Course: German Philology - Linguistic Lecture: Word Formation

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Course title German Philology - Linguistic Lecture: Word Formation
Course code KGN/LGP01
Organizational form of instruction Lecture
Level of course Bachelor
Year of study not specified
Semester Winter and summer
Number of ECTS credits 3
Language of instruction German
Status of course Compulsory-optional
Form of instruction Face-to-face
Work placements This is not an internship
Recommended optional programme components None
Course availability The course is available to visiting students
Lecturer(s)
  • Spáčilová Libuše, prof. PhDr. Dr.
Course content
The following topics will be covered during the semester: 1. What Is Word Formation? Foundations of word-formation theory. Word formation as a level of grammatical description. Basic concepts of word formation. Fundamental units of word formation. 2. Overview of Word-Formation Processes and Types. Motivation and lexicalization. Semantic naming patterns of word-formation products. Word-formation products in the lexicon and in texts. Word-formation meaning. Word-formation patterns. Strategies of word-formation analysis. 3. Verbal Word Formation. Distribution of verbal word-formation types. Suffixation and the semantics of verbal suffixes. Verbal prefixation and its major semantic categories. Prefix verbs and their principal semantic types. Back-formation of verbs. 4. Nominal Word Formation. Distribution of nominal word-formation types. Nominal juxtapositions (Zusammenrückungen). Nominal composite formations (Zusammenbildungen). Determinative and copulative noun compounds. Intensifying nominal formations. Nominal prefixation and suffixation. Lexical conversion of nouns. Nominal ablaut formations. 5. Adjectival Word Formation. Distribution of adjectival word-formation types. Adjectival juxtapositions and composite formations. Copulative and determinative adjective compounds. Intensifying adjectival formations. Adjectival prefixation and suffixation. Lexical conversion of adjectives. 6. Word Formation of Adverbs. Types and issues of adverbial word formation. Adverbial juxtapositions and composite formations. Copulative and determinative adverb compounds. Prefixation and suffixation in adverb formation. Lexical conversion involving adverbs. 7. Current Trends in Word Formation. Contemporary developments and tendencies in German word formation.

Learning activities and teaching methods
Lecture, Monologic Lecture(Interpretation, Training)
Learning outcomes
The lectures focus on word formation in contemporary German, a field of linguistics that is of fundamental importance for the study of German as a foreign language. They present the characteristic features, structures, and developmental tendencies of word formation in the standard language and place particular emphasis on a detailed description of the word-formation processes of verbs, nouns, adjectives, and adverbs. Special attention is paid to compounding and explicit derivation, which are examined extensively in view of their central role in German word formation.
Students will acquire a fundamental overview of German word formation and become familiar with the principal word-formation components, including the relevant linguistic terminology. A central focus of the course will be an overview of the various word-formation processes and patterns associated with different word classes, particularly nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs. Attention will also be devoted to current trends and recent developments in the word formation of contemporary German.
Prerequisites
The course is intended for students enrolled in the Bachelor's degree programmes in German Philology and Translation and Interpreting Studies. Proficiency in the German language is required. Successful completion of the course presupposes prior completion of the introductory course Introduction to Linguistics, which students take in their first year of study. This prerequisite course provides a foundation in the relevant linguistic terminology that will be employed throughout the lectures.

Assessment methods and criteria
Mark, Written exam, Student performance

The content of the lectures on German word formation will be assessed by means of a written examination at the end of the semester. The examination questions dealing with the theory of German word formation will cover all topics discussed during the lectures throughout the semester.
Recommended literature
  • ALTMANN, Hans / KEMMERLING-SCHÖPS, Silke. Wortbildung fürs Examen. Göttingen. 2005.
  • DONALIES, Elke. Wortbildung: Prinzipien und Problematik. Ein Handbuch. Heidelberg. 2021.
  • EICHINGER, Ludwig M. Deutsche Wortbildung: Eine Einführung. Tübingen. 2000.
  • ERBEN, Johannes. Einführung in die deutsche Wortbildungslehre. Berlin. 1993.
  • FLEISCHER, Wolfgang / BARZ, Irmhild. Wortbildung der deutschen Gegenwartssprache. Berlin/New York. 2012.
  • HENTSCHEL, Elke. Basiswissen Deutsche Wortbildung. Tübingen. 2020.
  • LOHDE, Michael. Wortbildung des modernen Deutschen. Tübingen. 1998.
  • MOTSCH, Wolfgang. Deutsche Wortbildung in Grundzügen. Berlin/New York. 2004.
  • SCHIPPAN, Thea. Lexikologie der deutschen Gegenwartssprache. Tübingen. 1992.
  • ŠIMEČKOVÁ, Alena / VACHKOVÁ, Marie (vyd.). Wortbildung: Theorie und Anwendung. Praha. 1997.


Study plans that include the course
Faculty Study plan (Version) Category of Branch/Specialization Recommended year of study Recommended semester
Faculty: Faculty of Arts Study plan (Version): German Philology (2019) Category: Philological sciences - Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: -
Faculty: Faculty of Arts Study plan (Version): German Philology (2019) Category: Philological sciences - Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: -
Faculty: Faculty of Arts Study plan (Version): German for Translators and Interpreters (2019_24) Category: Philological sciences - Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: -
Faculty: Faculty of Arts Study plan (Version): German for Translators and Interpreters (2019) Category: Philological sciences - Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: -
Faculty: Faculty of Arts Study plan (Version): German Philology (2022) Category: Philological sciences - Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: -