LING6910Foundation of Linguistics

Course handbook

Description

The course provides foundational knowledge in theoretical and methodological principles of linguistics, as well as the linguistic basis of translation and language teaching. Students are introduced to the study of the organisation of information within linguistic systems and to the study of language acquisition and language use. In addition the ways in which languages differ and the range of such variation are covered.

Availability2024 Course Timetables

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of the course students will be able to:

1. Describe the nature of language as a human communication system;

2. Recognise the basic principles of semantics and pragmatics as applied to English and other languages;

3. Explain the acquisition of language by children and adults;

4. Debate the influence of social and cultural factors on language use, including pragmatics;

5. Compare the grammatical and semantic systems of different languages.

6. Apply your knowledge of the research process to contribute to a research project

Content

Topics to be covered include the following:

• the nature of language as a human communication system
• the nature of meaning: what words mean; what sentences mean; what speakers mean
• comparative grammar, semantics, and pragmatics
• stages in the development of child language
• competing theories of language learning
• the influence of social and cultural factors on language use
• linguistics and language acquisition
• linguistics and translation

Assessment items

Written Assignment: Written Assignment 1

Case Study / Problem Based Learning: Case Study

In Term Test: In Term Test

Participation: Research Participation

Contact hours

Semester 1 - 2024 - Callaghan

Semester 1 - 2024 - Online

Course outline

• LING6910 - Semester 1, 2024 (All) (PDF, 186.0 KB)