2026

Language Theory

Name: Language Theory
Code: LLT10894L
6 ECTS
Duration: 15 weeks/156 hours
Scientific Area: Linguistics

Teaching languages: Portuguese
Languages of tutoring support: Portuguese

Sustainable Development Goals

Learning Goals

To provide students, from a thematic perspective, detailed knowledge about specific aspects of reflection on the languages of humanity. It will be given special attention to the Greco-Latin contribution, whose influence is notorious for centuries in various paradigms of grammar of Western tradition. It will consider the emergence of Portuguese grammatical studies, especially the early grammar texts in Portuguese and others taken as relevant to a characterization of linguistic thought in Portugal (XVI to XX not exhaustive). Finally we will elucidate crucial points of the linguistic theories of the twentieth century, considering more relevant several of the epistemological ruptures of linguistics.

Contents

The "birth" of linguistic thougt. The multilingual Ancient Middle East. Ancient Greece. The Stoic philosophers. Alexandrian scholars. European Linguistics from St. Augustine to St Anselm. Linguistics in England: Beda's work. Charlemagne and his educational policy. Philosophical grammar. William of Conches. Petrus Helias. Medieval Scholastic Grammar. Alexander de Villedieu. Evrard of Bethune. The Modistae. Late scholasticism. The work of missionaries. Language contacts, religious propaganda and the increase of interest in linguistics in Europe of the 17th and 18th centuries. Grammatical and orthographical works. School grammars and language-teaching manuals. Johann Amos Comenius (1592-1670). Philosophical grammars.Reflections on language teaching in England: Webbe (1570-1633); Brookes (ca 1630).Investigations into the origin of language. Polyglot dictionaries. Grammaire générale et raisonnée. The Enciclopédie (1758). The comparative method.

Teaching Methods

Assessment: Continuous assessment, a final work of the seminar, several small assignments throughout the semester. Participation in Seminars: 20%; work sessions scheduled between 30%; working final seminar 50%. Note: The final paper must be 12 to 15 pages (references included), written in Arial, double space.