NJ_G330 Introduction to Phrase Structure Grammar

Faculty of Education
Spring 2025
Extent and Intensity
0/1/0. 2 credit(s) (plus 2 for the colloquium). Recommended Type of Completion: z (credit). Other types of completion: k (colloquium).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
Roland Anton Wagner, M.A., Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
Roland Anton Wagner, M.A., Ph.D.
Department of German Language and Literature – Faculty of Education
Contact Person: Helena Rytířová
Supplier department: Department of German Language and Literature – Faculty of Education
Prerequisites
Capability to follow class lectures in German.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 10 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
The aim of the course is to introduce students to the basics of phrase-structure grammar applied to German language. As grammar classes in Czech Republic are mainly based on dependency grammar, students usually lack basic knowledge on the hierarchical organization of sentences into immediate constituents. This course provides an opportunity to remedy this deficiency.
Learning outcomes
At the end of the course students should be able
- to enumerate the basic differences between descriptions based on dependency syntax and phrase-structure syntax,
- to read simple tree diagrams showing the structure of German sentences,
- to relate traditional concepts of German syntax such as “Vorfeld” to structural positions within constituent structure models,
- to draw constituent trees for simple German sentences.
The course is conceived for students of German language in teacher training programs who are interested in an alternative view on German syntax which in Czech linguistics (and also at the PdF MU) is mainly described from the standpoint of dependency syntax. A deeper understanding of the way, sentences are built from smaller units, may have an impact on the way students view such widely use constructions as verb second and verb end structures or coordination structures.
Syllabus
  • - Dependency and constituency as basic principles of syntactic descriptions;
  • - the concept of constituency in syntax;
  • - operational tests to identify the constituency structure of German sentences;
  • - endocentric constructions: the “head” of a construction/phrase;
  • - nominal phrases;
  • - verbal phrase; definition of “subject” within phrase structure;
  • - functional phrases (projections): auxiliaries and complementisers;
  • - problems of a grammar based on constituency; possible solutions through transformations/movement;
  • - word order in German main and embedded clauses;
  • - the passive in phrase structure grammar.
Literature
    required literature
  • MEIBAUER, Jörg. Einführung in die germanistische Linguistik. 2., aktualisierte Aufl. Stuttgart: J.B. Metzler, 2007, xi, 369. ISBN 9783476021410. info
    recommended literature
  • SCHÄFER, Roland. Einführung in die grammatische Beschreibung des Deutschen. Berlin: Language Science Press, 2015, xii, 561. ISBN 9783944675695. info
  • HENTSCHEL, Elke and Harald WEYDT. Handbuch der deutschen Grammatik. Berlin: Walter de Gruyter, 1990, x, 451. ISBN 3110115964. info
Teaching methods
The work in class is based on compulsory reading of selected linguistic texts (written summaries may be required during the term), analyses of German language material (partly to be done at home, short presentations and written homework) and the detailed discussion of the analyses suggested by the students.
Assessment methods
For completing the course by a "zapocet" (credit), students have to hand in all compulsary homework. Students who wish to acquire the "kolokvium" have to write a short paper (5 pages) providing an analysis of a some German constructions.
Náhradní absolvování
Students who stay abroad during the teaching period (e.g., while participating in the ERASMUS program) will be granted full recognition of an equivalent course chosen from the program of the receiving university. Alternatively, students may work through the material on their own and hand in alle compulsory assignments (homework vaults in the IS), write a seminar paper (while consulting the teacher), respectively.
Language of instruction
German
Study support
https://is.muni.cz/auth/el/1441/jaro2025/NJ_G330/
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught: every other week.
Note related to how often the course is taught: tři setkání v kombinované formě.
Information on the extent and intensity of the course: 6 hodin v kombinované formě.
Teacher's information
Prelaminar acquaintance with the content of one of the compulsory syntax classes in the program may be helpful.

To support students enrolled in the combined study program in their self guided learning and their reflexion of the achieved learning outcomes, necessary feedback will be provided during the meetings (according to the timetable of the semester) and through written comments on the compulsory assignments. Students should feel free to contact the teacher via e-mail.

The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2016, Spring 2018, Autumn 2019, Spring 2022, Spring 2023, Spring 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2025, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/ped/spring2025/NJ_G330