Course detail

Professional Styles in Czech and English

FEKT-HSCAAcad. year: 2018/2019

With the help of particular texts the course demostrates the most important features of academic or professional dicourse from different angles: it points out at the differences between Czech and English linguistics approaches, it strsses the linguistic differences, the differences between professional discourse in natural and human sciences, and between functional and pragmatic point of view.

Language of instruction

Czech

Number of ECTS credits

4

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Guarantor

Mgr. Miroslav Kotásek, Ph.D.

Department

Department of Foreign Languages (UJAZ)

Learning outcomes of the course unit

Student is able:
- to distinguish in English between different linguistic means based on their formality or informality
- to create a linguistically correct text with the help of acquired knowledge of structural, stylistic and other features of diverse genres in professional discourse
- to characterize an unknown text from the point of view of linguistic means used.
- understand even a copmlicated English text, to use secondary sources during writing
- he is able to use sources actively: not only to support his point of view but to discuss different ideas as well

Prerequisites


The secondary school knowledge of English is required

Co-requisites

Not applicable.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Teaching methods depend on the type of course unit as specified in Article 7 of BUT Rules for Studies and Examinations.

Assesment methods and criteria linked to learning outcomes

Examination will be awarded for delivering a seminar thesis – a review of an existing electronic product. The maximum number of points is 40 and the thesis must be delivered before the 13th week of semester.

The exam, using an in-class written test, tests the ability of the student to apply the acquired practical stylistic skills. The maximum number of points for the exam is 60.

Course curriculum

Lectures: Introduction into the study of English discourse.
The Study of discourse as a linguistic discipline, its methods and methodology.
"Functional discourses", discourse criteria.
Differences between English and Czech written discourse - reasons and consequences.
Differences between the discourses of humanities and natural sciences.
Formal and informal language.
Possible obstacles when dealing with professional discourse, the most frequent mistakes.
The status of English in todays world, anglicisms, transliteration, transcription.
English and Czech word order and their stylistic usage.
Intention and acceptability of a text, the role of the (hypothetic) recepient of the text.
Coherence and cohesion of text and how to acheieve them, cooperative principle.
Genres of professional (academic) discourse in English speaking world and their main features

Work placements

Not applicable.

Aims

The course should offer the students a comprehensive introduction in the problematics of written professional dicourse, which will improves students’ competences while creating a written text of their own (especially in English), stressing correctness of the chosen linguistic means, and their stylistic or genre appropriatness.

Specification of controlled education, way of implementation and compensation for absences

The content and forms of instruction in the evaluated course are specified by a regulation issued by the lecturer responsible for the course and updated for every academic year.

Recommended optional programme components

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

Čechová, Marie - Krčmová, Marie - Minářová, Eva. Současná stylistika. Vyd. 1. Praha : Lidové noviny, 2008. 381 s. ISBN 978-80-7106-961.
Krhutová, M.: Parameters of Professional Discourse, English for Electrical Engineering, Tribun EU, 2009
Urbanová, L.: Stylistika anglického jazyka, Barrister and Principal, 2008

Recommended reading

Not applicable.

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme EEEI-H Bachelor's

    branch H-AEI , 1 year of study, winter semester, compulsory

  • Programme EEKR-CZV lifelong learning

    branch EE-FLE , 1 year of study, winter semester, compulsory

Type of course unit

 

Lecture

13 hod., optionally

Teacher / Lecturer

Mgr. Miroslav Kotásek, Ph.D.

Fundamentals seminar

26 hod., compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

Mgr. Jaromír Haupt, Ph.D.

Syllabus

Seminars: Introduction - the specifics of written discourse, importance of written discorse in todays world.
Segmentation of text - formal and thematic; punctuation; titles; paragraphs.
Methods of reading - basic orientation, scanning, looking for information.
Specifics of written discourse as regards morphology, syntax and lexical means.
The role of the recepient - popular scientific, scientific and practical texts.
Pragmatic dimensions of professional dicourse: correctness, anglicisms, mistakes and how to avoid them.
Quotations: MLA standard, Chicago Manual of Style, proofreading marks in English and in Czech.
Discourse functions 1: description.
Discourse functions 2: comparison.
Discourse functions 3: consequences, generalization.
Discourse functions 4: how and when paraphrase and quote.
Genres 1: abstract, summary, annotation.
Genres 2: essay (in English and Czech usage), review.