Course title

Cognitive Linguistics

Instructor

LI Fuyin

Course goals

The main purpose of this course is to systematically introduce the basic cognitive semantic theories proposed by Leonard Talmy, especially Talmy’s fundamental theories, including the core concepts, methodology, and their explanation power on language data in English and Chinese. The students are trained for the analysis of these theories, to provide critique on these theories, and to identify a research gap to conduct their own research. This course is required for doctoral students to further their research and for MA students to identify their research topic in the area of Cognitive Linguistics.

Topics

Course Introduction （2 hours）

Chapter 1 The Relation of Grammar to Cognition （ 6）

Chapter 2 Fictive Motion in Language and Ception （ 4）

Chapter 3 How Language Structures Space （4 ）

Chapter 4 The Windowing of Attention in Language （ 4）

Chapter 5 Figure and Ground in Language （ 2 ）

Chapter 6 Structures that Relate Event （ 4 ）

Chapter 7 Force Dynamics in Language and Cognition （ 2 ）

Chapter 8 The Semantics of Causation （ 2 ）

Course paper presentation (2 )

Assessment

Class performance and Closed-book examination

Reference books

Talmy, Leonard. 2000.Toward a Cognitive Semantics. Volume I: Concept Structuring Systems (pp. i-viii, 1-565). Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.

李福印, 2008, 《认知语言学概论》, 北京大学出版社

李福印，2007，《语义学概论》，北京大学出版社。

Working language

English

Notes