ALM4110

General linguistics

Mark Newbrook and Joanne Winter

12 points -First semester -Distance education -It is intended to offer this subject exclusively by distance education from 1999 onwards.

Objectives The objective of this subject is to provide an introduction to general linguistics. The subject provides the factual, conceptual and theoretical background, and the basic analytical skills, for the other three fourth-year subjects and the more specialised fifth-year subjects. It includes an introduction to phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, pragmatics and historical linguistics. The concepts are exemplified from English and/or from other languages, as appropriate. The assessment trains students in problem solving and application of the concepts. Students are encouraged to contribute ideas and insights from other disciplines in which they themselves may already be proficient.

Synopsis This subject provides an introduction to the basic concepts of language and procedures in linguistic analysis. The subject covers the representation of sound in language (phonetics); the organisation of sounds in languages (phonology); the structure of words (morphology); the organisation of words in sentences (syntax); meaning (semantics); language change (historical linguistics) and the function of language in use (pragmatics). The materials, readings and activities focus on presenting the basic principles, procedures and concepts used in the linguistic analysis of language. The assessment components largely involve problem solving and the application of the concepts outlined in the subject.

Assessment Two take-home assignments (2500 words each): 50% -Take-home test (5000 words equivalent): 50%

Preliminary reading

Hudson R Invitation to linguistics Martin Robertson, 1984

Prescribed texts

Finegan E and others Language: Its structure and use 2nd edn, Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1997

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