LS2EGP: English Grammar and Phonology

Module code: LS2EGP

Module provider: English Language and Applied Linguistics; School of Humanities

Credits: 20

Level: Level 2 (Intermediate)

When you'll be taught: Semester 1

Module convenor: Professor Jane Setter, email: J.E.Setter@reading.ac.uk

Module co-convenor: Dr Natalia Kampakli, email: a.n.kampakli@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s): BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST TAKE LS1SG AND TAKE LS1ELS (Compulsory)

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: No

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 21 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module aims to build on the Sounds, Grammar and Meaning lectures at Part 1 in LS1SG and support other Part 2 core and optional modules with further exposition of morphological and syntactic systems and the phonetic and phonological systems within the larger system of the English language. It provides a basis for evaluating the descriptive adequacy of claims made by linguistic theories in other areas of English language study and provides a basis for applied work in the areas of discourse analysis, sociolinguistics, child language development, forensic studies and corpus-based approaches to language analysis. It also aims to impart a high level of competence in the broad phonetic transcription of English and introduce the intonation system of English (General British accent). 

Module learning outcomes

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

1. identify and explain the major linguistic elements and structures of English at the levels of phonetics and phonology, morphology and syntax 
2. locate and assemble information on the linguistic treatment of the morpho-syntax of the English language 
3. produce a broad phonetic transcription of spoken English (General British accent) using appropriate notation 
4. critically appraise the evidence for certain views and analyses of the English language 

Module content

In English Grammar: Clause and constituent analysis; clause types; grammatical functions; an analysis of the noun phrase; adjectives and determiners; the analysis of the grammatical attributes of the verb: tense, aspect and modality; and inflectional and derivational morphology. 

In English Phonology: The elements and domains of the English sound system (General British accent); English phonemes (consonants and vowels) and their principal allophones; systems for describing these sounds; some sounds of other varieties of English; principles of assignment of English stress and intonation in words and sentences; methods of transcribing English stress and intonation. 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

Interactive, practical, task-based lectures, flipped lecture content and independent study using web-based support. 

Study hours

At least 42 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

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

Assessments with numerical marks

• 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 three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/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.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Students undertake a formative dictation assessment in Week 8 of the Semester. Students undertake weekly parsing exercises as formative assessment.

Reassessment

Additional costs