BA English Language and Linguistics

Year 2

(Award available for year: Diploma of Higher Education)

Learning outcomes

The following learning outcomes refer to the programme 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 (Aim 1)
- an understanding of key terms and concepts in the study of the English language (Aim 2)
- a critical knowledge of the historical, social, political and cultural contexts of the English language (Aim 3)
- 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 4)
- an awareness of the limitations of current knowledge, and the importance of well-supported argumentation in the extension of that knowledge (Aim 5)
- the ability to carry out a detailed linguistic analysis of given written and spoken data, with appropriate guidance (Aim 6)
- 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 6)
- a sound command of specific analytic techniques, minimally including phonetic transcription and syntactic annotation (Aim 6)
- a solid ability to discuss written and spoken style in terms of grammar, lexis, phonology and other salient features using qualitative and quantitative methods (Aim 7)
- a developing specialisation in specific areas of English language and linguistics, facilitated through the choice and pursuit of research-led option modules (Aim 8)
- the ability to collect language data for a small, closely guided research project (Aim 9)
- the ability to address ethical and methodological issues involved in collecting and analysing linguistic data, with appropriate guidance (Aim 9)
- the ability to summarize and synthesize complex ideas in relation to the study of language, with appropriate guidance (Aim 10)
- 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 10)
- the ability to apply general and discipline-specific conventions of acknowledging and referencing source material with limited guidance (Aim 10)

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;
- information technology skills related to the access and use of electronic resources;
- the importance of personal responsibility in personal and academic development;
- the ability to make decisions within a known environment, appropriate to the Level of study;
- the effective communication of certain types of information and arguments to a delimited set of audiences.

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 knowledge and application of terms, concepts, information and techniques relevant to the disciplines;
- demonstrating the ability to apply a broad range of aspects/competencies of the disciplines to complex or novel situations or data;
- demonstrating the ability to construct an argument;
- demonstrating the ability to evaluate and criticise received opinion;
- producing work that is descriptive in nature but that draws on a wide variety of material.