LING10040 Words and Sentences

Academic Year 2020/2021

This module focuses on the processes by which natural language constructs words (Morphology), phrases and sentences (Syntax). The content is formal in nature and involves a substantial amount of abstraction aimed at capturing underlying patterns of distribution, the formulation of grammatical rules and the representation of structures in the form of diagrams, in addition to related technical terminology.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module students should be able to recognise and explain patterns of distribution;
apply the techniques of linguistic analysis and problem-solving (data analysis); represent word, phrase and sentence structures in the form of visually friendly diagrams; appreciate and manipulate the various types of rules of word, phrase and sentence formation; appreciate and manipulate relevant technical terminology.

Indicative Module Content:

Lexicon: the building blocks of language
Morphology: morphemic analysis (of complex words); classification of morphemes; word structure and derivation
Syntax: constituent analysis (of phrases and sentences); phrase and sentence structure; sentence derivation involving transformational rules
General: Theory construction and modelling of natural language

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

24
Tutorial

6
Autonomous Student Learning

70
Total

100
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
The module's teaching and learning rely heavily on in-lecture problem-sets and collective feedback on them.
Assessment is mostly based on problem-sets and takes the form of take-home assignments.
The module and its assessment will be delivered online via Brightspace. 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Requirements:

None


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Assignment: Problem sets Week 12 n/a Graded No

40
Assignment: Problem sets Week 4 n/a Graded No

30
Assignment: Problem sets Week 8 n/a Graded No

30

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Autumn No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Feedback on Week 4 Assignment provided in Weeks 6-8 Feedback on Week 8 Assignment provided in Weeks 10-12

Core textbook:
Title: An Introduction to Language
Authors: V. Fromkin, R. Rdoman and N. Hyams
Edition: 7th
Publisher: Thompson and Heinle