University of Essex

LG104-4-AU-CO:
Introduction to the Study of Language

The details

Year: 2024/25

Department: Language and Linguistics

Campus: Colchester Campus

Term: Autumn

Level: Undergraduate: Level 4

Status: Current

Start date: Thursday 03 October 2024

End date: Friday 13 December 2024

Credits: 15

Last updated: 15 April 2024

Requisites for this module

Pre-requisites: (none)

Co-requisites: (none)

Pre and / or co-requisites: (none)

Prohibited modules: (none)

Key module (requisite for): (none)

Key module for

BA QX31 Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL),
BA QX41 Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) (Including Foundation Year),
BA QX51 Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) (Including Placement Year),
BA QXH1 Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) (Including Year Abroad),
BA QQ13 English Language and Linguistics,
BA QQ15 English Language and Linguistics (Including Placement Year),
BA QQ16 English Language and Linguistics (Including Foundation Year),
BA QQ3D English Language and Linguistics (Including Year Abroad),
MLINQA15 English Language and Lingistics (Including Placement Year),
MLINQA16 English Language and Linguistics (Including Year Abroad),
MLINQQ14 English Language and Linguistics,
BA QQ23 English Language and Literature,
BA QQ24 English Language and Literature (Including Foundation Year),
BA QQ32 English Language and Literature (Including Year Abroad),
BA QQ35 English Language and Literature (Including Placement Year),
BA Q100 Linguistics,
BA Q101 Linguistics (Including Year Abroad),
BA Q102 Linguistics (Including Foundation Year),
BA Q103 Linguistics (Including Placement Year),
BA RQ93 Modern Languages and English Language,
BA RQ99 Modern Languages and English Language (5 Years Including Foundation Year),
BA RQ91 Modern Languages and Linguistics,
BA RQ98 Modern Languages and Linguistics (5 Years Including Foundation Year),
BA R8T8 Modern Languages and Teaching English as a Foreign Language (5 Years Including Foundation Year),
BA RX91 Modern Languages and Teaching English as a Foreign Language,
BA P510 Journalism and English Language,
BA P511 Journalism and English Language (Including Placement Year),
BA P512 Journalism and English Language (Including Year Abroad),
BA QP10 English Language with Media Communication,
BA QP11 English Language with Media Communication (Including Year Abroad),
BA QP12 English Language with Media Communication (Including Placement Year),
BA QP13 English Language with Media Communication (Including Foundation Year),
BA Q120 Linguistics with Data Science,
BA Q121 Linguistics with Data Science (Including Foundation Year),
BA Q122 Linguistics with Data Science (Including Placement Year),
BA Q123 Linguistics with Data Science (Including Year Abroad),
BSC Q120 Computational Linguistics,
BSC Q121 Computational Linguistics (Including Foundation Year),
BSC Q122 Computational Linguistics (Including Placement Year),
BSC Q123 Computational Linguistics (Including Year Abroad),
BA R114 Language Studies and Linguistics,
BA R115 Language Studies and Linguistics (Including Foundation Year),
BA R116 Language Studies and Teaching English as a Foreign Language,
BA R117 Language Studies and Teaching English as a Foreign Language (Including Foundation Year)

Module description

This modules introduces students to the study of human language: how human languages are structured, how they function in society, how language is acquired by both children and adults, how the languages of the world evolved, how the world's languages are similar and different to one another, how language reflects human biology and culture, and how linguistic diversity and multilingualism are reflected in politics and society.

Module aims

The central aim of this module is to provide an overview of the various subfields of study in language and linguistics. The aim is to provide students with appropriate linguistic vocabulary and foundational knowledge of grammar. Students are not expected to have any background in linguistics or have previously studied a language.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students will have:

1. Familiarity with common terminology and concepts in linguistics and language study
2. General understanding of the subfields of linguistics and their applications
3. Develop metalinguistic awareness of linguistic structures and properties

Module information

The module covers the various subareas of linguistics in the 10-week course. Each week, the module will cover a different subarea of linguistics with the aim to provide an overview of later modules that will pursue these areas in depth.

