Ideas and debates that shaped linguistics

Aims

Aims

This module will present major influential ideas in linguistics through classic readings. It will offer students much of the context out of which current ideas have grown, and the debates and issues that have shaped the major questions in linguistics today.

The module consists mainly of seminars on different topics, facilitated by different members of staff. Students will be responsible for presenting on the content of the papers covered.

By the end of the module, you will:

• Have a good understanding of how linguistic theories develop and how seminal papers impact on the field
• Be able to critically evaluate classic papers in linguistics
• Have increased skills in communicating complex ideas and expressing them succinctly and with precision

This seminar will be taught in groups of 12

Prerequisites

Prerequisites

Students must have successfully completed at least ONE of the following:

• L230 Introduction to syntactic theory
• L219 Introduction to phonetics and phonology
• L237 Formal semantics

Programme

Programme

Contact hours

• Weeks 2 and 10: Two 1.5-hour seminar
• Weeks 3–5 and 7–9: One 1.5-hour seminar

Teaching programme

Teaching materials

A selection of articles will be made available.

Assessment and feedback

Assessment and feedback

Feedback on formative work

• Student contribution to the seminar discussion serves as formative work.
• Oral feedback will be provided during the seminars.

Summative assessment and feedback

• A presentation, given during a seminar, on one of the assigned papers
  • Weight: 15%
  • Oral feedback available immediately after the presentation.
• A 3000-word project that builds on one of the papers assigned during the seminar, due Monday of Week 1, Spring Term. (Students can choose which paper to work on.)
  • Weight: 50%
• A 2000-word open exam, with a choice of questions about the papers assigned during the seminar, Week 1, Spring Term. The questions will be made available on at noon on Monday, answers are due by noon on Friday.
  • Weight: 35%
  • Mark on university scale for whole course published in Term 2, Week 6. Exam scripts subsequently available to view (under supervision, by appointment).

Skills

Transferable skills developed in this module

All modules provide an opportunity to work on general oral/written communication skills (in class and in assessments) and general self management (organising your studies), alongside the specific skills in language or linguistics that the module teaches.

In addition, this module will allow you to particularly develop skills in team-work, problem solving, and oral communication.  In this module you will learn to work in teams. You will need to be aware of time management in particular as it affects also others. You will also develop oral communication skills and grow in your ability to present yourself with confidence, through presentations.

Follow this link to hear how past students use transferable skills from their degree in their current jobs.