Cognitive Concepts in Czech Language and Culture - ABO700284

• Title: Cognitive Concepts in Czech Language and Culture
• Guaranteed by: Institute of Czech Language and Theory of Communication (21-UCJTK)
• Faculty: Faculty of Arts
• Actual: from 2023
• Semester: winter
• Points: 0
• E-Credits: 5
• Examination process: winter s.:
• Hours per week, examination: winter s.:0/2, Ex [HT]
• Capacity: unknown / unknown (unknown)
• Min. number of students: unlimited
• 4EU+: no
• Virtual mobility / capacity: no
• State of the course: not taught
• Language: English
• Teaching methods: full-time
• Teaching methods: full-time
• Note: course can be enrolled in outside the study plan; enabled for web enrollment
• Guarantor: doc. PhDr. Lucie Saicová Římalová, Ph.D.

Annotation

Last update: Mgr. Ivan Kafka (03.04.2023)

The aim of the course is to study theories of cognitive linguistics and anthropolinguistics which allow
comparisons of various types of concepts in different languages and cultures, and to apply these theories to
analyses that compare Czech data with other languages.

The following theories and concepts are discussed: theories of conceptual metaphor and metonymy; blending
(conceptual integration); image schema; categorisation and prototypes; theories of linguistic image of the world
(worldview) and cognitive ethnolinguistics; cultural key words and cultural scripts; folk theories and folk linguistics.

Suggested topics for analysis and discussion are: concepts of space and spatial dimensions, time, and motion;
selected abstract notions (e.g., domov “home”, štěstí “happiness”); selected animals; colours; emotions (e.g.,
fear, anger, love); linguistic pictures and/or stereotypes of selected body parts (e.g., the hand, the head); figures
from Czech culture (e.g.,Božena Němcová, literary characters such as Babička “Grandmother”) or places (e.g.,
Říp).

The analyses focus on Czech data and compare them with English or other languages, especially languages
spoken by course participants.

Activities in the seminar include critical reading and discussion of selected scientific texts and practical analyses
of data samples. Students will be asked to choose a topic for their own analysis and to present the results to other
course participants.

Aim of the course

Last update: Mgr. Ivan Kafka (03.04.2023)

Students will deepen their knowledge of a cognitive and anthropological approach to language and culture and develop their ability to analyse and compare data of various levels of complexity.

Course completion requirements

Last update: Mgr. Ivan Kafka (03.04.2023)

Active participation in seminars: reading of assigned texts, participation in discussions, analysis and presentation of a selected topic.

Requirements for exam: written form of the presentation.

Literature

English

Last update: doc. PhDr. Lucie Saicová Římalová, Ph.D. (30.08.2020)

Recommended basic reading:

Bartmiński, J. (2009): Aspects of Cognitive Ethnolinguistics. J. Zinken (ed.). Sheffield – Oakville: Equinox. (selected chapters)

Cummins, C., Katsos, N. (eds.) (2019): The Oxford Handbook of Experimental Semantics and Pragmatics. Oxford et al.: OUP. (selected chapters)

Dąbrowska, A. et al. (eds.) (2017): Stereotypes and Linguistic Prejudices in Europe. Budapest: Research Institute for Linguistics, Hungarian Academy of Sciences. (selected chapters)

Danaher, D. S. (2015): Ideology as Metaphor, Narrative, and Performance in the Writings of Václav Havel. Slovo a smysl, 23, pp. 115–127.

Danaher, D. S. (2010): Translating Havel: Three key words (domov, svědomí, and klid). Slovo a slovesnost, 71, No. 4, pp. 250–259.

Evans, V., Chilton, P. (eds.) (2010): Language, Cognition and Space. London – Oakville: Equinox. (selected chapters)

Głaz, A., Danaher, D. S., Łozowski, P. (eds.) (2013): The Linguistic Worldview. Ethnolinguistics, Cognition, and Culture. London: Versita / de Gruyter open. (selected chapters)

Šedivá, D. (2018): ABCZ aneb H jako Havel. ABCZ or All You Need to Know about Czechia and the Czechs. Denisa Šedivá.

(More reading will be recommended during the semester.)

 

 

 

 

 

Czech

Last update: Mgr. Ivan Kafka (03.04.2023)

Recommended basic reading:
Saicová Římalová, L. (2021): Introduction to a cognitive approach to language: Basic theories and concepts. [Manuscript available to course participants via Moodle containing introduction all topics discussed in the course]

Bartmiński, J. (2009): Aspects of Cognitive Ethnolinguistics. J. Zinken (ed.). Sheffield - Oakville: Equinox. (selected chapters)

Dąbrowska, A. et al. (eds.) (2017): Stereotypes and Linguistic Prejudices in Europe. Budapest: Research Institute for Linguistics, Hungarian Academy of Sciences. (selected chapters)

Danaher, D. S. (2015): Ideology as Metaphor, Narrative, and Performance in the Writings of Václav Havel. Slovo a smysl, 23, pp. 115-127.

Danaher, D. S. (2010): Translating Havel: Three key words (domov, svědomí, and klid). Slovo a slovesnost, 71, No. 4, pp. 250-259.

Evans, V., Chilton, P. (eds.) (2010): Language, Cognition and Space. London - Oakville: Equinox. (selected chapters)

Głaz, A., Danaher, D. S., Łozowski, P. (eds.) (2013): The Linguistic Worldview. Ethnolinguistics, Cognition, and Culture. London: Versita / de Gruyter open. (selected chapters)

Šedivá, D. (2018): ABCZ aneb H jako Havel. ABCZ or All You Need to Know about Czechia and the Czechs. Denisa Šedivá.

(More reading will be recommended during the semester.)

Teaching methods

English

Last update: doc. PhDr. Lucie Saicová Římalová, Ph.D. (31.08.2020)

If distant forms of teaching were necessary, the course would be converted into an on-line format that would combine video conferences (e.g. via Zoom) and materials and exercises in Moodle.

Czech

Last update: Mgr. Ivan Kafka (03.04.2023)

If distant forms of teaching were necessary, the course would be converted into an on-line format that would combine video conferences and materials and exercises in Moodle.

Syllabus

Last update: Mgr. Ivan Kafka (03.04.2023)

Syllabus (suggested topics for analysis and discussion; the topics and their order may be adjusted to the needs of the participants):

Week 1: Introduction; basic principles of a cognitive and anthropological approach to language.

Week 2: Categorization; "animals", colours.

Week 3: Metaphor, metonymy, blending; verbal and nonverbal communication (gestures).

Week 4: Image schema; time, motion

Week 5: Space.

Week 6: Linguistic image of the world; cognitive definition.

Week 7: Cultural key words, cultural scripts; abstract notions (“home”, “freedom”, "family" etc.)

Week 8: Emotions.

Week 9: Selected characters from Czech culture (e.g. Božena Němcová and her Grandmother), places (e.g. Říp).

Week 10: Folk theories, folk linguistics.

Weeks 11 + 12 (+ 13): Presentations and discussion (depending on the number of participants, some presentations may be scheduled for earlier weeks of the semester). Summary, concluding discussion.

Entry requirements

Last update: Mgr. Ivan Kafka (03.04.2023)

The course is taught in English. Some previous experience with cognitive linguistics or anthropolinguistics is an advantage but is not necessary. Knowledge of Czech is NOT necessary, the materials and data are translated to English.