Grade descriptors and other information concerning grading are contained in the Macquarie University Assessment Policy.

All final grades are determined by a grading committee, in accordance with the Macquarie University Assessment Policy, and are not the sole responsibility of the Unit Convenor.

Students will be awarded a final grade and a mark which must correspond to the grade descriptors specified in the Assessment Procedure (clause 128).

To pass this unit, you must demonstrate sufficient evidence of achievement of the learning outcomes, meet any ungraded requirements, and achieve a final mark of 50 or better.

Further details for each assessment task will be available on iLearn.

Late Submissions

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (OF THE TOTAL POSSIBLE MARK) will be applied each day a written assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a grade of ‘0’ will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. Submission time for all written assessments is set at 11.55pm. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical concern.  

 For example:

Due date	Received	Days late	Total Possible Marks	Deduction	Raw mark	Final mark
Friday 14th	Monday 17th	3	100	15	75	60
Friday 14th	Friday 21st	7	100	35	75	40
Friday 14th	Monday 24th	10	100	-	75	0

 

Late submission of time sensitive tasks, such as timetabled tests/exams, scheduled performance assessments/presentations, scheduled practical assessments/labs, will be addressed by the unit convenor in a Special consideration application.  

Special Consideration

If you are unable to complete an assessment task on or by the specified date due circumstances that are unexpected, unavoidable, significantly disruptive and beyond your control, you may apply for special consideration in accordance with the special consideration policy. Applications for special consideration must be supported by appropriate evidence and submitted via ask.mq.edu.au. 

Assessment Tasks

Name	Weighting	Hurdle	Due
Problem Set One	25%	No	Week 7
Problem Set Two	25%	No	Week 12
Quizzes	10%	No	Weeks 3 - 5 - 8 - 10 - 13
Final Exam	40%	No	TBA in exam period

Problem Set One

Assessment Type ¹: Problem set Indicative Time on Task ²: 20 hours Due: Week 7 Weighting: 25%

In a series of short answer responses, students will account for phonological phenomena in the dataset(s) provided. Problem Set One will assess the topics of Features and Natural classes, Rules. The assessment will provide an opportunity to demonstrate insights into the sound structure of the language(s) being analysed, an understanding of phonological theory, and its application to the data. Word count: 2000.

On successful completion you will be able to:

• Communicate an understanding of fundamental phonological concepts including feature, phoneme, syllable, gesture, rule, constraint, underlying representation and surface form.
• Explain and illustrate phonological processes, and their role in shaping language sounds.
• Analyse the phonological structure of a language from example data.
• Analyse phonological phenomena, and explain how they can be described under different phonological frameworks.

Problem Set Two

Assessment Type ¹: Problem set Indicative Time on Task ²: 20 hours Due: Week 12 Weighting: 25%

In a series of short answer responses, students will account for phonological phenomena in the dataset(s) provided. Problem Set Two will assess the topics of Morphophonology and Rule Ordering and Syllable, Prosody, and Stress. The assessment will provide an opportunity to demonstrate insights into the sound structure of the language(s) being analysed, an understanding of phonological theory, and its application to the data. Word count: 2000.

On successful completion you will be able to:

• Communicate an understanding of fundamental phonological concepts including feature, phoneme, syllable, gesture, rule, constraint, underlying representation and surface form.
• Explain and illustrate phonological processes, and their role in shaping language sounds.
• Analyse the phonological structure of a language from example data.
• Analyse phonological phenomena, and explain how they can be described under different phonological frameworks.

Quizzes

Assessment Type ¹: Quiz/Test Indicative Time on Task ²: 5 hours Due: Weeks 3 - 5 - 8 - 10 - 13 Weighting: 10%

In a total of 5 quizzes students will demonstrate their understanding of the prescribed reading material for each topic. Each quiz will comprise ten questions and will be automatically graded in iLearn.

On successful completion you will be able to:

• Communicate an understanding of fundamental phonological concepts including feature, phoneme, syllable, gesture, rule, constraint, underlying representation and surface form.
• Explain and illustrate phonological processes, and their role in shaping language sounds.

Final Exam

Assessment Type ¹: Examination Indicative Time on Task ²: 20 hours Due: TBA in exam period Weighting: 40%

In a series of short answers and extended responses, students will demonstrate all aspects of their understanding of phonological concepts and data analysis.

