Course title:

American linguistics

Course code: PSL202
Course status: Elective
Course leader: Milena Žic Fuchs
Course instructor:
Language of instruction: English
Total hours: 8S
Form of instruction: seminar
ECTS credits: 4

Course content by topics:

The term American linguistics does not refer to American linguistic research in the geographical sense, but rather to a tradition reflected in various ways in theoretical foundations established on American ground in the last one hundred and twenty years. The beginnings of American linguistics are related to the names of Powell, Boas and Sapir, researchers who paved the way for studying language within the framework of cultural phenomena and psychological determinants. Their efforts started a tradition of field research of native American Indian languages and the recording of oral texts that were fascinating not only in linguistic but also in cultural terms. It is these beginnings of linguistic research on American ground, characterized by a strong cultural and psychological flavour, that triggered a reaction in the form of the so-called American structuralism (Bloomfield), followed by the appearance of transformational- generative grammar (Chomsky). To sum up, American tradition is marked by linguistic research with a prominent cultural foundation as well as formal approaches to language. The appearance of cognitive linguistics in the last thirty years is in many ways a continuation of the very beginnings of American linguistics, more precisely, it is a rekindling of interest in the influence of culture and psychology reflected in language. Students will be introduced to the fundamental characteristics of the beginnings of American linguistics, through the work of Franz Boas and Edward Sapir. The legacy of these two key figures of American linguistics are not only interesting from a theoretical point of view, but also provide insight into the structures of American Indian languages, which differ significantly from structures that we are accustomed to in Indoeuropean languages. Furthermore, the course also covers American structuralism, a type of structuralism in many aspects different from its European counterpart. It is the rigidity of American structuralism and its focus on phonology and morphology that led to the appearance of transformational-generative grammar and a range of theoretical approaches to syntactic structure that are primarily related to the name of Noam Chomsky. The return to the very beginnings, i.e. to considering language from the point of view of culture and psychology, is reflected in the rise of cognitive linguistics on American ground in the last thirty years, which is another relevant topic in this course.

Learning outcomes at course level:

On completing the course in American linguistics the student will be able to: 1. list the fundamental characteristics of early American linguistics, American structuralism and transformational-generative grammar; 2. compare and discuss the differences between the theoretical approaches introduced in the course; 3. explain and critically evaluate each

theoretical approach covered in the course and its global impact; 4. critically evaluate the fundamental theoretical claims of the theoretical approaches covered in the course; 5. integrate and explain the fundamental characteristics of early modern American linguistics in relation to cognitive linguistics in particular; 6. assess the contributions of American linguistics (as a whole) to the evolution of linguistics

Learning outcomes at programme level:

Reading list:

Obligatory reading: Bloomfield, L. (1933): Language. London: George Allen & Unwin Ltd.; Filipović, R. (1966): «Bloomfield i američka lingvistika» Suvremena lingvistika 2, Sveučilište u Zagrebu.; Sapir, E. (1921): Language. An Introduction to the Study of Speech. New York & London: Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich. Žic Fuchs, M. (1991): Jezici američkih Indijanaca i jezična istraživanja. Književna smotra 23, 81-82, str. 25-30.; Žic Fuchs, M. (2009) Kognitivna lingvistika i jezične strukture: engleski present perfect, Zagreb: Nakladni zavod Globus; Additional reading: Boas, F. (1911): Handbook of American Indian Languages. Bulletin 40, Bureau of American Ethnology, Parts 1 & 2, Washington.; Bright, W. (1984): American Indian Linguistics and Literature. Mouton Publishers.; Carroll, J.B. (ed.) (1956): Language, Thought, and Reality: Selected Writings of Benjamin Lee Whorf. Cambridge, Mass.: Technology Press of Massachusetts Institute of Technology.; Chafe, W.L. (ed.) (1976): American Indian Languages and American Linguistics, Papers of the 2nd Golden Anniversary Symposium of the Lingusitic Society of America. Lisse – The Peter de Ridder Press.; Kinkade, D., K. Hale & O. Werner (eds.) (1975) Linguistics and Anthropology. Lisse: The Peter de Ridder Press.

Assessment of student achievement: course attendance Quality assurance mechanism: student survey