Course: Menzerath-Altmann Law 2

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Course title Menzerath-Altmann Law 2
Course code KOL/VMEN2
Organizational form of instruction Seminar
Level of course Master
Year of study not specified
Semester Winter and summer
Number of ECTS credits 4
Language of instruction Czech
Status of course Compulsory-optional
Form of instruction Face-to-face
Work placements This is not an internship
Recommended optional programme components None
Lecturer(s)
  • Benešová Martina, Mgr. Ph.D.
Course content
1. Choice of sample and its quantification 2. Algorithm of quantitative processing of a linguistic sample ? formulation of hypotheses and their reformulation in the language of mathematics 3. Algorithm of quantitative processing of a linguistic sample ? quantification of the sample 4. Algorithm of quantitative processing of a linguistic sample ? processing and visualization 5. Algorithm of quantitative processing of a linguistic sample ? testing the validity of the mathematical model using statistical methods 6. Algorithm of quantitative processing of a linguistic sample ? interpretation of the experiment outcomes in the language of linguistics 7. Processing one?s own linguistic sample according to the Menzerath-Altmann law 8. Processing one?s own linguistic sample according to the Menzerath-Altmann law 9. Processing one?s own linguistic sample according to the Menzerath-Altmann law 10. Processing one?s own linguistic sample according to the Menzerath-Altmann law 11. Processing one?s own linguistic sample according to the Menzerath-Altmann law 12. Comparing the outcome of the experiment outcomes with the one produced in OMAZ 1

Learning activities and teaching methods
Monologic Lecture(Interpretation, Training), Dialogic Lecture (Discussion, Dialog, Brainstorming), Work with Text (with Book, Textbook)
Learning outcomes
The aim of the course is to acquaint the students with the Menzerath-Altmann law on different language levels (spoken sample ? e.g. replica, statement, stress unit, syllable, sound; written sample ? e.g. paragraph, sentence, clause, morpheme, phoneme) and to apply this knowledge in quantitative analysis of text samples. Together with applying the Menzerath-Altmann law the students are introduced to the algorithm of text sample quantitative processing and at the same time with the rules of such a sample segmentation. Segmentation units are defined very clearly. Samples are chosen by the students. Quantitative processing of text samples is performed with help of appropriate software tools. The course is intended for students of philology and other humanities. Students interested in the course are advised to complete the courses Basics of Mathematics for Linguists 1 and 2 and Mathematical Modelling of Text 1 and 2. The course is a continuation of the course Menzerath-Altmann Law 1. In the respective courses, student choose different samples and use different methods of segmentation in order to eventually compare by the end of the OMAZ 2 course the outputs of both experiments.
Students learn about the Menzerath-Altmann law, its properties, its verbal and mathematical formulations, rules and pitfalls of defining linguistic units, with methods of segmentation of different types of linguistic samples and with the basics of using particular software suitable for this type of analyses.
Prerequisites
Konwledge of English

Assessment methods and criteria
Student performance, Systematic Observation of Student, Seminar Work

1. Regular attendance (no more than 2 unexcused absences) 2. Regular preparation / required reading 3. Paper
Recommended literature
  • Andres, J., Benešová, M., Kubáček, L., Vrbková, J. (2011). Methodological note on the fractal analysis of texts. Journal of Quantitative Linguistics 18, 4, 337-367.
  • Hřebíček, L. (2002). Vyprávění o lingvistických experimentech s textem. Praha: Academia.
  • Popescu, I. (2009). Word Frequency Studies.
  • Wimmer, G., Altmann, G., Hřebíček, L., Ondrejovič, S., & Wimmerová, S. (2003). Úvod do analýzy textov. Bratislava: Veda.


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): General Lingvistics and Theory of Communication (2014) Category: Philological sciences - Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: -