PL2LING2-Linguistics 2

Module Provider: Clinical Language Sciences
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:5
Terms in which taught: Autumn term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2023/4

Module Convenor: Dr Ian Cunnings
Email: i.cunnings@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

This module builds on the topics covered in Linguistics 1, to deepen understanding of the main properties of grammar, meaning and language use, and to introduce the topic of language processing in children and adults, and in typical and atypical populations.

Aims:

This module builds upon the content delivered in Linguistics 1. It reinforces students’ understanding of the main properties of grammar, meaning, and language use. Detailed study of various types of linguistic phenomena relevant to typical and atypical language development and decline will be discussed from both theoretical and practical perspectives. The role of language processing in understanding how children and adults produce and comprehend language will be introduced, along with discussion of how language processing theories can inform our understanding of different language disorders. Language processing in monolingual and bilingual populations will be discussed, and language assessments will be introduced, including sessions on how to analyse child data using LARSP.

Assessable learning outcomes:

By the end of the module it is expected that students will be able to:  

1. Describe the morphological, syntactic, semantic, and pragmatic properties of English words and sentences


2. Describe how language is processed at different levels of linguistic analysis during language comprehension and production


3. Describe and critically evaluate theoretical concepts in linguistic theory and models of language processing


4. Demonstrate an understanding of how linguistic theory and language processing research can be applied to language impairment and language development in monolingual and bilingual populations


5. Analyse child data using LARSP

Additional outcomes:

The module also aims to encourage the development of academic writing abilities and to reinforce what is learnt in large lecture groups through involvement in small-group seminars. The module will also encourage student development of autonomous learning through critical reading of research articles in academic journals. Students will also develop their note-taking, bibliographic and IT skills by use of indicated resources.

Outline content:

The content is organised in the main core areas of linguistics. This will include work on psycholinguistics, syntax, semantics and discourse, to demonstrate how an understanding of language structure and meaning can help increase our understanding of linguistic abilities in different language disorders. Practical sessions using LARSP will link theoretical assumptions with clinical data. The module will also introduce core issues in language processing research and psycholinguistics. Topics from a processing perspective will include language production and comprehension, the mental lexicon, lexical access and ambiguity resolution. These issues will be discussed on the basis of research papers on language processing in children and adults with typical and atypical language development, and in monolingual and bilingual populations.

Week 1: Functional Categories

Week 2: Semantic Relations

Week 3: Syntactic Movement

Week 4: Binding Theory

Week 5: Discourse Structure

Week 6: Word Recognition

Week 7: Morphological Processing

Week 8: Ambiguity Resolution

Week 9: Language Production

Week 10: Development of Language Processing

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

Two sessions per week, made up of one two-hour lecture and a weekly one-hour seminar including group-work based on practical exercises and reading.

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures	25
Seminars	10
Guided independent study:	165
Total hours by term	200	0	0
Total hours for module	200

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Written assignment including essay	50
Set exercise	50

Summative assessment- Examinations:

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

The set exercise consists of an online multiple choice test with 20 questions (worth 25% of the module grade) and a syntactic tree drawing exercise (worth 25% of the module grade). The written assignment involves completing a LARSP assignment (worth 25% of the module grade) and answering a short essay question (worth 25% of the module grade).

Formative assessment methods:

Weekly online multiple choice tests with 10 questions.

Penalties for late submission:

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/cqsd-old-site-documents/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Assessment requirements for a pass:

40%

Reassessment arrangements:

Reassessment arrangements resit by August/September

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

Last updated: 30 March 2023