Last modified: 05 Oct 2023 08:46
This core course introduces students to advanced study of the English language. Three key aspects of the structure of English are introduced: the sound patterns of English (phonology); the structure of English words (morphology) and the structure of sentences (syntax). We then consider the relationship between the semantic meaning of linguistic constructions and their pragmatic implications. The course will enable students to refer confidently to the structure and use of the English language in their own research projects, whether the focus is literary or linguistic.
| Study Type | Postgraduate | Level | 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term | First Term | Credit Points | 30 credits (15 ECTS credits) |
| Campus | Aberdeen | Sustained Study | No |
| Co-ordinators |
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The course begins with an exploration of universal phonetic properties of human speech, before focusing on the specific sound patterns found in English phonology, including the nature of variation across a range of accents of English. We then consider the structure of words in English by focusing on inflectional and derivational morphology and the ways in which complex words are constructed. The third structural aspect of the English language we investigate is syntax, or how sentences are constructed from smaller linguistic units.
Precise and focused knowledge of the structure of the English language will then allow students to produce well-informed explanations of aspects of English usage. We will consider the features of English in spoken discourse and written texts, and the potential for there to be mismatches between the semantic meanings of words and the pragmatic, or real-world, meaning of a given linguistic construction in context. This approach can help to develop literary analyses of the ‘style’ of particular texts or writers; it can also allow for informed analyses of texts and spoken discourse in non-literary contexts.
Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 20 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | 13 | Feedback Weeks | 16 | |
| Feedback |
Written feedback will be provided. |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Apply | Students are able to produce detailed and informed analyses of the linguistic structure of spoken and written language. |
| Conceptual | Understand | Students understand key concepts and terminology from phonology, morphology and syntax. |
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 30 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | 18 | Feedback Weeks | 20 | |
| Feedback |
Written feedback will be provided. |
Word Count | 2000 | |
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Analyse | Students are able to apply their knowledge of linguistic structure to produce analyses of the meanings of texts. |
| Conceptual | Evaluate | Students can evaluate the ways in which the semantic meanings and pragmatic implications of English usage can differ. |
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | 17 | Feedback Weeks | 20 | |
| Feedback |
Written feedback will be provided. |
|||
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Apply | Students are able to produce detailed and informed analyses of the linguistic structure of spoken and written language. |
| Conceptual | Understand | Students understand key concepts and terminology from phonology, morphology and syntax. |
| Reflection | Evaluate | Students are able to critically reflect on their learning, demonstrated through online participation. |
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 20 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | 10 | Feedback Weeks | 13 | |
| Feedback |
Written feedback will be provided |
|||
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Apply | Students are able to produce detailed and informed analyses of the linguistic structure of spoken and written language. |
| Conceptual | Understand | Students understand key concepts and terminology from phonology, morphology and syntax. |
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 20 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | 16 | Feedback Weeks | 19 | |
| Feedback |
Written feedback will be provided. |
|||
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Apply | Students are able to produce detailed and informed analyses of the linguistic structure of spoken and written language. |
| Conceptual | Understand | Students understand key concepts and terminology from phonology, morphology and syntax. |
There are no assessments for this course.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 100 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | 50 | Feedback Weeks | 52 | |
| Feedback |
Written feedback will be provided |
|||
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
|
|
||
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Understand | Students understand key concepts and terminology from phonology, morphology and syntax. |
| Conceptual | Evaluate | Students can evaluate the ways in which the semantic meanings and pragmatic implications of English usage can differ. |
| Conceptual | Analyse | Students are able to apply their knowledge of linguistic structure to produce analyses of the meanings of texts. |
| Conceptual | Apply | Students are able to produce detailed and informed analyses of the linguistic structure of spoken and written language. |
| Reflection | Evaluate | Students are able to critically reflect on their learning, demonstrated through online participation. |
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