Course Details in 2025/26 Session

Module Title	LH Exploring Linguistic Diversity
School	Eng, Drama, & Creative Studies
Department	Eng Lang and Linguistics
Module Code	09 28649
Module Lead	Adam Schembri
Level	Honours Level
Credits	20
Semester	Semester 1
Pre-requisites
Co-requisites
Restrictions	None
Exclusions
Description	This module gives an introduction to the diversity and essential characteristics of the world’s languages, how data is collected in linguistic typology, and how it can be described and analysed. It will draw on and extend the concepts and methods that students have acquired in their English language studies thus far to tackle one of the fundamental questions in contemporary linguistics: how much do languages differ from each other? We will study this question across a range of linguistic subsystems, including phonetics, phonology, morphology and syntax, drawing on case studies from languages around the world. The issue of language endangerment, and the challenges of language documentation, will also be discussed.
Learning Outcomes	By the end of the module students should be able to: Explain the importance of studying both language universals and linguistic diversity for an understanding of the human language capacity. Explain sources of data for the study of linguistic typology. Compare and contrast key aspects of English phonetics, phonology, morphology and syntax with data from a range of languages. Describe the nature of language endangerment, the importance of language documentation for linguistic typology and the implications for endangered language stakeholders and communities.
Assessment	28649-01 : Assignment One : Coursework (50%) 28649-02 : Assignment Two : Coursework (50%)
Assessment Methods & Exceptions	Assessment: 1 x 1500 word essay (40%); 1 x 2000 word essay (60%) Reassessment: Resubmission of failed component(s)
Other	None
Reading List