On successful completion you will be able to:

• Communicate an understanding of fundamental phonological concepts including feature, phoneme, syllable, gesture, rule, constraint, underlying representation and surface form.
• Explain and illustrate phonological processes, and their role in shaping language sounds.
• Analyse the phonological structure of a language from example data.
• Analyse phonological phenomena, and explain how they can be described under different phonological frameworks.

¹ If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

• the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
• the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

² Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

Use of Generative AI

Please refer to instructions from your lecturer on the use and acknowledgement of use of Generative AI in your submitted assignments.

 

As a student enrolled in this unit, you will engage in a range of face-to-face or online learning activities, including lectures, tutorials, readings, quizzes. Details can be found on the iLearn site for this unit.

Technologies used and required

Word processing and conversion to pdf file format is needed for completing both Problem Sets One and Two; internet access is needed for downloading lecture and tutorial materials and for uploading assignments. Active participation in the learning activities throughout the unit will require students to have access to a tablet, laptop or similar device. Students who do not own their own laptop computer may borrow one from the university library.

Required textbook:

• Hayes (2011). Introductory Phonology. Oxford, UK: Wiley-Blackwell. 

Secondary (recommended) textbooks:

• Gussenhoven & Jacobs (2013). Understanding Phonology (3rd ed). Taylor & Francis Group.
• Gussenhoven & Jacobs (2017). Understanding Phonology (4th ed). Abingdon, Oxon ; New York, NY: Routledge.
• Kennedy (2017). Phonology: A Coursebook. Cambridge University Press.
• Kager (1999). Optimality Theory. Utrecht, The Netherlands: Cambridge University Press.
• Zsiga (2013). The Sounds of Language: an introduction to phonetics and phonology. Hoboken: Wiley-Blackwell

 

• W1 - Introduction & Refresher
• W2 - Distinctive Features & Natural Classes I.
• W3 - DistinctiveFeatures & Natural Classes II.
• W4 - Phonological Rules
• W5 - Introduction to Morphophonology
• W6 - Morphophonology & Rule Ordering I.
• W7 - Morphophonology & Rule Ordering II.
• W8 - Syllables & Feet
• W9 - Stress Rules
• W10 - Stress Systems
• W11 - Optimality Theory I.
• W12 - Optimality Theory II.
• W13 - Exam Revision

Social inclusion at Macquarie University is about giving everyone who has the potential to benefit from higher education the opportunity to study at university, participate in campus life and flourish in their chosen field. The University has made significant moves to promote an equitable, diverse and exciting campus community for the benefit of staff and students. It is your responsibility to contribute towards the development of an inclusive culture and practice in the areas of learning and teaching, research, and service orientation and delivery. As a member of the Macquarie University community, you must not discriminate against or harass others based on their sex, gender, race, marital status, carers' responsibilities, disability, sexual orientation, age, political conviction or religious belief. All staff and students are expected to display appropriate behaviour that is conducive to a healthy learning environment for everyone.

In the Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, professionalism is a key capability embedded in all our courses. 

As part of developing professionalism, students are expected to attend all small group interactive sessions including clinical, practical, laboratory, work-integrated learning (e.g., PACE placements), and team-based learning activities. Some learning activities are recorded (e.g., face-to-face lectures), however you are encouraged to avoid relying upon such material as they do not recreate the whole learning experience and technical issues can and do occur. As an adult learner, we respect your decision to choose how you engage with your learning, but we would remind you that the learning opportunities we create for you have been done so to enable your success, and that by not engaging you may impact your ability to successfully complete this unit. We equally expect that you show respect for the academic staff who have worked hard to develop meaningful activities and prioritise your learning by communicating with them in advance if you are unable to attend a small group interactive session.

Another dimension of professionalism is having respect for your peers. It is the right of every student to learn in an environment that is free of disruption and distraction. Please arrive to all learning activities on time, and if you are unavoidably detained, please join activity as quietly as possible to minimise disruption. Phones and other electronic devices that produce noise and other distractions must be turned off prior to entering class. Where your own device (e.g., laptop) is being used for class-related activities, you are asked to close down all other applications to avoid distraction to you and others. Please treat your fellow students with the utmost respect. If you are uncomfortable participating in any specific activity, please let the relevant academic know.