Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Convenor
Iain Giblin
Co-convenor
Joshua Penney
Felicity Cox
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Credit points |
Credit points
10
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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 semantics, pragmatics, 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. 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:
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 Convenors.
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.
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:
Number of days (hours) late |
Total Possible Marks |
Deduction |
Raw mark |
Final mark |
1 day (1-24 hours) |
100 |
5 |
75 |
70 |
2 days (24-48 hours) |
100 |
10 |
75 |
65 |
3 days (48-72 hours) |
100 |
15 |
75 |
60 |
7 days (144-168 hours) |
100 |
35 |
75 |
40 |
>7 days (>168 hours) |
100 |
- |
75 |
0 |
Late submissions for an assessment task will not be accepted once that assessment task has been marked and returned to students.
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 Convenors in a Special Consideration application.
Use of Generative AI
Please refer to instructions from your Unit Convenors on the use and acknowledgement of use of Generative AI in your submitted assignments.
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.
1. You should only attempt an exam if you are well enough to do so. Note: Special Consideration is not normally granted if an exam has already been attempted. If you are unfit/unable to attempt the exam due to an eligible disruption, please do not attempt the exam. For information regarding Special Consideration and how attempting an exam will impact your application, refer to the Special Consideration webpage
2. In the event of illness or significant disruptions during an examination, you must promptly cease your work. If the incident occurs in an invigilated exam setting, you must inform the supervisor or invigilator immediately. If the disruption takes place outside an invigilated setting (e.g. non-invigilated timed assessment), it should be reported immediately to the appropriate course authority. Subsequently, you should promptly consult the Special Consideration webpage to review the FAQs and eligibility requirements and follow the steps to apply.
3. If you attempt an exam or timed assessment without reporting any issues during the assessment process to the supervisor or invigilator (in the case of invigilated exam) or appropriate course authority (unit convenor for example in the case of non-invigilated exam) and then apply for Special Consideration based on illness during the exam, the application will generally not be considered.
Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
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Phonemic Transcription Task | 10% | No | Week 4 |
Phonological Analysis Task | 10% | No | Week 6 |
Morphological Analysis Task | 15% | No | Week 8 |
Syntactic Analysis Task | 20% | No | Part A - Week 10; Part B - Week 12 |
Research Participation | 5% | No | Week 13 |
Final Exam | 40% | No | Exam Period |
Assessment Type 1: Problem set
Indicative Time on Task 2: 6 hours
Due: Week 4
Weighting: 10%
This task will involve the phonemic transcription of a short series of sound files. 100 words (approx)
Assessment Type 1: Problem set
Indicative Time on Task 2: 8 hours
Due: Week 6
Weighting: 10%
This task will involve the analysis of a small set of data and produce appropriate phonological rules. 500 words (approx)
Assessment Type 1: Problem set
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: Week 8
Weighting: 15%
This task will involve the analysis of a small set of data and produce appropriate morphological representations of their structure. 500 words (approx)
Assessment Type 1: Problem set
Indicative Time on Task 2: 13 hours
Due: Part A - Week 10; Part B - Week 12
Weighting: 20%
This task will require rudimentary syntactic analysis using the concepts and analytical techniques provided in the lectures and tutorials. 500 words (approx)
Assessment Type 1: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 2 hours
Due: Week 13
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. The assessment must be completed by the end of Week 13. Tasks will vary. Alternative task 300 words (approx)
Assessment Type 1: Examination
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: Exam Period
Weighting: 40%
This task is a formal examination held during the University exam period. It will consist of a range of short answer questions, all based on content from the set textbook, lectures and tutorials.
1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:
2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation
As a student enrolled in this unit, you will engage in a range of online and face-to-face learning activities, including readings, online activities, lectures and tutorials. Details can be found on the iLearn site for this unit.
In this Unit include lectures are given by a number of different staff members from the Department of Linguistics.
Technology Used
Active participation in the learning activities throughout the unit will require students to have access to a computer or similar device.
Please see the unit schedule posted to the iLearn site.
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.
To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct
Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit connect.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au
At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
The Writing Centre provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.
The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources.
Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:
Got a question? Ask us via the Service Connect Portal, or contact Service Connect.
For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/.
When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.
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.
Unit information based on version 2024.01R of the Handbook