LFU:online

This seminar aims to provide an overview of the most central issues in the field of English morphology and word-formation. At the end of the seminar, students shall be familiar with the relevant terminology, different research paradigms and methods of analysis in this area.

After a revision of the relevant basic terminology (e.g. morpheme, word, lexeme, lexical unit, etc.) and a discussion of English inflectional morphology, we will analyze morphemic and non-morphemic word-formation patterns (such as affixation, compounding, zero-derivation/conversion, clipping, blending, etc.) with regard to the following questions: What are the structural characteristics of the individual patterns? Which (pragmatic, textual, etc.) functions are connected to them? What determines which word-formation pattern is chosen to form a new word to denote a previously unnamed entity or state of affairs? In what way are the diverse patterns related to how humans perceive the world and think? Why are some new words ‘successful’, i.e. accepted by the speech community, whereas others are not? And what happens to new words if they become established parts of the lexicon?

Lecture inputs, student presentations, class discussions, mini-workshops

Regular attendance, active participation (discussions, mini-workshops), oral presentation, short (reading and writing) assignments, oral exam (only for students in the BA-programme), written paper

A seminar bibliography will be provided in the first meeting.

Recommended preparatory reading:

Schmid, Hans-Jörg (2011), English morphology and word-formation. An introduction, 2nd rev. and transl. ed., Berlin: Erich Schmidt, chs. 1, 5.

BA Programme: none

Teacher Training Programme: VO1: Introduction to English Synchronic Linguistics + VO1: Introduction to the History of English

Teacher Training Programme: (344): PS 2: Linguistics and Culture

Due to substantial differences in the allocation of ECTS-Credits in various curricula (teacher training program - BA/MA English and American Studies), the requirements for this course vary. Information will be provided by the instructor at the beginning of the course.