State Exam Topics

• Linguistics
• Literature

Linguistics

• Started in/after 2010/2011
• Started in/before 2009/2010

Newer Format

The information below applies to students who started their bachelor studies in 2010/2011 and after.

Topics for the state exam written test are based on areas covered and discussed in lectures and linguistics seminars taught during the bachelor studies. You can look at a mock test with answer key.

Students are expected to have studied from the following sources:

Compulsory Reading

Students are expected to have read the following reference books, to be aware of the definitions, views and approaches presented, and to be able to discuss them critically.

1. Dontcheva-Navrátilova, O. (2005) Grammatical Structures in English: Meaning in Context. Brno: Masarykova univerzita.
2. Greenbaum, S., Quirk, R. (1991) A Student's Grammar of the English Language. London: Longman.
3. Roach, P. (2000) English Phonetics and Phonology. A Practical Course. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
4. Svartvik, J., Leech, G. N. (1994) A Communicative Grammar of English. 2nd Edition. London: Longman.
5. Gethin, H. (1992) Grammar in Context, Proficiency Level English. Nelson Collins Ltd.
6. Yule, G. (1996) The Study of Language. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Further Reading

1. Biber, D., Johansson, S., Leech, G., Conrad, S., Finegan, E. (1999) Longman Grammar of Spoken and Written English. London: Longman.
2. Brown, G., Yule, G. (1983) Discourse Analysis. Cambridge Textbooks in Linguistics. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
3. Cruttenden, A. (1994) Gimson's Pronunciation of English. Arnold.
4. Crystal, D. (1995) The Cambridge Encyclopedia of the English Language. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
5. Halliday, M. A. K., Hasan, R. (1992) Cohesion in English. London: Longman.
6. Leech, G. N., Deuchar, M., Hoogenraad, R. (1982) English Grammar for Today. A New Introduction. Macmillan Press Ltd.
7. McCarthy, M. (1991). Discourse Analysis for Language Teachers_. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
8. Štekauer, P. (ed.) (2000) _Rudiments of English Linguistics. Prešov: Slovacontact.
9. Urbanová, L. (1998) A Handbook of English Phonetics and Phonology. Brno: Masarykova univerzita.

Older Format

The information below applies only to students who started their bachelor studies in 2009/2010 and before, and regards an oral state exam.

1. 1. The inventory of English vowels and diphthongs with a special emphasis on problematic sounds for the Czech learners of English.
   2. The structure of the compound sentence. Coordination.
2. 1. The inventory of English consonants with a special emphasis on problematic sounds for the Czech learners of English.
   2. The structure of the complex sentence. Subordination.
3. 1. Reduction in English, strong and weak syllables, the importance of "schwa".
   2. Modality in English.
4. 1. Standard English and non-standard English: social vs. regional dialects.
   2. Syntactic and semantic functions of subordinate clauses in English.
5. 1. Varieties of English around the world. English as a lingua franca.
   2. Sentence types and discourse functions.
6. 1. The history of diachronic linguistics.
   2. Types of sentences (the complex sentence, the compound sentence).
7. 1. The history of synchronic linguistics.
   2. Grammatical cohesive devices – reference and substitution.
8. 1. Structuralism and Functionalism.
   2. Grammatical cohesive devices – conjunction and ellipsis.
9. 1. Ways of expressing the future in English and their comparison.
   2. Text and context. Standards of textuality.
10. 1. Markers of formality and politeness in written discourse.
    2. The structure of the simple sentence. The relationships between phrases and sentence elements.
11. 1. The base form of a verb. The present and past subjunctive.
    2. Markers of informality, politeness and familiarity in spoken discourse.
12. 1. The active and passive voice in English and Czech.
    2. Complex condensation.
13. 1. Markers of subjectivity and implicitness in spoken discourse.
    2. Information processing. Theme and focus.
14. 1. Clause types and verb classes.
    2. Markers of objectivity and explicitness in written discourse.
15. 1. Written language – general characteristics of the variety.
    2. The semantics and grammar of adverbials.
16. 1. Spoken language – general characteristics of the variety.
    2. Complementation of verbs and adjectives.

