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Usenet Posted 20 years ago
Learning
The verb "to lecture"
Hi,
It has recently come to my attention that the noun phrase "courses lectured in English" is rather common. As a non-native speaker and learner of the language, I don't think it is correct. This is because "lecture" isn't a transitive verb. "Courses (which are) lectured in English" (incorrectly) implies it is a transitive.
However, someone found the following passages where "lecture" is indeed used as a transitive verb.
1. It was asked how much consideration questionnaire results received,and why, if a lecturer scores very badly one year, he/she may continue to lecture the course the following year.
(http://www.maths.ox.ac.uk/~murc/minutes/mins9511.html)
2. Resources are required to lecture the course, to invigilate thepractical and problem sessions, to set and mark coursework, to set and mark exams, to answer student questions, and so on. (http://www.engineering.ucl.ac.uk/committees/pg sub/Documents%20for%20...)
The two sentences are taken from British sources. I want to know whether they are valid evidence for the transitive use of the verb "lecture". Or are the authors non-native speakers? Maybe could you please look at other sentences on the sites to see if there is any sign of non-native English speakers?
I'd appreciate your help.
Ray
It has recently come to my attention that the noun phrase "courses lectured in English" is rather common. As a non-native speaker and learner of the language, I don't think it is correct. This is because "lecture" isn't a transitive verb. "Courses (which are) lectured in English" (incorrectly) implies it is a transitive.
However, someone found the following passages where "lecture" is indeed used as a transitive verb.
1. It was asked how much consideration questionnaire results received,and why, if a lecturer scores very badly one year, he/she may continue to lecture the course the following year.
(http://www.maths.ox.ac.uk/~murc/minutes/mins9511.html)
2. Resources are required to lecture the course, to invigilate thepractical and problem sessions, to set and mark coursework, to set and mark exams, to answer student questions, and so on. (http://www.engineering.ucl.ac.uk/committees/pg sub/Documents%20for%20...)
The two sentences are taken from British sources. I want to know whether they are valid evidence for the transitive use of the verb "lecture". Or are the authors non-native speakers? Maybe could you please look at other sentences on the sites to see if there is any sign of non-native English speakers?
I'd appreciate your help.
Ray
Top answer
Ray schrieb: [nq:1]Hi, It has recently come to my attention that the noun phrase "courses lectured in English" is rather common. As ... [/nq] First of all I'd like to point out that as the links show we are talking here about English as written by natural scientists/engineers - as someone who has on occasion had to translate texts written by natural scientists and engineers I have to admit that regardless of their native language most people who have received studied natural science or technological subjcts have never received any training in writing and thus have difficulty expressing themselves properly in writing.
- Ray schrieb: [nq:1]Hi, It has recently come to my attention that the noun phrase "courses lectured in English" is rather common.
- As ...
- [/nq] First of all I'd like to point out that as the links show we are talking here about English as written by natural scientists/engineers - as someone who has on occasion had to translate texts written by natural scientists and engineers I have to admit that regardless of their native language most people who have received studied natural science or technological subjcts have never received any training in writing and thus have difficulty expressing themselves properly in writing.
- Secondly, however, English grammar is very flexible and readily absorbs new structures.
- while it is true that the verb "to lecture" is historically intransitive it may be that these usages are an early indication of a trend towards transforming it into a transitive verb - certainly "to lecture a course" seems to me to be more precise than "to teach a course" since it specifies the form of teaching, even if it still sits a bit uncomfortable - but then even during my lifetime I witnessed many words and constructions moving from sub-standard or even condemned to accepted standard.
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15 Answers
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Ray schrieb:
[nq:1]Hi, It has recently come to my attention that the noun phrase "courses lectured in English" is rather common. As ... you please look at other sentences on the sites to see if there is any sign of non-native English speakers?[/nq]
First of all I'd like to point out that as the links show we are talking here about English as written by natural scientists/engineers - as som
[nq:1]Hi, It has recently come to my attention that the noun phrase "courses lectured in English" is rather common. As ... you please look at other sentences on the sites to see if there is any sign of non-native English speakers?[/nq]
First of all I'd like to point out that as the links show we are talking here about English as written by natural scientists/engineers - as som
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[nq:1]Ray schrieb:[/nq]
[nq:2]Hi, It has recently come to my attention that the ... see if there is any sign of non-native English speakers?[/nq]
[nq:1]First of all I'd like to point out that as the links show we are talking here about English as ... me to be more precise than "to teach a course" since it specifies the form of teaching, even if it[/nq]
Now my question is more specific:
[nq:2]Hi, It has recently come to my attention that the ... see if there is any sign of non-native English speakers?[/nq]
[nq:1]First of all I'd like to point out that as the links show we are talking here about English as ... me to be more precise than "to teach a course" since it specifies the form of teaching, even if it[/nq]
Now my question is more specific:
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[nq:2]Ray schrieb: First of all I'd like to point out ... since it specifies the form of teaching, even if it[/nq]
[nq:1]Now my question is more specific: Why didn't the authors write "to lecture ON a course" the form described in the dictionary? Instead, they wrote "to lecture a course".[/nq]
Forget my above question. I didn't read your reply carefully. My fault.
