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EL55D2: FUNDAMENTALS OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE (2024-2025)

Last modified: 23 Jul 2024 11:10


Course Overview

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. 

Course Details

Study Type Postgraduate Level 5
Term Second Term Credit Points 30 credits (15 ECTS credits)
Campus Aberdeen Sustained Study No
Co-ordinators
  • Dr William S. Barras

What courses & programmes must have been taken before this course?

  • Any Postgraduate Programme (Studied)
  • Either Mlitt In Film, Visual Culture & Arts Management (September Start) or Master Of Letters In English Language And Literature

What other courses must be taken with this course?

None.

What courses cannot be taken with this course?

Are there a limited number of places available?

No

Course Description

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.


Contact Teaching Time

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

Teaching Breakdown

More Information about Week Numbers


Details, including assessments, may be subject to change until 30 August 2024 for 1st term courses and 20 December 2024 for 2nd term courses.

Summative Assessments

Language Analysis Exercise: Phonology

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 20
Assessment Weeks 29 Feedback Weeks 31

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Written feedback will be provided.

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualApplyStudents are able to produce detailed and informed analyses of the linguistic structure of spoken and written language.
ConceptualUnderstandStudents understand key concepts and terminology from phonology, morphology and syntax.

Language Analysis Exercise: Phonology

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 20
Assessment Weeks 31 Feedback Weeks 33

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Feedback

Written feedback will be provided

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualApplyStudents are able to produce detailed and informed analyses of the linguistic structure of spoken and written language.
ConceptualUnderstandStudents understand key concepts and terminology from phonology, morphology and syntax.

Essay

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 30
Assessment Weeks 39 Feedback Weeks 42

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Written feedback will be provided.

Word Count 2000
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualAnalyseStudents are able to apply their knowledge of linguistic structure to produce analyses of the meanings of texts.
ConceptualEvaluateStudents can evaluate the ways in which the semantic meanings and pragmatic implications of English usage can differ.

Language Analysis Exercise: Phonology

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 20
Assessment Weeks 33 Feedback Weeks 35

Look up Week Numbers

Feedback

Written feedback will be provided.

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualApplyStudents are able to produce detailed and informed analyses of the linguistic structure of spoken and written language.
ConceptualUnderstandStudents understand key concepts and terminology from phonology, morphology and syntax.

Contribution to Online Reflective Journal

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 10
Assessment Weeks 38 Feedback Weeks 41

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Feedback

Written feedback will be provided.

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualApplyStudents are able to produce detailed and informed analyses of the linguistic structure of spoken and written language.
ConceptualUnderstandStudents understand key concepts and terminology from phonology, morphology and syntax.
ReflectionEvaluateStudents are able to critically reflect on their learning, demonstrated through online participation.

Formative Assessment

There are no assessments for this course.

Resit Assessments

Essay Resubmission

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 100
Assessment Weeks 50 Feedback Weeks 52

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Feedback

Written feedback will be provided

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
Sorry, we don't have this information available just now. Please check the course guide on MyAberdeen or with the Course Coordinator

Course Learning Outcomes

Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ReflectionEvaluateStudents are able to critically reflect on their learning, demonstrated through online participation.
ConceptualAnalyseStudents are able to apply their knowledge of linguistic structure to produce analyses of the meanings of texts.
ConceptualApplyStudents are able to produce detailed and informed analyses of the linguistic structure of spoken and written language.
ConceptualEvaluateStudents can evaluate the ways in which the semantic meanings and pragmatic implications of English usage can differ.
ConceptualUnderstandStudents understand key concepts and terminology from phonology, morphology and syntax.

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