Applications of Linguistics

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• Language acquisition and the principles underlying it;
• Draw on your understanding of language acquisition and language processing in order to explore the relationship between language and the human mind and brain
• Language politics and language policy;
• Language in an educational context
• Language variation and language varieties;

Transferable and Generic Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Apply sophisticated analytical tools to the investigation of a problem,
• Understand the relationship between theoretical frameworks and empirical evidence;
• Synthesise evidence from a range of sources in order to present a coherent argument;

Subject Specific Practical Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Analyse language data from a range of perspectives;
• Understand and analyse language acquisition data
• Understand and analyse language variation;
• Apply analytical linguistic tools and concepts to the analysis of the topics studied;

Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Language in its geographical, social, historical and political context;
• Link empirical evidence to the formulation of linguistic theories;

Sociolinguistics (weeks 1-3)

• Micro-sociolinguistics: language variation; dialectology; register; language change
• Macro-sociolinguistics: language in contact; multilingualism; language policy; language and power

Psycholinguistics (weeks 4-7)

• Language acquisition: first and second language acquisition; bilingualism
• Language processing: language comprehension and production

Applied Linguistics (weeks 8-10)

• What is Applied Linguistics?
• The role of linguistics in education
• Translation and intercultural communication

Weeks 11-12: Practical seminars using empirical data

Teaching and learning methods

Teaching methods include

• Interactive Lectures;
• Seminar group presentations;
• Group discussion in seminars.

Learning activities include

• Organisation of material and own ideas for oral presentation;
• Developing own interpretation of theoretical texts and concepts;
• Debating ideas in class
• Independent study.

Resources & Reading list

Textbooks

Fromkin, V. Rodman, R. & Hyams, N. (2003). An Introduction to language.. Thomson & Heinle..

Cook, G. (2003). Applied Linguistics. Oxford University Press..

Holmes, J. (2001). An introduction to Sociolinguistics. Longman.

Brumfit, C., (1995). Language education in the National Curriculum. Blackwell.

Aitchison, J. (1998). The articulate mammal.. Routledge..

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.

Repeat

An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.

Repeat Information

Repeat type: Internal & External