PdF:AJ2207 Selected Topics in Functional - Course Information

AJ2207 Selected Topics in Functional Linguistics

Extent and Intensity

0/3/0. 3 credit(s). Type of Completion: z (credit).
In-person direct teaching

Teacher(s)

doc. Mgr. Martin Adam, Ph.D. (lecturer)

Guaranteed by

doc. Mgr. Martin Adam, 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

Prerequisites

AJ2102 Practical Language 1B
Syntax A, Syntax B

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 7 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display

Course objectives

The aim of the course is introduce students to the functional approach to the study of language drawing on the theoretical frameworks of Czech and foreign linguistic traditions. Grammar is approached as a tool used in authentic interaction to achieve specific communicative goals (drawing on the knowledge acquired by students in the Syntax A and B courses). The focus is on the functional differences between spoken and written discourse, formal and informal, and polite and familiar interaction in different registers and dialects of English discourse. The students will discuss and practice the use of grammatical structures at sentence level with regard to their function as statements, questions, directives and exclamatives, and the representation of meaning in connected discourse (utterance level) focusing on linking signals and constructions, word order and emphasis, and theme-rheme articulation. Throughout the semester students are encouraged to link theory in the classroom to practice at schools via practical tasks.

Learning outcomes

This course enhances the acquisition of linguistic knowledge and teaching competencies indispensable for the professional development of future teachers of English, in particular communication and interpersonal skills, collaboration and teamwork, flexibility and adaptability (viz Strategic Aim 1, Strategies 2030). The students will be able to:
- achieve specific communicative intentions in interaction with regard to context and addressee,
- understand linguistic terminology and use it when discussing the functions of language and grammatical structures,
- understand the similarities and differences between the functions of grammatical categories in English and Czech,
- apply the functional approach to the analysis of language material and in authentic interaction,
- reflect the functional differences between spoken and written, formal and informal and polite and familiar discourse in authentic communication,
- apply the functional approach for didactic purposes, e.g. for the development of teaching materials.

Syllabus

• 1. Varieties of English.
• 2. Components of the Act of Communication. Functions of language.
• 3. Choices in the semantic representation of utterances.
• 4. Grammatical cohesion.
• 5. Functional sentence perspective: theme-rheme articulation according to Firbas.
• 6. Information structure: theme-rheme articulation according to Quirk and Greenbaum, Halliday.
• 7. Formal and informal language.
• 8. Polite and familiar language.
• 9. Personal and impersonal language.
• 10. Spoken and written language.

Literature

required literature
• DONTCHEVA-NAVRATILOVA, Olga. Grammatical Structures in English: Meaning in Context. 2. dotisk 3. vyd. Brno: Masarykova univerzita, 2016, 168 pp. ISBN 978-80-210-5762-3. info
• LEECH, Geoffrey N. and Jan SVARTVIK. A communicative grammar of English. Edited by Randolph Quirk. London: Longman, 1975, xiv, 324. ISBN 0582552389. info

recommended literature
• TÁRNYIKOVÁ, Jarmila. From text to texture : an introduction to processing strategies. 4., upr. vyd. Olomouc: Univerzita Palackého v Olomouci, 2009, 159 s. ISBN 9788024424293. info
• YULE, George. Oxford practice grammar. with answer. 1st ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2006, ix, 280. ISBN 0194309169. info
• VACHEK, Josef. A functional syntax of modern English. Vydání 1. Brno: Masarykova univerzita, 1994, 50 stran. ISBN 8021008636. info
• COOK, Guy. Discourse. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1989, xi, 167. ISBN 0194371409. info
• MATHESIUS, Vilém. A functional analysis of present day English on a general linguistic basis. Edited by Josef Vachek, Translated by Libuše Dušková. 1. vyd. Prague: Academia, 1975, 228 s. URL info

Teaching methods

Home assignments + home reading. Teaching methods: classroom discussions, lectures, students' presentations, home assignments, home projects, observations.

Assessment methods

- a methodologically-oriented in-class presentation - fulfilling all home assignments - passing a credit test (passmark: 70%)

Language of instruction

English

Further comments (probably available only in Czech)

The course is taught annually.
The course is taught: every week.

Teacher's information

http://moodlinka.ics.muni.cz/course/view.php?id=1255
Credit requirements: - active participation at seminars (not more than 2 unexcused absences will be tolerated)

- fulfilling all written tasks and assigned presentations

- passing a written test

Note for students who travel on Erasmus or have a foreign internship, etc.: If you spend a semester abroad, it is theoretically possible to enroll in this course and complete it, provided you meet all course requirements through self-study and, above all, pass the final in-class exam/credit test after you return home. There is no extra work needed. It is recommended that you communicate with the teacher prior to your departure on Erasmus and then stay in touch, informing them upon your return. AI Manifesto 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.

• Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2025, recent)
  
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