PL2LNG2: Linguistics 2

Module code: PL2LNG2

Module provider: Clinical Language Sciences; Sch of Psych and CLS

Credits: 20

Level: Level 2 (Intermediate)

When you'll be taught: Semester 1 / 2

Module convenor: Dr Ian Cunnings, email: i.cunnings@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s): BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST TAKE PL1LNG1 OR TAKE PL1LING1 (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: 23 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module aims to build 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. It reinforces students’ understanding of these topics and provides detailed study of various types of linguistic phenomena relevant to typical and atypical language development and decline, which 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 how to analyse child data using LARSP (Language Assessment Remediation and Screening Procedure). 

Module 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, and describe how language is processed at different levels of linguistic analysis during language comprehension and production 
2. Describe and critically evaluate theoretical concepts in linguistic theory and models of language processing 
3. 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 
4. Analyse child data using LARSP 

Module 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. 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

Teaching will consist of weekly lectures that are backed up by weekly seminars that include group-work based on practical exercises and reading. 

Study hours

At least 35 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.

Weekly online multiple choice tests. 

Reassessment

Additional costs