Overview

The course provides an overview of and introduction to a wide range of topics in the study of natural language, including:
- What is language?
- Morphology: words and their structure.
- Phonetics and Phonology: language sounds and sound systems.
- Syntax: sentence structure.
- Semantics and Pragmatics: meaning and context.
- Study Skills - essays, exams and presentations. - Adopt a Language project.

Other topics that may be covered will include a selection from:
- Language variation.
- Language change.
- Language acquisition.
- Language pathologies.
- Language and the brain.

Assessment Strategy

-threshold -D: Student has achieved the minimum acceptable standard of understanding and/or knowledge in all the learning outcomes. Student can demonstrate a minimum level of understanding of the basic concepts and be able to apply them to data with some degree of accuracy.

-good -B: Student has achieved a better-than-average standard of understanding and/or knowledge in all learning outcomes, and has a clear and accurate understanding of concepts; ability to apply concepts to data critically and thoughtfully; evidence of wide reading and clear and accurate reference to source materials; free from misunderstanding and errors of content; free from irrelevant material.

-excellent -A: Student has achieved a thorough standard of understanding and/or knowledge in all learning outcomes; or student has demonstrated an exceptional level of achievement in one or more learning outcomes together with a good overall standard: student has achieved a thorough understanding of the subject, both in terms of content and theory; student is able to apply concepts clearly and accurately; substantial evidence of critical and original thought and analysis; clear, logical argument; high level of communicative competence; free from irrelevant material and errors of spelling and punctuation; evidence of extensive reading beyond basic texts and clear and accurate references to source material.

Learning Outcomes

• Students will achieve a basic understanding of a wide range of topics in the study of natural language.

• Students will demonstrate familiarity with the core areas of linguistics

• Students will develop a basic ability to analyse natural language data, and to carry out phonetic transcription.

• Students will develop knowledge of basic terminology and techniques for the analysis of natural language.

• Students will develop the ability to plan and write an academic essay, plan and prepare an oral presentation,and to prepare appropriately and effectively for examinations.