Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Sue Spinks
Contact via By email to sue.spinks@mq.edu.au
C5A room 517 until September
Wednesday 2pm -3pm or by appointment
Convenor
Deanna Wong
Contact via By email to deanna.wong@mq.edu.au
C5A 514 until September
Thursday 11-12
convenor
Margaret Wood
Contact via 9850 9740
C5A 508
Margaret Wood
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Credit points |
Credit points
3
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Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
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Corequisites |
Corequisites
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Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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Unit description |
Unit description
This unit examines how languages are structured and how people use language. Aspects of linguistic theory covered include study of sounds and sound systems (phonetics and phonology), the structure of words (morphology), and sentence patterns (syntax). Linguistic theory is presented with a focus on English, but students analyse data from a range of the world's languages. Other areas of linguistic study that are introduced include language in the brain, psycholinguistics and child language acquisition.
Language use in everyday conversation is examined, along with issues such as language change, standardisation of language, concepts of linguistic 'correctness', and how different groups use language to express social and cultural identity. This includes discussion of the talk of women and men, people of different ages and ethnic backgrounds within Australia and elsewhere. Another topic discussed is the way in which social networking, tweeting and texting are bringing about language innovation. The unit provides a thorough grounding for students wishing to further their knowledge of linguistics in higher-level units. |
Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
Name | Weighting | Due |
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Research participation | 5% | Throughout Session 2 |
Short essay | 10% | Wednesday August 27 at 5pm |
Morphology assignment | 10% | Week 6 |
Phonemics transcription | 10% | Wednesday October 8 |
Mini research report | 30% | Wednesday October 29 |
Examinatiom | 35% | During the formal exam period |
Due: Throughout Session 2
Weighting: 5%
Students will have the chance to be participants in research being carried out by Linguistics staff and higher degree candidates, receiving 5% raw marks for that participation. There will be various research projects to choose from; these will be advertised on iLearn during the semester. For students who do not wish to participate in this research, there will be a short alternative task set at the end of semester.
Due: Wednesday August 27 at 5pm
Weighting: 10%
This essay task functions as a diagnostic tool to be able to advise students who are at academic risk as to the various support systems available on campus. It will be marked both on content and on academic writing skills, including the ability to correctly reference sources used.
Due: Week 6
Weighting: 10%
This assignment will be an online quizz with a time limit set both in terms of days when it can be accessed and the time allowed for completion.
Due: Wednesday October 8
Weighting: 10%
This task will involve transcription of a short series of sound files.
Due: Wednesday October 29
Weighting: 30%
For this task students will be asked to collect some real language data, analyse it in terms of a set topic and write a report on their findings.
Due: During the formal exam period
Weighting: 35%
This task is a formal examination held during the University's exam period. It will consist of a combination of multiple choice and short answer questions, all based on content from the set textbook, lectures and tutorials.
The learning and teaching strategies used in this Unit include face-to-face lectures taught by a number of different staff members from linguistics.
There is a set textbook: An introduction to Language, Australia and New Zealand 7th Edition, 2012, by Fromkin, Rodman, Hyams, Collins, Amberber, Cox
Lecture notes, assessment task instructions and other relevant materials are uploaded to the unit iLearn site, and the lectures are recorded, which makes lectures available to students who are unable to attend classes, although attendence at lectures will be an advantage.
Students are expected to attend or listen to all of the lectures in order and as they are delivered. In addition, they are advised to use the recordings to review or revise lectures, especially as the exams draw near. Note that in this unit, much of the lecture material and related learning experience is accumulative, meaning that within the various topic areas one lecture will usually provide necessary knowledge for the next one, as well as for the following week’s tutorial. In addition, the tutorial material is designed for students to practice progressively what has been covered in lectures in the previous week or weeks, so students who do not keep up to date with the lecture material will find themselves at a serious disadvantage in tutorials during the semester.
Students must attend one tutorial a week; 80% attendance at tutorials is a requirement of the unit.
Each week students are expected to study the lecture notes, and come to their tutorial class having read the relevant section in the textbook and having attempted the tutorial preparation as set out each week in the tutorial worksheets posted online. Tutors will check each week that students have at least made a serious attempt at the tutorial preparation as set out in the worksheets. Satisfactory preparation is an essential part of proving your 80% attendance at tutorials.
The schedule of lectures and tutorial topics will be posted on iLearn by the beginning of semester.
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central. Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
Academic Honesty Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html
Assessment Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy.html
Grading Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grading/policy.html
Grade Appeal Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html
Grievance Management Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grievance_management/policy.html
Disruption to Studies Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html The Disruption to Studies Policy is effective from March 3 2014 and replaces the Special Consideration Policy.
In addition, a number of other policies can be found in the Learning and Teaching Category of Policy Central.
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/support/student_conduct/
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.
Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.
For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au
For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://informatics.mq.edu.au/help/.
When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.
We want our graduates to have emotional intelligence and sound interpersonal skills and to demonstrate discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgement. They will exercise initiative as needed. They will be capable of risk assessment, and be able to handle ambiguity and complexity, enabling them to be adaptable in diverse and changing environments.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Our graduates will have enquiring minds and a literate curiosity which will lead them to pursue knowledge for its own sake. They will continue to pursue learning in their careers and as they participate in the world. They will be capable of reflecting on their experiences and relationships with others and the environment, learning from them, and growing - personally, professionally and socially.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Our graduates will take with them the intellectual development, depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content in their chosen fields to make them competent and confident in their subject or profession. They will be able to demonstrate, where relevant, professional technical competence and meet professional standards. They will be able to articulate the structure of knowledge of their discipline, be able to adapt discipline-specific knowledge to novel situations, and be able to contribute from their discipline to inter-disciplinary solutions to problems.
This graduate capability is supported by:
We want our graduates to be capable of reasoning, questioning and analysing, and to integrate and synthesise learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments; to be able to critique constraints, assumptions and limitations; to be able to think independently and systemically in relation to scholarly activity, in the workplace, and in the world. We want them to have a level of scientific and information technology literacy.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Our graduates should be capable of researching; of analysing, and interpreting and assessing data and information in various forms; of drawing connections across fields of knowledge; and they should be able to relate their knowledge to complex situations at work or in the world, in order to diagnose and solve problems. We want them to have the confidence to take the initiative in doing so, within an awareness of their own limitations.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Our graduates will also be capable of creative thinking and of creating knowledge. They will be imaginative and open to experience and capable of innovation at work and in the community. We want them to be engaged in applying their critical, creative thinking.
This graduate capability is supported by:
We want to develop in our students the ability to communicate and convey their views in forms effective with different audiences. We want our graduates to take with them the capability to read, listen, question, gather and evaluate information resources in a variety of formats, assess, write clearly, speak effectively, and to use visual communication and communication technologies as appropriate.
This graduate capability is supported by:
As local citizens our graduates will be aware of indigenous perspectives and of the nation's historical context. They will be engaged with the challenges of contemporary society and with knowledge and ideas. We want our graduates to have respect for diversity, to be open-minded, sensitive to others and inclusive, and to be open to other cultures and perspectives: they should have a level of cultural literacy. Our graduates should be aware of disadvantage and social justice, and be willing to participate to help create a wiser and better society.
This graduate capability is supported by:
We want our graduates to be aware of and have respect for self and others; to be able to work with others as a leader and a team player; to have a sense of connectedness with others and country; and to have a sense of mutual obligation. Our graduates should be informed and active participants in moving society towards sustainability.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Date | Description |
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28/02/2014 | The Description was updated. |