Course Details in 2023/24 Session

Module Title	LC Theories of Language
School	Eng, Drama, & Creative Studies
Department	Eng Lang and Linguistics
Module Code	09 28094
Module Lead	Nicholas Groom
Level	Certificate Level
Credits	20
Semester	Semester 1
Pre-requisites
Co-requisites
Restrictions	None
Contact Hours	Seminar-10 hours Practical Classes and workshops-20 hours Guided independent study-170 hours Total: 200 hours
Exclusions
Description	The aims of this module are to provide first year undergraduate students of English Language with (a) a sound basic knowledge and understanding of the major theories of language that have been developed within the discipline of linguistics from the beginning of the 20th century up to the present day, and (b) a sound basic awareness of the key figures associated with each of these theoretical traditions. The module begins with an overview of the basic concepts of structuralist linguistics as laid down by Saussure, before moving on to consider the generativist approach established by Chomsky. We then focus on the two main alternatives to (and critiques of) generative linguistics: functionalism, particularly in the British tradition established by Firth (e.g. Halliday, Sinclair, Hoey) and the usage-based theories associated with cognitive linguistics (e.g. Langacker, Fillmore, Lakoff, Tomasello). Throughout the module students will be encouraged to think critically about each theoretical tradition, and to consider which of the linguistic theories they are introduced to they find the most compelling and/or useful.
Learning Outcomes	By the end of the module students should be able to: Display a sound basic knowledge of the major theories of language that have been developed in linguistics from the beginning of the 20th century to the present day. Display a sound basic understanding of what each of the most important figures within each of the major theoretical traditions has contributed to the development of that theoretical tradition, and to the development of linguistics as a discipline more generally.. Identify the broad theoretical assumptions underpinning any piece of published research in linguistics, and say how these assumptions might be critiqued by researchers working in alternative theoretical traditions. Describe and defend their own preferred theoretical perspective(s) on language.
Assessment	28094-01 : Assignment One : Coursework (50%) 28094-02 : Assignment Two : Coursework (50%)
Assessment Methods & Exceptions	Assessment: 2 x 1500 word essays (50% each) Reassessment: Resubmission of failed component(s)
Other	None
Reading List