Universidad de Jaén

Unit 1. Introduction: the beginning of linguistic thought

1.1. Theoretical and methodological basis of Linguistic Historiography

1.2. Language experiences in some Ancient World cultures

1.3. Birth of Grammar in India

Unit 2. Linguistic thought in Greco-Roman Antiquity

2.1. Philosophical approaches to linguistics facts

2.2. The Alexandrian School

2.3. Grammar and rhetoric in Rome

Unit 3. Linguistic ideas during the Middle Ages

3.1. Survival and transmission of the classical tradition

3.2. The Modistae and scholastic speculations on language

3.3. Arab tradition and attention to vernacular languages in the late Middle Ages

Unit 4. Linguistic studies during the Renaissance

4.1. Humanism and return to the classical tradition

4.2. The grammatical description of vernacular languages

4.3. The approach to linguistic diversity

Unit 5. Linguistic Rationalism

5.1. Background of Rationalism: De causis grammars

5.2. Port-Royal and the development of Rationalist Grammar

5.3. The search for a universal language

Unit 6. Historical-comparative Linguistics: origins and development

6.1. Antecedents of comparatism and discovery of Sanscrit in the West

6.2. Consolidation of Comparative Linguistics

6.3. Humboldt and the birth of Linguistic Typology

Unit 7. Historical-comparative Linguistics: apogee and evolution

7.1. The naturalistic conception of language: Schleicher

7.2. The Neogrammarians

7.3. Neogrammarian movement crisis: alternative approaches and methods

Unit 8. The path to modern Linguistics

8.1. Initial evolution of American Linguistics: From Whitney to anthropological approaches

8.2. Antecedents of Structuralism: from normative school grammar to positivist grammar and phonetics

8.3. Saussure and the birth of Structuralism

Unit 9. Development and evolution of Structuralism

9.1. European formalist Structuralism: The Linguistic Circle of Copenhagen

9.2. The Prague Linguistic Circle and other functionalist orientations

9.3. US Structuralism: Bloomfield and Distributionalism

Unit 10. Trends in contemporary Linguistics

10.1. Generative-Transformational Grammar

10.2. Functionalist conception of language in Grammar and Pragmatics

10.3. Disciplinary extensions: Sociolinguistics, Psycholinguistics and Applied linguistics

Every unit will be developed in three kinds of sessions, namely, the overall presentation of the unit, the theoretical work and the practical work.

Theoretical sessions will be devoted to the development of the three epigraphs that make up each unit. Theoretical materials for the study will have to be prepared by the student from the bibliographic guide and the specific objectives previously provided. As for the lessons themselves, they will be devoted to the presentation, clarification, comment and discussion of these specific objectives of each unit.

As regards the practical side of the subject, it will be developed in two different kind of activities: on the one hand, some work will be done on the basis of digital activities; on the other hand, text comments will be carried out.

Students with special educational needs should contact the Student Attention Service (Servicio de Atención y Ayudas al Estudiante) in order to receive the appropriate academic support

Attendance will be controlled on randomly selected days.

As for the important percentage of the mark dependent on participation, it has to do with the role that the student is expected to play in the subject, not as a passive spectator but as an active protagonist. Therefore, different channels will be offered to carry out that participation and demonstrate that active involvement in the development of the subject, mainly (but not only) in the practical activities.

As regards the nature of the test, it will be directly related to the type of activities carried out during the course.