Grammar and Interfaces in Catalan
Code: 45501 ECTS Credits: 5| Degree | Type | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Advanced Studies in Catalan Language and Literature | OP | 1 |
Contact
- Name:
- Maria Teresa Espinal Farre
- Email:
- teresa.espinal@uab.cat
Teachers
- (External) Jordi Fortuny
Teaching groups languages
You can view this information at the end of this document.
Prerequisites
Students should have basic knowledge on the syntax of Catalan and should be able to read scientific papers in English.
Objectives and Contextualisation
Students should become interested on the study of the grammar of Catalan, more specifically, on the study of phenomena related to the expression of negation in Catalan and other interface issues.
Learning Outcomes
- CA14 (Competence) Develop studies on interface phenomena between different components of grammar.
- CA15 (Competence) Conduct analyses of phonetic, phonological, morphological, syntactic and semantic linguistic phenomena in a study related to the Catalan language.
- KA16 (Knowledge) Identify the grammatical components involved in the different linguistic phenomena.
- KA16 (Knowledge) Identify the grammatical components involved in the different linguistic phenomena.
- KA17 (Knowledge) Categorise the different elements of a study that intervene in linguistic phenomena.
- KA18 (Knowledge) Relate phonetic, phonological, morphological, syntactic and semantic linguistic phenomena of the Catalan language to each other.
- SA20 (Skill) Apply the various theoretical frameworks for the treatment of linguistic data to the study of the Catalan language.
- SA21 (Skill) Relate linguistic phenomena of Catalan with phenomena of other languages.
- SA22 (Skill) Compare the linguistic properties of different geographical varieties of the Catalan language.
Content
Topics at the syntax-semantics interface in Catalan. Negation (M.T. Espinal) and ambiguity (J. Fortuny).
Activities and Methodology
| Title | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type: Directed | |||
| Teaching | 34 | 1.36 | KA16, KA18, SA21, KA16 |
| Type: Supervised | |||
| Research | 30 | 1.2 | CA14, CA15, KA17, CA14 |
| Type: Autonomous | |||
| Exam preparation | 17 | 0.68 | SA20, SA22, SA20 |
The course will combine classes on the syntax-semantics and syntax-pragmatics interfaces with a research study, which will be supervised, practical exercises and oral presentations.
Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.
Assessment
Continous Assessment Activities
| Title | Weighting | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Two final exams (one for each block), a supervised research study and oral presentation | 25% + 25% + 25% + 25% | 44 | 1.76 | CA14, CA15, KA16, KA17, KA18, SA20, SA21, SA22 |
The evaluation of this subject will consist on a final exam for each block (25+25%), an oral presentation (25%) and a supervised research study (25%).
Bibliography
Brochhagen, Thomas & Gemma Boleda. 2022. When do languages use the same word for different meanings? The Goldilocks principle in colexification. Cognition 226.
Déprez, V. & M.Teresa Espinal (eds.) (2020), The Handbook of Negation. Oxford: OUP.
Fortuny, Jordi. 2024. Structural ambiguity and the architecture of language. Studia Linguistica 1: 35-63.
Fortuny, Jordi, Pau Francesch, Neus Nogué & Lluís Payrató. 2025. L’ambigüitat: nous camins, velles fronteres. Barcelona: Edicions UB.
Martines, J. et al. (eds.). Gramàtica del català antic / Old Catalan Grammar. València: Publicacions de la Universitat de València.
Solà, J. et al. (eds.) (2008), Gramàtica del Català Contemporani. Barcelona: Empúries.
Wasow, Thomas, Amy Perfors & David Beaver. 2005. The Puzzle of Ambiguity. Dins Orhan Orgun & Peter Sells (eds.), Morphology and the Web of Grammar. Stanford: CSLI Publications.
Software
Not applicable
Groups and Languages
Please note that this information is provisional until 30 November 2025. You can check it through this link. To consult the language you will need to enter the CODE of the subject.
| Name | Group | Language | Semester | Turn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (TEm) Theory (master) | 1 | Catalan | first semester | afternoon |