Students
LING109 – Language, Culture and Communication
2014 – S1 External
General Information
Download as PDF
| Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Unit Convenor
David Butt
Contact via david.butt@mq.edu.au
Unit Convenor
Tricia Daly
Contact via tricia.daly@mq.edu.au
|
|---|---|
| Credit points |
Credit points
3
|
| Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
|
| Corequisites |
Corequisites
|
| Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
|
| Unit description |
Unit description
This unit investigates language through issues the major linguists have asked over the last century. These questions begin with: what counts as a sign and how sign systems begin in a community, but organise the brain of the individual. We track the emergence of language in the child and variations of language which are a consequence of new pressures to act, talk, and think throughout our social networks. The unit also examines the variation of languages across 'language families', and the extent to which linguistic tools can be applied in diverse areas of cultural analysis – from electronic channels to verbal art. We consider the power of language by looking at the relationship of language to the ideologies of everyday experience, as well as those that are actively produced and maintained by powerful groups with vested interests.
|
Important Academic Dates
Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
- begin the study of Linguistics as a formal discipline
- understand some of the complexities of studying language as a meaning making system
- recognize and analyse patterns in language
- relate these patterns to what language is doing for its speakers in a given social and cultural context
- understand how language grows and develops in human culture and individuals
- understand some of the ways that language varies in different cultures and contexts
- understand the power of language in political contexts of language use
- make judgments about the social and cultural implications of these patterns
Assessment Tasks
| Name | Weighting | Due |
|---|---|---|
| Short Essay | 15% | Monday Week 5 |
| Tutorial participation & blog | 20% | Ongoing |
| Module study | 40% | Week 12 |
| Examination | 25% | Exam period |
Short Essay
Due: Monday Week 5
Weighting: 15%
This task will be a short essay (500 words) on the first module topic of Ling109
On successful completion you will be able to:
- begin the study of Linguistics as a formal discipline
- understand some of the complexities of studying language as a meaning making system
Tutorial participation & blog
Due: Ongoing
Weighting: 20%
You are required to read and do a task in preparation for each tutorial. You are also required to put up a minimum of 6 posts on the tutorial blog, based on your tutorial preparation throughout the semester. The first three posts are due by the end of the mid-semester break. The second three must be posted by the end of week 13. Your mark will be based on your blog posts, tutorial preparation, and tutorial contributions.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- begin the study of Linguistics as a formal discipline
- understand some of the complexities of studying language as a meaning making system
- recognize and analyse patterns in language
- relate these patterns to what language is doing for its speakers in a given social and cultural context
- understand how language grows and develops in human culture and individuals
- understand some of the ways that language varies in different cultures and contexts
- understand the power of language in political contexts of language use
- make judgments about the social and cultural implications of these patterns
Module study
Due: Week 12
Weighting: 40%
Data collection, analysis and interpretation (1500 words), based on a topic from one of the modules
On successful completion you will be able to:
- begin the study of Linguistics as a formal discipline
- understand some of the complexities of studying language as a meaning making system
- recognize and analyse patterns in language
- relate these patterns to what language is doing for its speakers in a given social and cultural context
- understand how language grows and develops in human culture and individuals
- understand some of the ways that language varies in different cultures and contexts
- understand the power of language in political contexts of language use
- make judgments about the social and cultural implications of these patterns
Examination
Due: Exam period
Weighting: 25%
As exam worth 25% of your mark will be held in the exam period.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- begin the study of Linguistics as a formal discipline
- understand some of the complexities of studying language as a meaning making system
- recognize and analyse patterns in language
- relate these patterns to what language is doing for its speakers in a given social and cultural context
- understand how language grows and develops in human culture and individuals
- understand some of the ways that language varies in different cultures and contexts
- understand the power of language in political contexts of language use
- make judgments about the social and cultural implications of these patterns
Delivery and Resources
Class work: one 1-hour lecture, plus 2 x oncampus days for tutorials (12 hours total)
Independent work: four hours per week, to include reading time, some writing and some fieldwork. All readings are available on e-reserve.
Students are expected to listen to lectures and attend 2 weekend days of tutorials, do preparatory reading, and complete tutorial tasks. Tutorials are for working with language data and analysis, and discussing how your ideas relate to those of your colleagues and other people who’ve studied and written about language, communication and culture. Tutorial preparation is assessed (see tutorial participation and blog in assessment activities).
Technologies: iLearn
Unit Schedule
UNIT SCHEDULE
|
Week |
|
Lecture topic |
|
1
|
MODULE 1: Signs and social networks |
Signs in speech and writing |
|
2
|
|
How do you mean? Signs and sign systems. |
|
3
|
|
Social networks and social networking |
|
4
|
MODULE 2: Language as political instrument
|
Reading the media
|
|
5
|
|
Language and ideologies
|
|
6
|
|
Language and politics
|
|
7
|
MODULE 3: Language, culture and education |
Language and schooling: how culture shapes learning |
|
8
|
|
Language and culture: language construing reality |
|
9
|
|
The language brain |
|
10
|
MODULE 4: A World of Language Variation |
Language, context and text |
|
11
|
|
Register, dialect, code |
|
12
|
|
A world of languages |
|
13
|
Course review and exam preparation |
-- |
Learning and Teaching Activities
Lecture
Reading
Tutorials
Assessment tasks
Policies and Procedures
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.
Student Code of Conduct
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/support/student_conduct/
Student Support
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
Learning Skills
Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.
Student Services and Support
Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.
Student Enquiries
For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au
IT Help
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.
Graduate Capabilities
Commitment to Continuous Learning
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:
Assessment task
- Module study
Discipline Specific Knowledge and Skills
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:
Learning outcomes
- begin the study of Linguistics as a formal discipline
- understand some of the complexities of studying language as a meaning making system
- recognize and analyse patterns in language
- relate these patterns to what language is doing for its speakers in a given social and cultural context
- understand how language grows and develops in human culture and individuals
- understand some of the ways that language varies in different cultures and contexts
- understand the power of language in political contexts of language use
- make judgments about the social and cultural implications of these patterns
Assessment tasks
- Short Essay
- Tutorial participation & blog
- Module study
- Examination
Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking
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:
Learning outcomes
- begin the study of Linguistics as a formal discipline
- understand some of the complexities of studying language as a meaning making system
- recognize and analyse patterns in language
- relate these patterns to what language is doing for its speakers in a given social and cultural context
- understand how language grows and develops in human culture and individuals
- understand some of the ways that language varies in different cultures and contexts
- understand the power of language in political contexts of language use
- make judgments about the social and cultural implications of these patterns
Assessment tasks
- Tutorial participation & blog
- Module study
- Examination
Problem Solving and Research Capability
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:
Learning outcomes
- understand some of the complexities of studying language as a meaning making system
- recognize and analyse patterns in language
- relate these patterns to what language is doing for its speakers in a given social and cultural context
- understand how language grows and develops in human culture and individuals
- understand some of the ways that language varies in different cultures and contexts
- understand the power of language in political contexts of language use
- make judgments about the social and cultural implications of these patterns
Assessment tasks
- Tutorial participation & blog
- Module study
- Examination
Effective Communication
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:
Learning outcomes
- begin the study of Linguistics as a formal discipline
- understand some of the complexities of studying language as a meaning making system
- recognize and analyse patterns in language
- relate these patterns to what language is doing for its speakers in a given social and cultural context
- understand how language grows and develops in human culture and individuals
- understand some of the ways that language varies in different cultures and contexts
- understand the power of language in political contexts of language use
- make judgments about the social and cultural implications of these patterns
Assessment tasks
- Short Essay
- Tutorial participation & blog
- Module study
- Examination