Courses - Faculty of Arts
Linguistics
Stage I
Introduction to Linguistics
An introduction to the main areas of linguistics: the production and function of sounds in language (phonetics and phonology), word structure and word formation (morphology), the principles of grammar through a study of sentence structure (syntax), and various aspects of meaning (semantics). The course is a self-contained introduction and assumes no prior knowledge of linguistics or language study.
Restriction: LINGUIST 103
Language, Mind and Society
A survey of three areas: the interaction between language structure and use on the one hand, and social structure and social norms on the other (sociolinguistics); the relationship between linguistic and cultural knowledge (anthropological linguistics); and the inter-relationship of language and other cognitive structures, especially as it is revealed through language acquisition (psycholinguistics).
Stage II
Syntax
Continues on from LINGUIST 100 or 103 and consists of a formal and a functional part, providing problems and exercises in syntactic analysis, as well as an introduction to grammatical theories and types of grammatical system.
Prerequisite: LINGUIST 100 or 103
Phonetics and Phonology
Includes a survey of speech sounds in the world's languages, an overview of speech production and perception, and an introduction to how these sounds are organised into language. Includes a practical component in which theories are applied to language data.
Prerequisite: LINGUIST 100 or 103
Applied English Grammar
Covers the different types of sentences in English, with special attention to the relationship between grammar and meaning, tense, aspect and voice; their roles in texts, such as foregrounding, backgrounding and highlighting information, and introducing new information. Students will be shown how to distinguish standard and non-standard varieties of written English, and how to judge if written sentences are effective, appropriate and grammatical.
Prerequisite: 15 points at Stage I
Semantics and Pragmatics
An introduction to a wide range of issues of contemporary relevance to the study of meaning. The semantics part includes topics in structural, truth-conditional and cognitive semantics. The pragmatics part covers some of the basic topics in pragmatics.
Prerequisite: LINGUIST 100 or 103
Restriction: LINGUIST 302
English Language to 1900
Introduction to the history of the English language from its origins to 1900, with an emphasis on the development of sound changes, grammar, words and meanings in sociocultural and historical contexts.
Prerequisite: 30 points in English or Linguistics
Restriction: ENGLISH 203
Stage III
Advanced Syntax
A continuation of LINGUIST 200. Examines selected topics, such as syntactic dependencies, movement, grammatical relations, phrase structure, typology and universals.
Prerequisite: LINGUIST 200
Advanced Phonology
A continuation of LINGUIST 201, introducing a more theoretical approach to phonology including distinctive feature theory, syllable theory, metrical phonology, autosegmental phonology and lexical phonology. Issues are explored in the context of a constraint-based approach to phonology. Includes a practical component in which theories are applied to language data.
Prerequisite: LINGUIST 201
Child Language Acquisition
Examines the patterns and mechanisms by which children acquire knowledge of their native language and assesses a number of current theories which have been developed to explain the process.
Prerequisite: LINGUIST 200 or 201 or 203
Language Change
Introduces long-term historical trends, types of language change, language families and comparative reconstruction.
Prerequisite: LINGUIST 200, 201
Restriction: LINGUIST 202
Linguistics Essays Course
Students undertake supervised research.
Prerequisite: Permission of Academic Head or nominee
Topics in Pragmatics
Pragmatics is the systematic study of language in use and is a rapidly developing discipline in linguistics. This course will give a critical survey of the central topics and the latest developments of pragmatics. The domain of pragmatics, implicature, presupposition, speech act and deixis will be among the issues dealt with in individual lectures.
Prerequisite: LINGUIST 100
Middle English: Language and Change
A study of the origins, development and influences on English until around 1500.
Prerequisite: 15 points from LINGUIST 200, 201, ENGLISH 203
Morphology
Provides an overview of linguistic morphology and the various strategies of word formation across languages. Theories such as Distributed Morphology, Lexical Phonology and Morphology, Lexeme-Based Morphology, Prosodic Morphology, and Word Syntax will be discussed, and the course will include a practical component in which these theories are applied to language data.
Prerequisite: LINGUIST 100 or 103
Postgraduate 700 Level Courses
Field Methods: Phonetics and Phonology
Students analyse the structure of an unfamiliar language, focusing on phonetics and phonology. The language studied in LINGUIST 705 and 706 may be the same in any given academic year.
Prerequisite: LINGUIST 201 and either LINGUIST 300 or 313
Restriction: LINGUIST 707
Field Methods: Morpho-syntax
Students analyse the structure of an unfamiliar language, focusing on morphosyntax. The language studied in LINGUIST 705 and 706 may be the same in any given academic year.
Prerequisite: LINGUIST 201 and either LINGUIST 300 or 313
Restriction: LINGUIST 707
Linguistic Research
Research methods and practices in Linguistics, which provides students with skills necessary for carrying out linguistic research. In addition to practicum sessions students will propose, develop and complete an independent research project.
Formal Syntax
Formal theories of syntax, generative grammar, and current topics of interest to students. This could include: LFG, Minimalism, the DP analysis, theories of argument structure, and/or formal models of language processing.
Phonology
A range of topics from the field of non-linear phonology, including autosegmental phonology, syllable theory, feature geometry and CV phonology.
Semantics and Pragmatics
Deals with a wide range of issues in semantics and especially pragmatics. Topics may include implicature, presupposition, speech act, deixis, reference, pragmatics and cognition, pragmatics and semantics, and pragmatics and syntax.
Prerequisite: LINGUIST 206 or 302, or equivalent
Issues in Advanced Morphology
Focuses on competing theoretical models of morphology and includes application of one theory in an extended analysis.
Directed Study
Directed reading and individual study course designed in consultation with appropriate staff according to the field of research.
Research Project - Level 9
To complete this course students must enrol in LINGUIST 790 A and B, or LINGUIST 790
Dissertation - Level 9
To complete this course students must enrol in LINGUIST 791 A and B, or LINGUIST 791
Dissertation - Level 9
To complete this course students must enrol in LINGUIST 792 A and B, or LINGUIST 792
Thesis - Level 9
To complete this course students must enrol in LINGUIST 793 A and B