2023/24 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

LING1100 Language: Meaning and Use

20 creditsClass Size: 60

Module manager: Dr Pier Pischedda
Email: p.s.pischedda@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2023/24

Pre-requisite qualifications

MODL1060 Language: Structure and Sound or an equivalent module introducing core linguistic concepts and terminology.
Students who have not completed MODL1060 or an equivalent module introducing core linguistic terminology should be prepared to do additional reading to familiarize themselves with elementary concepts in phonetics, phonology, morphology and syntax. Chapters 1 to 6 of Genetti’s How languages work (Cambridge University Press, 2014) provide a good starting point.

This module is approved as a discovery module

Module summary

This module introduces students to the scientific study of language use. It covers how language is acquired (language acquisition) and processed in the mind (psycholinguistics), how meaning is conveyed through language (semantics and pragmatics), and how language use varies across time, geographical areas and social settings (sociolinguistics). Students are confronted with language data from English and other languages, and gain an understanding of how skills in linguistic analysis can be applied to a range of social and psychological phenomena. This module is designed to complement MODL1060 Language: Structure and Sound. Having completed this module, students can go on to take more advanced modules in the areas of linguistics covered here.

Objectives

This module aims to
(1) introduce core concepts in the study of language use by individuals and in society
(2) familiarise students with the aims and methods of language acquisition studies, psycholinguistics, semantics, pragmatics and sociolinguistics
(3) develop students’ awareness of the contribution of linguistic analysis to the investigation of social and psychological phenomena
(4) develop students' analysis skills through the practical analysis of language data
(5) develop students' communication and research skills through coursework assignments

Learning outcomes
On completion of this module, students should be able to demonstrate
(1) an understanding of core concepts in the study of language use by individuals and in society
(2) an understanding of the aims and methods of language acquisition studies, psycholinguistics, semantics, pragmatics and sociolinguistics
(3) an awareness of the contribution of linguistic analysis to the investigation of social and psychological phenomena
(4) basic linguistic analysis and research skills, and communication skills appropriate for Level 1

Syllabus

Blocks of lectures and seminars are devoted to the study of language in society (sociolinguistics), the study of language and meaning (semantics and pragmatics), and the study of language processing and development (psycholinguistics and language acquisition). Seminars revolve around the discussion of practical analysis exercises.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Lecture	19	1.00	19.00
Seminar	10	1.00	10.00
Independent online learning hours			25.00
Private study hours			146.00
Total Contact hours			29.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			200.00

Private study

Students are expected to devote 146 hours of private study time to this module, with the following suggested breakdown:

• Reading preparation for lectures: (19x2=) 38 hours
• Completion of seminar exercises: (10x2=) 20 hours
• Preparation for formative coursework tasks: 45 hours
• Preparation for OTLA : 40 hours
• Completion of OTLA: 3 hours

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Seminars involve formative monitoring of individual students’ understanding of the core module content, as well as their use of the self-study materials developed for the module. Lectures allow students to raise and lecturers to address areas of concern, in particular in relation to the assessment components.
In view of this being a large and often very diverse cohort, short formative tasks also will be set for each strand, topics to change each year, to scaffold students’ skills in recapping, evaluating and synthesising their understanding of core module content in preparation for assessments.

Methods of assessment

Exams

Exam type	Exam duration	% of formal assessment
Online Time-Limited assessment	48 hr 00 mins	100.00
Total percentage (Assessment Exams)		100.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 20/09/2023

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