BA Linguistics and Phonetics

Year 2

(Award available for year: Diploma of Higher Education)

Learning outcomes

The following learning outcomes refer to the aims listed in the section Programme specification.

On completion of the year students should have:

- an understanding of key terms and concepts associated with phonetics and syntax, and at least one other broad area of linguistic enquiry (Aim 1)
- the ability to describe the key components of specific approaches to the study of language, whilst demonstrating an understanding that these are open to debate (Aim 2)
- an awareness of the limitations of current knowledge, and the importance of well-supported argumentation in the extension of that knowledge (Aim 3)
- the ability to carry out a detailed linguistic analysis of given written and spoken data, with appropriate guidance (Aim 4)
- a familiarity with common formal, qualitative and quantitative methods of linguistic analysis, and an ability to apply selected methods to unfamiliar data, with appropriate guidance (Aim 4)
- a sound command of specific analytic techniques, minimally including phonetic transcription and syntactic annotation (Aim 4)
- a developing specialisation in specific areas of linguistic enquiry, facilitated through the choice and pursuit of research-led option modules (Aim 5)
- the ability to collect language data for a small, closely guided research project (Aim 6)
- the ability to address ethical and methodological issues involved in collecting and analysing linguistic data, with appropriate guidance (Aim 6)
- the ability to summarize and synthesize complex ideas in relation to the study of language, with appropriate guidance (Aim 7)
- the ability to present a coherent argument in an appropriate written or oral style, based on some amount of independent research, with appropriate guidance (Aim 7)
- the ability to apply general and discipline-specific conventions of acknowledging and referencing source material with limited guidance (Aim 7)

Transferable (key) skills

Students will have had the opportunity to acquire, as defined in the modules specified for the programme:

- the transferable skills necessary to non-vocational employment, or to further academic study and/or professional qualifications;
- the importance of personal responsibility to personal and academic development;
- the ability to make decisions within a known environment;
- the communication of certain types of information to a delimited set of audiences;
- a growing ability to read and think critically.

Assessment

Achievement will be assessed by a variety of methods in accordance with the learning outcomes of the modules specified for the year/programme and will include:

- demonstrating the ability to apply a broad range of aspects of the discipline, from relatively complex applications in known environments to simple applications in novel environments;
- at the level of description, drawing on a range of perspectives in area of study;
- the recognition that received opinion is open to criticism.