608126 SE Contemporary German Language (Gr. B): Downtoning

summer semester 2018 | Last update: 19.04.2018 Place course on memo list
608126
SE Contemporary German Language (Gr. B): Downtoning
SE 2
5
weekly
each semester
German

On the basis of a discussion of recent research literature, students are made familiar with theories and methods of an area of topical interest in present-day linguistic research.

Ability to plan, carry out, analyze and reflect a peace of fieldwork.

Ability to handle and reflect different research methods in a critical way.

This course deals with downtoning (‘Abtönung’) as a pervasive phenomenon in German. The notion of ‘downtoning’ covers the modification of an utterance in view of the expected hearer reaction: the speaker adds a particular nuance (e.g. expressing his take on the utterance or on how it relates to the context) or modifies the utterance’s illocutionary value in order to try and steer the interlocutor’s (verbal and nonverbal) reaction.

Typical downtoning elements in German are the so-called modal particles or downtoning particles (‘Modalpartikeln’ or ‘Abtönungspartikeln’, i.e. bloß, denn, doch, eben, einfach, halt, ja, mal, nur, schon etc.). These will also present a central topic in the seminar. The goal is not just to describe the particles themselves, but also to discuss some issues in modal particle research, especially the difficulties in delineating the category both at the intensional (features) and at the extensional (members) level.

Other German downtoners will not be left unconsidered, though. Through an analysis of some other downtoning elements (IAW structures and downtoning gestures, among others), we try to come to a general view of ‘downtoning’ as a phenomenon in German. This encompasses an analysis of these forms themselves as well as a discussion of how they relate to each other and to the modal particles. Short contrastive excursuses will also be part of this general discussion.

 

Presentation, (preparatory) reading and discussion of research literature, discussion of language data, 1-2 (short) presentation(s) about the literature and own work

Oral and written: preparatory reading, active participation in class, 1-2 (short) presentation(s); written exam (mid term), term paper

To be announced in the course

5 ECTS workload for all curricula.

The seminar paper has to be handed in by the end of the semester, i.e. by the end of June (no deadline extension possible!). This also holds for bachelor's theses written in this seminar.

This course is only for students who did not take the proseminar "608116 PS Core Areas of Linguistics (A): Particle Research" in winter semester 2016/2017.

07.03.2018
Group 0
Date Time Location
Wed 2018-03-07
17.15 - 18.45 40832 SR 40832 SR Barrier-free
Wed 2018-03-14
17.15 - 18.45 40832 SR 40832 SR Barrier-free
Wed 2018-03-21
17.15 - 18.45 40832 SR 40832 SR Barrier-free
Wed 2018-04-11
17.15 - 18.45 50113 SR 50113 SR Barrier-free
Wed 2018-04-18
17.15 - 18.45 40832 SR 40832 SR Barrier-free
Wed 2018-04-25
08.30 - 10.00 40901 SR 40901 SR Barrier-free Prüfung
Wed 2018-04-25
17.15 - 18.45 40832 SR 40832 SR Barrier-free
Wed 2018-05-02
17.15 - 18.45 40832 SR 40832 SR Barrier-free
Wed 2018-05-09
17.15 - 18.45 40832 SR 40832 SR Barrier-free
Wed 2018-05-16
17.15 - 18.45 40832 SR 40832 SR Barrier-free
Wed 2018-05-23
17.15 - 20.30 40832 SR 40832 SR Barrier-free
Wed 2018-05-30
17.15 - 20.30 40832 SR 40832 SR Barrier-free
Wed 2018-06-06
17.15 - 20.30 40832 SR 40832 SR Barrier-free