LgBA05 Languages of the world

Faculty of Arts
Autumn 2021
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 5 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
prof. RNDr. Václav Blažek, CSc. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
prof. RNDr. Václav Blažek, CSc.
Department of Linguistics and Baltic Languages – Faculty of Arts
Supplier department: Department of Linguistics and Baltic Languages – Faculty of Arts
Timetable
Wed 14:00–15:40 B2.13, except Wed 15. 12. ; and Wed 15. 12. 14:00–15:40 C33
Prerequisites
no requisitions
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
Course objectives
At the end of the course student should be able to understand the basic strategies in classification of languages: typological, areal and genetic. On the basis of the genetic classification the student could intepret the main features of the world language families or higher taxonomical units is presented, including the alternative models.
Learning outcomes
The output of the subject is a manysided orientation in the present multilingual world.
Syllabus
  • 1. Typological, areal and genetic classification of languages: differences in purposes. 2. Genetic clasification of languages, its principles and methods (qualitative vs. quantitative). 3. Convergence models vs. divergence models and language relativity 4. Survey of the standard language families and hypothetical higher taxonomic units: 4.1. Khoisan. 4.2. Kongo-Saharan. 4.3. Nostratic. 4.4. Dené-Sino-Caucasian. 4.5. Amerindian. 4.6. Austric. 4.7. Australian. 4.8. Indo-Pacific.
Literature
    recommended literature
  • ERHART, Adolf. Základy jazykovědy. 2. upr. vyd. Praha: Státní pedagogické nakladatelství, 1990, 198 s. ISBN 8004246125. info
  • HJELMSLEV, Louis. Jazyk. Translated by Miloš Dokulil. Vyd. 1. Praha: Academia, 1971, 145 s. URL info
  • KRUPA, Viktor, Jozef GENZOR and Ladislav DROZDÍK. Jazyky sveta. 1. vyd. Bratislava: Obzor, 1983, 507 s. info
  • GENZOR, Jozef. Jazyky světa. Historie a současnost. Brno: LINGEA 2015.
  • MEIER, Georg Friedrich and Barbara MEIER. Handbuch der Linguistik und Kommunikationswissenschaft. Berlin: Akademie-Verlag, 1979, xiv, 552. info
  • GREENBERG, Joseph H. Language, culture, and communication : essays. Edited by Anwar S. Dil. Stanford, Calif.: Stanford University Press, 1971, xiv, 367. ISBN 0804707812. info
  • GREENBERG, Joseph H. Language universals : with special reference to feature hierarchies. The Hague: Mouton, 1966, 89 p. info
Teaching methods
Teacher presents the most modern models of classification of the world's languages, in the case of doubts various alternatives. The cultural and historical circumstances are discussed together with students.
Assessment methods
At least 50% in the final test is necessary for Bc.+ Ms. students.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2019, Autumn 2020, Autumn 2022, Autumn 2023, Autumn 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2021, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/autumn2021/LgBA05