BA Linguistics and Phonetics

Year 3

(Award available for year: Bachelor of Arts)

Learning outcomes

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

On completion of the year students should have provided evidence of being able to:

Research skills
- Produce an autonomous piece of extended research work (the Final-Year Project), responding to guidance and feedback from a supervisor
- Present a structured, sustained argument, and communicate using terminology and concepts appropriate to the field(s) of study
- Evaluate and critically synthesize aspects of recent enquiry in the field(s) of study
- Reflect on, and work in accordance with, the ethical considerations raised in the research process

Subject knowledge
- Demonstrate the ability to apply critically the key terms and concepts in the study of the English language
- Demonstrate an advanced understanding of the historical, social, political and cultural contexts of the English language
- Demonstrate a coherent and detailed understanding of key terms and concepts associated with at least two broad areas of linguistic enquiry
- Critically evaluate specific approaches to the study of language, demonstrating an understanding of the role of empirical evidence in relevant debate
- Identify limitations of current knowledge, and formulate well-supported arguments regarding the extension of that knowledge

Analysis skills
- Plan and execute a thorough linguistic analysis of selected written and/or spoken data
- Demonstrate a thorough command of selected formal, qualitative and/or quantitative methods of linguistic analysis, and an ability to apply selected methods to unfamiliar data or theoretical issues
- Demonstrate an advanced command of discipline-specific analytic techniques
- Demonstrate an advanced ability to discuss written and spoken style in terms of grammar, lexis, phonology and other salient features, using qualitative and quantitative methods

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 graduate employment, or to further academic study and/or professional qualifications;
- the exercise of initiative and acceptance of personal responsibility for continued development;
- the ability to assess complex and unpredictable situations, and to make reasoned decisions;
- the communication of ideas, problems and solutions to a variety of audiences which shows an awareness of both the possibilities of different media, and the importance of purposes and audience to the design of communication.

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 engage with a broad range of aspects of the discipline;
- drawing on a range of perspectives of an area of study;
- the ability to evaluate received opinion;
- work that shows evidence of independent thought, through engaging with scholarship and/or the application of current theory to novel data.