conditions are required: (i) having obtained an average overall grade that is equal to or higher than 3.5 and having being assessed wrt 2/3 parts of the subject. The maximum overall grade to be obtained from the re-assessment test is 5.

In the event that the student commits any irregularity that may lead to a significant change in the grade of an assessment act, this assessment act will be graded with 0, regardless of the disciplinary process that may be instructed. In the event of several irregularities in the evaluation acts of the same subject, the final grade for this subject will be 0.

In the event that tests or exams cannot be taken onsite, they will be adapted to an online format made available through the UAB’s virtual tools (original weighting will be maintained). Homework, activities and class participation will be carried out through forums, wikis and/or discussion on Teams, etc. Lecturers will ensure that students are able to access these virtual tools, or will offer them feasible alternatives.

Assessment Activities

Title Weighting Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Final exam 50% 1.5 0.06 18, 3, 1, 4, 2, 5, 7, 8, 23, 21, 6, 13, 15, 11, 14, 12, 16, 10, 20, 27, 24, 26, 25
Lexical-grammatical analysis exercises 20% 17 0.68 18, 3, 1, 4, 2, 17, 5, 7, 8, 9, 23, 21, 6, 13, 15, 11, 14, 12, 16, 22, 10, 20, 27, 24, 26, 25
Other complementary activities 10% 3.5 0.14 22, 25
Team work 20% 17 0.68 18, 3, 1, 4, 2, 17, 5, 7, 8, 9, 23, 21, 6, 13, 15, 11, 14, 12, 16, 22, 19, 10, 20, 27, 24, 26, 25

Bibliography

Bosque, Ignacio. (1989). Las categorías gramaticales. Madrid: Síntesis.

Bosque, Ignacio. (2004). “Sobre la redundancia y las formas de interpretarla”. Paper downloadable at: https://sites.google.com/site/ignaciobosquemunoz/

Bosque, Ignacio & Javier Gutiérrez-Rexach (2009). Fundamentos de sintaxis formal. [chap. 5 “Léxico y sintaxis”, pp. 241-341]. Madrid: Akal.

Cabré, Teresa & Jaume Mateu. (1998). “Estructura gramatical i normativa lingüística: a propòsit dels verbs psicològics en català”. Quaderns. Revista de Traducció 2: 65-81.

De Miguel, Elena (ed.). (2009). Panorama de la lexicología. Barcelona: Ariel Letras.

Demonte, Violeta (2006). “Qué es sintáctico y qué es léxico en la interficie entre sintaxis y léxico-semántica: hipótesis y conjeturas.” Signo y Seña 15: 17-42. Paper downloadable at:

https://palabrasparavioleta.weebly.com/uploads/9/6/4/6/9646574/2006-signo-lexico-sintaxis.pdf

Escandell-Vidal, M.Victoria (2007). Apuntes de Semántica léxica. [chap. 7 “Entre léxico y sintaxis”, pp. 129-148. Cuadernos de la UNED. Madrid.

Espinal, M. Teresa & Jaume Mateu (2005). “La llengua a les frases fetes”. Articles de Didàctica de la Llengua i de la Literatura 36: 20−31.

Fábregas, Antonio (2013). La morfología. El análisis de la palabra compleja. Madrid: Síntesis.

Ginebra, Jordi & Pere Navarro (2015). “Concurrències lèxiques en català i en espanyol: uns quants contrastos.” In À. Martín Escribà et al. (eds.). Actes del Setzè Col·loqui Internacional de Llengua i Literatura Catalanes. Universitat de Salamanca, 1–6 de juliol de 2012, vol. 2, pp. 217−228.  Barcelona: Publicacions de l’Abadia de Montserrat.

Gràcia, Lluïsa (1994). Morfologia lèxica. L’herència de l’estructura argumental. Series: Biblioteca Lingüística Catalana. Universitat de València.

Marantz, Alec (1997). “No Escape from Syntax. Don’t Try Morphological Analysis in the Privacy of Your Own Lexicon”. UPenn Working Papers in Linguistics 4.2: 201-225.

Mateu, Jaume (2002). “Lexicologia II. L’estructura semàntica de les unitats lèxiques”. In M. Teresa Espinal (coord.). Semàntica. Del significat del mot al significat de l’oració, pp. 139-182. Barcelona: Ariel Lingüística.

Mateu, Jaume (2015). “La estructura argumental”. In Ángel J. Gallego (ed.). Perspectivas de sintaxis formal, pp. 111-148. Madrid: Akal.

Mateu, Jaume (2020). “Lexicalized Syntax: Phraseology". In Joan A. Argenter & Jens Lüdtke (eds.). Manual of Catalan Linguistics. Berlin: De Gruyter. 

Mendikoetxea, Amaya (2007). “En busca de los primitivos léxicos y su realización sintáctica: del léxico a la sintaxis y viceversa”. In Teresa Cabré (ed.). Lingüística Teòrica: anàlisi i perspectives II (Series: Monografies de Catalan Journal of Linguistics), pp. 55-102. Bellaterra: Servei de Publicacions de la UAB.

Moreno Cabrera, Juan Carlos (2003). Semántica y gramática. Sucesos, papeles semánticos y relaciones sintácticas. Madrid: Editorial Antonio Machado.

Morimoto, Yuko (20172). El aspecto léxico: delimitación. Madrid: Arco Libros.

Pustejovsky, James & Olga Batiukova (2019). The Lexicon. Series: Cambridge Textbooks in Linguistics. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Ramchand, Gillian C. (2008). Verb Meaning and the Lexicon. A First Phase Syntax. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Rosselló, Joana (20082). “El SV: verb i arguments verbals”. In Joan Solà et al. (dir.). Gramàtica del català contemporani. Cap. 13, vol. 2. Barcelona: Empúries.