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LN2505: MORPHOLOGY AND SYNTAX (2015-2016)

Last modified: 25 Mar 2016 11:36


Course Overview

Although we often see words as basic units of meaning, many actually consist of smaller subcomponents. These are not thrown together at random, but combine systematically to create meaning. For instance, we can add the English prefix 'un-' to adjectives (as in 'unhappy'), but not nouns (as in *'undog'). Likewise, words are organised into sentences according to the grammatical rules of a specific language: 'happy dogs eat biscuits' is acceptable in English, but 'dogs happy biscuits eat' is not. This course examines how words and sentences are constructed, giving students analytical and conceptual tools to explore these components of language.

Course Details

Study Type Undergraduate Level 2
Term Second Term Credit Points 30 credits (15 ECTS credits)
Campus None. Sustained Study No
Co-ordinators
  • Dr Elspeth Edelstein

Qualification Prerequisites

None.

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

Although we often see words as basic units of meaning, many actually consist of smaller subcomponents. These are not thrown together at random, but combine systematically to create meaning. For instance, we can add the English prefix 'un-' to adjectives (as in 'unhappy'), but not nouns (as in *'undog'). Likewise, words are organised into sentences according to the grammatical rules of a specific language: 'happy dogs eat biscuits' is acceptable in English, but 'dogs happy biscuits eat' is not, even though both forms are essentially comprehensible. This course examines how words and sentences are constructed, giving students analytical and conceptual tools to explore these components of language.

By the end of the course, students will have:
  • Knowledge of the processes by which new words are created.
  • An understanding of the structure of words and how this contributes to their meaning.
  • An understanding of the structure of sentences and how this contributes to their meaning.
  • The basic technical vocabulary needed to describe grammatical phenomena.
  • The basic theoretical apparatus needed to represent simple structures in morphology and syntax.
  • The ability to identify, describe, and analyse simple structures in morphology and syntax. 

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

1st Attempt: 2 homework exercises c.2,500 words (40% each); tutorial assessment mark (20%) Resit: 1 two hour written examination (100%)

Formative Assessment

Formative assessment will be given through discussion of tutorial topics and students' performance in tutorials (on request). Formative assessment will also be provided in written comments on the homework exercises.

Feedback

Formative assessment will be given in discussion of tutorial performance and written work, with individual students being able to request individual feedback. Summative assessment will be provided through the two homework exercises and the TAM mark.

Course Learning Outcomes

None.

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