[nq:1]I want to know
[nq:1]Now my question is more specific: Why didn't the authors write "to lecture ON a course" the form described in the dictionary? Instead, they wrote "to lecture a course".[/nq]
Forget my above question. I didn't read your reply carefully. My fault.
[nq:1]I want to know
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[nq:1]Secondly, however, English grammar is very flexible and readily absorbs new structures. while it is true that the verb "to ... than "to teach a course" since it specifies the form of teaching, even if it still sits a bit uncomfortable[/nq]
uncomfortably?
[nq:1]- but then even during my lifetime I witnessed[/nq]
have witnessed, unless you are posting from beyond the grave?
uncomfortably?
[nq:1]- but then even during my lifetime I witnessed[/nq]
have witnessed, unless you are posting from beyond the grave?
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Ray schrieb:
[nq:2]Would you personally say "to lecture on a course" or "to lecture a course"?[/nq]
I would say "to lecture on a particular topic", e.g. "to lecture on the the poetry of Ovid". If you're talking about the academic subject I'd say "he's a lecturer in sociology" or probably more likely "he's a sociology lecturer". But normally for me the verb "to lecture" is intransitive, has
[nq:2]Would you personally say "to lecture on a course" or "to lecture a course"?[/nq]
I would say "to lecture on a particular topic", e.g. "to lecture on the the poetry of Ovid". If you're talking about the academic subject I'd say "he's a lecturer in sociology" or probably more likely "he's a sociology lecturer". But normally for me the verb "to lecture" is intransitive, has
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[nq:1]Hi, It has recently come to my attention that the noun phrase "courses lectured in English" is rather common. As ... This is because "lecture" isn't a transitive verb. "Courses (which are) lectured in English" (incorrectly) implies it is a transitive.[/nq]
Check a dictionary or two first. My Pocket Oxford and my paperback Random House both list 'lecture' as t & i.
Check a dictionary or two first. My Pocket Oxford and my paperback Random House both list 'lecture' as t & i.
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Owain schrieb:
It is always advisable not to post too quickly after you rewrite parts of a sentence - particularly in a language newsgroup. :-(
Regards, Einde O'Callaghan
It is always advisable not to post too quickly after you rewrite parts of a sentence - particularly in a language newsgroup. :-(
Regards, Einde O'Callaghan
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[nq:2]Hi, It has recently come to my attention that the ... are) lectured in English" (incorrectly) implies it is a transitive.[/nq]
[nq:1]Check a dictionary or two first. My Pocket Oxford and my paperback Random House both list 'lecture' as t & i.[/nq]
I believe the vt sense takes a human being, not something related to a subject, as its object in your dictionaries. And this vt sense is n
[nq:1]Check a dictionary or two first. My Pocket Oxford and my paperback Random House both list 'lecture' as t & i.[/nq]
I believe the vt sense takes a human being, not something related to a subject, as its object in your dictionaries. And this vt sense is n
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[nq:2]Check a dictionary or two first. My Pocket Oxford and my paperback Random House both list 'lecture' as t & i.[/nq]
[nq:1]I believe the vt sense takes a human being, not something related to a subject, as its object in your dictionaries. And this vt sense is not what I asked about.[/nq]
Nope. 'He lectured a course in humanities to a
wide variety of students' uses lecture as
bo
[nq:1]I believe the vt sense takes a human being, not something related to a subject, as its object in your dictionaries. And this vt sense is not what I asked about.[/nq]
Nope. 'He lectured a course in humanities to a
wide variety of students' uses lecture as
bo
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[nq:2]I believe the vt sense takes a human being, not ... And this vt sense is not what I asked about.[/nq]
[nq:1]Nope. 'He lectured a course in humanities to a wide variety of students' uses lecture as both t & i.[/nq]
Is the above sentence taken from your dictionaries or invented by you? I understand that your Pocket Oxford, or any other Oxford Paperbakc dictionary, doesn't really specif
[nq:1]Nope. 'He lectured a course in humanities to a wide variety of students' uses lecture as both t & i.[/nq]
Is the above sentence taken from your dictionaries or invented by you? I understand that your Pocket Oxford, or any other Oxford Paperbakc dictionary, doesn't really specif
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