Compulsory Reading

Students are expected to have read the following reference books, to be aware of the definitions, views and approaches presented, and to be able to discuss them critically.

1. Dontcheva-Navrátilova, O. (2005) Grammatical Structures in English: Meaning in Context. Brno: Masarykova univerzita.
2. Greenbaum, S., Quirk, R. (1991) A Student's Grammar of the English Language. London: Longman.
3. Roach, P. (2000) English Phonetics and Phonology. A Practical Course. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
4. Svartvik, J., Leech, G. N. (1994) A Communicative Grammar of English. 2nd Edition. London: Longman.
5. Gethin, H. (1992) Grammar in Context, Proficiency Level English. Nelson Collins Ltd.
6. Yule, G. (1996) The Study of Language. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Further Reading

1. Biber, D., Johansson, S., Leech, G., Conrad, S., Finegan, E. (1999) Longman Grammar of Spoken and Written English. London: Longman.
2. Brown, G., Yule, G. (1983) Discourse Analysis. Cambridge Textbooks in Linguistics. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
3. Cruttenden, A. (1994) Gimson's Pronunciation of English. Arnold.
4. Crystal, D. (1995) The Cambridge Encyclopedia of the English Language. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
5. Halliday, M. A. K., Hasan, R. (1992) Cohesion in English. London: Longman.
6. Leech, G. N., Deuchar, M., Hoogenraad, R. (1982) English Grammar for Today. A New Introduction. Macmillan Press Ltd.
7. McCarthy, M. (1991). Discourse Analysis for Language Teachers_. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
8. Štekauer, P. (ed.) (2000) _Rudiments of English Linguistics. Prešov: Slovacontact.
9. Urbanová, L. (1998) A Handbook of English Phonetics and Phonology. Brno: Masarykova univerzita.

Literature

• Started in/after 2010/2011
• Started in/before 2009/2010

Newer Format

The information below applies to students who started their bachelor studies in 2010/2011 and after.

Topics for the state exam written test are based on areas covered and discussed in lectures and literary seminars taught during the bachelor studies.

Students are expected to have studied from the following sources:

Compulsory Literature:

Burgess, A.  (1991) English Literature. Survey for Students. 3rd edition. London: Longman.

VanSpanckeren, K. (1996) Outline of American Literature. 2nd edition, December 2006. Online http://www.america.gov/publications/books/outline-of-american-literature.html

Primary Reading:

Choose one of each of the following areas:

British Literature:

Austen, Jane: Pride and Prejudice. Dickens, Charles: Great Expectations.

19th Century American Literature:

Cooper, James Fenimore: The Last of the Mohicans; Hawthorne, Nathaniel: The Scarlet Letter; Stowe, Harriet Beecher: Uncle Tom´s Cabin; Twain, Mark: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.

20th Century American Literature:

Cather, Villa: My Antonia; Steinbeck, John: Of Mice and Men; Hemingway, Ernest: Fiesta; Chandler, Raymond: The Big Sleep.

Older Format

The information below applies only to students who started their bachelor studies in 2009/2010 and before, and regards an oral state exam.

British Literature

1. Old English Literature
2. Middle English poetry and prose
3. Development of drama (from the Middle Ages till Shakespeare)
4. Renaissance
5. Development of the novel (from Defoe to Austen)
6. Restoration and Enlightenment
7. Romanticism
8. Early Victorian prose
9. Late Victorian prose
10. Poetry and drama in Victorian period and at the turn of the century.

American Literature

1. Colonial literature
2. Literature of the Revolution
3. Romanticism and transcendentalism
4. Realism and naturalism
5. Regional literature versus cosmopolitan writers

Procedure

1. The student draws one topic and receives a handout with specific questions and tasks related to the topic.
2. Preparation time is limited to 10 - 15 minutes.
3. The student is examined by the committee. The examiners will refer to the handout, the topic and the student's independent reading.