English linguistics 2510-f2ENG1S-EL

This course introduces students to new methods and tools in English linguistics, focusing on tools for collecting and dealing with multimodal data. Students will get to know basic tenets and current trends in Experimental Semiotics. Then, students will work with the Labvanced online software platform that makes it possible to flexibly build different kinds of experimental online studies to acquire particpants' responses and other behavioral data.

List of topics:
- Introduction - 1h
- Experimental Semiotics
---- microsocieties (Caldwell and Smith 2012)
---- pantomime and multimodality (Zlatev et al. 2017)
---- overview (Delliponti et al. 2023)
- Labvanced - 7h - “Build–Run–Break–Fix” loops (debugging as a learning target) and peer teaching

Students will also be presented with opportunities to gain experience through assisting in ongoing studies at the CLES NCU lab, which will also be reflected in the class participation score.

Term 2024/25L:

As in A

Term 2025/26L:

As in A

Total student workload

Contact hours with teacher: - participation in tutorials - 15 hrs. Self-study hours (35 hrs): -preparation of projects/presentations - 25 hrs. -preparation for classes -10 hrs. Altogether: 50 hrs. (2 ECTS)

Learning outcomes - knowledge

W1 - The student has in-depth knowledge of empirical research on language and interaction and their selected aspects (K_W03, K_W08)

Learning outcomes - skills

U1 - The student is able to search for, analyze, evaluate, select, and apply information using various sources and to formulate critical opinions based on special aspects of linguistic analysis and creative skills in English. (K_U01) U2 - The student is able to gain and deepen their knowledge and develop their research and analytical skills on their own. (K_U11)

Learning outcomes - social competencies

K1 - - The student is able to evaluate their knowledge and skills critically and understands the need for constant learning. (K_K01)

Course coordinators

Sławomir Wacewicz

Teaching methods

- brainstorming - classic problem-solving - practical analytical tasks - project work - seminar Mini lectures, discussions, analytical tasks, peer-teaching and team-work, brainstorming sessions

Observation/demonstration teaching methods

- display

Expository teaching methods

- discussion

Exploratory teaching methods

- practical
- project work
- seminar

Online teaching methods

- cooperation-based methods
- methods developing reflexive thinking

Assessment criteria

Graded credit on the basis of:
End-of-semester project (W1, U1, U2, K1): 70%
Class participation: (W1, U1, U2, K1): 30%

Very good – 91-100% (5.0)
Good plus – 86-90% (4+)
Good – 76-85% (4.0)
Satisfactory plus – 70-75% (3+)
Satisfactory – 60-69% (3.0)
Fail – 0-59% (2)

Practical placement

N/A

Bibliography

Finger, H., Goeke, C., Diekamp, D., Standvoß, K., & König, P. (2017). LabVanced: a unified JavaScript framework for online studies. In International Conference on Computational Social Science (Cologne).
https://www.labvanced.com/publication.html

Caldwell, C. A., & Smith, K. (2012). Cultural evolution and perpetuation of arbitrary communicative conventions in experimental microsocieties. PLOS ONE, 7(8), e43807. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0043807

Delliponti, A., et al. (2023). Experimental semiotics: A systematic categorization of experimental studies on the bootstrapping of communication systems. Biosemiotics, 16, 291–310. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12304-023-09534-x

Zlatev, J., Wacewicz, S., Żywiczyński, P., & van de Weijer, J. (2017). Multimodal-first or pantomime-first? Communicating events through pantomime with and without vocalization. Interaction Studies, 18(3), 465–488. https://doi.org/10.1075/is.18.3.08zla

Notes

Term 2024/25L:

As in A

Term 2025/26L:

As in A

Additional information

Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system:

Description of 2510-f2ENG1S-EL in USOSweb