PT|EN
Introduction to Linguistic Studies I
Courses
Cod: 51021
Department: DH
ECTS: 6
Scientific area: Linguistics
Total working hours: 156
Total contact time: 15

On this curricular unit, we propose to reflect upon general Linguistics, namely the properties of its object and the foundational proposals by Saussure.
Then, we will focus on the different levels of linguistic analysis: Phonetics, Phonology, Morphology, Syntax, Semantics and Pragmatics. Their main concepts and methods will be presented.
Finally, we will reflect upon language variation in its three dimensions: regional, social and individual/situational.

  1. Semiotics
  2. Linguistics
  3. Levels of linguistic analysis
  4. Language variation

At the end of the semester, students must be able:
• to justify the relevance of verbal communication;
• to point out the importance of Saussure’s proposals on Linguistics as a scientific discipline;
• to classify linguistic phenomena according to their levels of linguistic analysis (Phonetics, Phonology, Morphology, Syntax, Semantics and Pragmatics);
• to use methods of description and analysis which are specific of these levels of linguistic analysis;
• to present original examples of language variation phenomena (regional, social and individual/situational).

1.st PART – LINGUISTICS AND VERBAL LANGUAGE
THEME 1 – Linguistics and Semiotics: the proposals by Saussure
Natural language
Saussure’s oppositions

2.nd PART – LEVELS OF LINGUISTIC ANALYSIS
THEME 2 – Phonetics and Phonology
Object of study and basic concepts of Phonetics and Phonology
THEME 3 – Morphology and Syntax
Object of study and basic concepts of Morphology and Syntax
THEME 4 – Semantics and Pragmatics
Object of study and basic concepts of Semantics and Pragmatics

3.rd PART – LANGUAGE VARIATION
THEME 5 – Language variation
Regional, social and individual/situational language variation

SILVA, Paulo Nunes da (2010), Manual de Introdução aos Estudos Linguísticos (available at the curricular unit page on Moodle platform).

Note: Other references will be presented during the semester for each subject.

E-learning.

Continuous assessment is privileged: 2 or 3 digital written documents (e-folios) during the semester (40%) and a presence-based final exam (p-folio) in the end of the semester (60%). In due time, students can alternatively choose to perform one final presence-based exam (100%).