1. Language as a Social Science
2. Morphology
3. Syntax
4. Semantics
5. Phonetics and Phonology
6. Psycholinguistics
7. Sociolinguistics
8. Historical Linguistics
9. Language Teaching and Learning
10. Language Policy and Language Preservation

Learning and teaching methods

There will be weekly, two-hour lectures with 1-hour seminars. This will be complemented by activities and work outside of the classroom.

Bibliography

Culpeper, J. (2023e) Introducing Linguistics. Edited by J. Culpeper. Routledge. Available at: https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/universityofessex-ebooks/detail.action?pq-origsite=primo&docID=7145602.
Dawson, H. and Hernandez, A. (eds) (2022) Language files: materials for an introduction to language and linguistics. Thirteenth Edition. Columbus: The Ohio State University Press. Available at: https://app.kortext.com/Shibboleth.sso/Login?entityID=https://idp0.essex.ac.uk/shibboleth&target=https://app.kortext.com/borrow/1993076.
Hernandez, A. and Dawson, H. (eds) (2022e) Language Files: Materials for an Introduction to Language and Linguistics. 13th edn. Columbus, US: Ohio State University Press. Available at: https://app.kortext.com/Shibboleth.sso/Login?entityID=https://idp0.essex.ac.uk/shibboleth&target=https://app.kortext.com/borrow/1993076.
Yule, G. (2023b) The study of language. Eighth edition. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Available at: https://app.kortext.com/Shibboleth.sso/Login?entityID=https://idp0.essex.ac.uk/shibboleth&target=https://app.kortext.com/borrow/2088719/.
Saito, Y. (no date) ‘Am I Bilingual or Not?: University Students’ Perceptions of Bilingualism’. Available at: https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/293152383.pdf.
Matthews, P.H. (2003) Linguistics: a very short introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1093/actrade/9780192801487.001.0001.
Bloomer, A., Merrison, A. and Griffiths, P. (2005) Introducing Language in Use: A Coursebook. Taylor & Francis Group.

The above list is indicative of the essential reading for the course.
The library makes provision for all reading list items, with digital provision where possible, and these resources are shared between students.
Further reading can be obtained from this module's reading list.

Assessment items, weightings and deadlines

Coursework / exam	Description	Deadline	Coursework weighting
Coursework	Coursework Portfolio	13/01/2025	60%
Practical	Moodle Quiz		40%

Exam format definitions

Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary, for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.

Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.

Overall assessment

Coursework	Exam
100%	0%

Reassessment

Coursework	Exam
100%	0%

Module supervisor and teaching staff

Supervisor: Prof Hannah Gibson, email: h.gibson@essex.ac.uk.

Teaching staff: Dr Hannah Gibson

Contact details: Hannah - h.gibson@essex.ac.uk, Office: 4.317, Number: 2204

Availability

Available to incoming Essex Abroad / Exchange students: Yes

Available to Outside Option: Yes

Available to Audit: Yes

External examiner

Name: Mr Conrad Hechter Heyns

Institution: Goldsmiths, University of London

Academic role: Director - Centre for Academic Language and Literacies

Resources

Teaching materials: Available via Moodle

Lecture recording: Of 20 hours, 20 (100%) hours available to students:
0 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s), module, or event type.

Further information

Department website: Language and Linguistics

Disclaimer: The University makes every effort to ensure that this information on its Module Directory is accurate and up-to-date. Exceptionally it can be necessary to make changes, for example to programmes, modules, facilities or fees. Examples of such reasons might include a change of law or regulatory requirements, industrial action, lack of demand, departure of key personnel, change in government policy, or withdrawal/reduction of funding. Changes to modules may for example consist of variations to the content and method of delivery or assessment of modules and other services, to discontinue modules and other services and to merge or combine modules. The University will endeavour to keep such changes to a minimum, and will also keep students informed appropriately by updating our programme specifications and module directory.

The full Procedures, Rules and Regulations of the University governing how it operates are set out in the Charter, Statutes and Ordinances and in the University Regulations, Policy and Procedures.

Module Directory

LG104-4-AU-CO:Introduction to the Study of Language