Unit information: Introduction to Linguistics in 2014/15

Unit name	Introduction to Linguistics
Unit code	MODL23013
Credit points	20
Level of study	I/5
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12)
Unit director	Professor. Langer
Open unit status	Open
Pre-requisites	This unit cannot be taken by students who are studying GERM29004 The Structure of German
Co-requisites	None
School/department	School of Modern Languages
Faculty	Faculty of Arts

Description including Unit Aims

The field of Linguistics studies human languages with an aim to understand its underlying structures and principles, both within any given language and comparatively across related and unrelated languages. In this unit we will study Language, i.e. the cognitive system steering the processing of linguistic in- and outputs of our native and any foreign languages we use, by learning about principal analytical tools in the fields of phonology, morphology, and syntax. We will draw from examples from a wide range of languages though principally from European ones, including English. Students will learn how do analyse complex utterances and divide them up into meaningful units, and compare similarities and differences across languages

Aims:

The unit aims to introduce students to the formal aspects of the linguistic description and analysis develop an understanding of the differences between language as a means of communication and a formal system of interacting components gain an overview of the field of systemic linguistics and its practical applications inspire students to work further, and independently, in this and other fields enhance students’ foreign language skills, close reading skills and powers of analysis, research and presentation.

Intended Learning Outcomes

The unit will develop:

• students' knowledge, understanding and appreciation of the basics of sophisticated technical analysis of Language and languages as systems

• students' critical skills by gaining an awareness of cross-linguistics similarities and differences

• students' understanding of how languages other than those they are already familiar with operate as linguistic systems

• students' skills in presenting information and arguments in a structured form, both orally and in writing.

Teaching Information

2 weekly seminars.

Assessment Information

one 2000 word essay and one 2 hour exam (50%/50%)

Reading and References

Poole, Stuart. 1999. An Introduction to Linguistics. Basingstoke: Macmillan.

Fromkin, Victoria et al. 2007. An Introduction to Language. Boston: Wadsworth.