AJ9201 Lexicology

Faculty of Education
Autumn 2024
Extent and Intensity
0/2/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
doc. Mgr. Olga Dontcheva-Navrátilová, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
Guaranteed by
doc. Mgr. Olga Dontcheva-Navrátilová, Ph.D.
Department of English Language and Literature – Faculty of Education
Contact Person: Jana Popelková
Supplier department: Department of English Language and Literature – Faculty of Education
Timetable of Seminar Groups
AJ9201/Kombi01: Fri 20. 9. 10:00–11:50 učebna 57, Fri 4. 10. 10:00–11:50 učebna 57, Fri 18. 10. 10:00–11:50 učebna 57, Fri 1. 11. 10:00–11:50 učebna 57, Fri 15. 11. 10:00–11:50 učebna 57, Fri 29. 11. 10:00–11:50 učebna 57, O. Dontcheva-Navrátilová
AJ9201/Prez01: Tue 10:00–11:50 učebna 10, O. Dontcheva-Navrátilová
Prerequisites
The students should have an advanced or proficiency level of English.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
This course is the first linguistics course focusing on development of the linguistic competence of the students as language users and future teachers of English. It introduces basic linguistic terminology used in the field of lexicology and lexicography, explains the concept of the linguistic sign, word meaning, collocation, semantic prosody and lexical cohesion. The lexicography component of the course is centred on different types of dictionaries and their use in language teaching, types of information provided in a dictionary entry and strategies used in explaining the meaning of words. The study of lexical semantics is focuses on denotation, reference and associative meanings of words. The analysis of sense relations and lexical cohesion are related to the development of reading comprehension and writing skills indispensable for the professional development of teacher trainees. Throughout the semester students are encouraged to link linguistic theory to practice at schools via practical tasks and the analysis and development of teaching materials and lesson plans. The course aims at enhancing the acquisition of linguistic knowledge and teaching competencies, in particular communication and interpersonal skills, collaboration and teamwork, flexibility and adaptability.
Learning outcomes
The students will be able to
- understand linguistic terminology and use it when discussion vocabulary issues,
- use printed and electronic dictionaries, select dictionaries reflecting students' needs students and define the meaning of words adequately with regard to the level of proficiency and the age of students,
- use a language corpus for the development of teaching materials and for understanding the meaning of words,
- identify lexical cohesion relations in texts and understand relations between lexical units for the development of reading comprehension and writing skills,
- understand the differences between the Czech and the English vocabularies,
- implement the knowledge of lexicology for didactic purposes by using analytical thinking and creativity in designing lessons and teaching materials, and adapting learning content for practical needs.
Syllabus
  • 1. Lexicology as a linguistic discipline. Methods and approaches to vocabulary teaching and learning.
  • 2. The Language sign. Basic concepts: word, lexeme, vocabulary of a language. Reference and denotation. Meaning: denotative and associative meanings. Semantic nucleus, semantic field, lexical field. Differences between the Czech and English vocabulary.
  • 4. Lexicography. Types of dictionaries: principles of word selection. The structure of a language dictionary entry.
  • 5. Dictionary definitions: principles and problems. Bilingual dictionaries.
  • 6. Language corpora. Using a language corpora for teaching purposes: collocation, semantic and grammatical patterns, semantic prosody.
  • 7. Word meaning and prototype theory. Semantic relations between lexical items.
  • 8. Phraseology. Idiomaticity. Collocation. Phraseological units and idioms.
  • 9. Historical semantics: changes in the meaning of words. Semantic and stylistic neologisms. Categories of figurative language: metaphor, metonymy, hyperbole etc.
  • 10. Lexical cohesion: reiteration and collocation. Lexical chains and chain interaction for the development of reading comprehension and writing skills.
  • 12. Analysing lexical cohesion in different types of text. Context dependent meaning.
  • 13. Teaching practice observation - word-formation and sense relations in coursebooks and classroom practice.
Literature
    required literature
  • Jackson, H., & Zé Amvela, E. (2021). Words, meaning and vocabulary : an introduction to modern English lexicology (3rd ed.). Continuum.
    recommended literature
  • VOGEL, Radek. Basics of Lexicology. 1. dotisk 2. vydání. Brno: Masarykova univerzita, 2020, 97 pp. ISBN 978-80-210-7154-4. info
  • HATCH, Evelyn and Cheryl BROWN. Vocabulary, semantics, and language education. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1995, xii, 468 s. ISBN 0-521-47942-8. info
  • PALMER, F. R. Semantics. 2nd ed. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1981, vi, 221. ISBN 0521239664. info
  • YULE, George. The study of language. Seventh edition. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2020, xii, 371. ISBN 9781108730709. info
  • GODDARD, Cliff. Semantic Analysis : a practical introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998, xv, 411 s. ISBN 0-19-870017-2. info
Teaching methods
Seminars including class discussions; homework; self-tests; reading assignments.
Teaching practice: Observation
Assessment methods
Assessment based on compulsory presence (80%), compulsory reading and performance at seminars.
Self-tests (e-learningová podpora) - pass mark 70%
Progress test - pass mark 70% Written test (70% pass mark) and oral exam.
Language of instruction
English
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
Information on the extent and intensity of the course: kombinované studium: výuka v blocích.
Teacher's information
http://moodlinka.ics.muni.cz/course/view.php?id=2585
For the handouts for the seminar course see mood-link-a: Combined studies programme: http://moodlinka.ics.muni.cz/course/view.php?id=699 Day-time studies programme: http://moodlinka.ics.muni.cz/course/view.php?id=1809 For online semester: Please note that students are requested to secure good internet connection in order to participate in online lessons and they must attend these meetings with both the sound and camera on. In the course, the use of AI is permitted for learning but not for cheating. It is acceptable to use AI for brainstorming ideas, basic proofreading, and suggestions for improvement. It is unacceptable to have a text generated, translated or reformulated. Remember to acknowledge all innovative ideas that are not yours. For generated ideas, use in-text citations. At the end of each assignment, state how you worked/did not work with AI. When in doubt, consult your teacher.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2017, Autumn 2018, Autumn 2019, autumn 2020, Autumn 2021, Autumn 2022, Autumn 2023.
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