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  2. Understanding Language [LST5181]

Faculty of Education and Arts

School: Education

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Understanding Language

  • Unit Code

    LST5181

  • Year

    2015

  • Enrolment Period

    1

  • Version

    1

  • Credit Points

    15

  • Full Year Unit

     N

  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
    Online

Description

This unit covers the core elements of human language, including phonology, morphology, lexis, syntax and discourse, with a particular focus on traditional and functional perspectives. It pays brief attention to language variation, style and register. English provides the main focus of study but other languages will be used to highlight issues and to meet students' professional needs.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Analyse and describe features of a language: its sound, meaning and grammatical systems; its variation according to use and user; its textual and discourse organisation.
  2. Understand some of the ways in which language structures differ.
  3. Understand the nature, structure and function of language in the light of professional needs.

Unit Content

  1. Language acquisition, and language and the brain.
  2. Phonology and the phoneme Morphology Lexis, including multi-word expressions and collocations.
  3. Semantics Syntax Pragmatics, including speech acts and dialogue.

Additional Learning Experience Information

Lectures. Workshops supplemented by on-line materials.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant Board of Examiners.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
AssignmentAssessment tasks40%
AssignmentTutorial preps20%
ExaminationExam40%
ONLINE
TypeDescriptionValue
AssignmentAssessment tasks40%
AssignmentTutorial preps20%
ExaminationExam40%

Text References

  • ^ Akmajian, A., et al. Linguistics: An introduction to language and communication (5th ed.) Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
  • ^ Fromkin, V., Rodman, R. et al. An introduction to language. (6th (Australian) ed.). South Melbourne, Australia: Cengage Learning Australia.
  • Borjars, K., & Burridge, K. (2001). Introducing English grammar. London: Arnold.
  • Finegan, E., et al. (1997). Language: Its structure and use. (3rd (Australian) ed.). Sydney: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich.
  • Alexander, L.G. (1988). Longman English grammar. London: Longman.
  • Huddleston, R., & Pullum, G. (2002). The Cambridge grammar of the English language. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  • Conlan, C. (Ed.). (2004). Teaching English language in Australia: Theoretical perspectives and practical issues. Perth: API Network.
  • Coulthard, M. (1985). An introduction to discourse analysis. (2nd ed.). London: Longman.
  • Crystal, D. (1997). The Cambridge encyclopedia of language. (2nd ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  • Crystal, D. (2003). The Cambridge encyclopedia of the English language. (2nd ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Website References

^ Mandatory reference

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Academic Misconduct

Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • plagiarism;
  • unauthorised collaboration;
  • cheating in examinations;
  • theft of other students' work;

Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.

The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.

LST5181|1|1

Faculty of Education and Arts

School: Education

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Understanding Language

  • Unit Code

    LST5181

  • Year

    2015

  • Enrolment Period

    2

  • Version

    1

  • Credit Points

    15

  • Full Year Unit

     N

  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
    Online

Description

This unit covers the core elements of human language, including phonology, morphology, lexis, syntax and discourse, with a particular focus on traditional and functional perspectives. It pays brief attention to language variation, style and register. English provides the main focus of study but other languages will be used to highlight issues and to meet students' professional needs.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Analyse and describe features of a language: its sound, meaning and grammatical systems; its variation according to use and user; its textual and discourse organisation.
  2. Understand some of the ways in which language structures differ.
  3. Understand the nature, structure and function of language in the light of professional needs.

Unit Content

  1. Language acquisition, and language and the brain.
  2. Phonology and the phoneme Morphology Lexis, including multi-word expressions and collocations.
  3. Semantics Syntax Pragmatics, including speech acts and dialogue.

Additional Learning Experience Information

Lectures. Workshops supplemented by on-line materials.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant Board of Examiners.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
AssignmentAssessment tasks40%
AssignmentTutorial preps20%
ExaminationExam40%
ONLINE
TypeDescriptionValue
AssignmentAssessment tasks40%
AssignmentTutorial preps20%
ExaminationExam40%

Text References

  • ^ Akmajian, A., et al. Linguistics: An introduction to language and communication (5th ed.) Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
  • ^ Fromkin, V., Rodman, R. et al. An introduction to language. (6th (Australian) ed.). South Melbourne, Australia: Cengage Learning Australia.
  • Borjars, K., & Burridge, K. (2001). Introducing English grammar. London: Arnold.
  • Finegan, E., et al. (1997). Language: Its structure and use. (3rd (Australian) ed.). Sydney: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich.
  • Alexander, L.G. (1988). Longman English grammar. London: Longman.
  • Huddleston, R., & Pullum, G. (2002). The Cambridge grammar of the English language. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  • Conlan, C. (Ed.). (2004). Teaching English language in Australia: Theoretical perspectives and practical issues. Perth: API Network.
  • Coulthard, M. (1985). An introduction to discourse analysis. (2nd ed.). London: Longman.
  • Crystal, D. (1997). The Cambridge encyclopedia of language. (2nd ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  • Crystal, D. (2003). The Cambridge encyclopedia of the English language. (2nd ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Website References

^ Mandatory reference

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Academic Misconduct

Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • plagiarism;
  • unauthorised collaboration;
  • cheating in examinations;
  • theft of other students' work;

Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.

The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.

LST5181|1|2