English language and linguistics ba(hons)

Year 1

In your first year, you will develop an understanding of the basic concepts and modes of linguistic analysis focusing particularly on the four structural approaches to linguistics: phonetics, phonology, morphology and syntax. In addition, you will also gain an insight into the processes by which children acquire and develop their first language.

Your first year also provides you with an essential introduction to the study of English language at degree level. The core English language modules will enable you to develop the meta-language to describe language features and their use in different genres. You will also explore the historical perspective of the development of the English language.

• The Structure and Grammar of English

  On this module you'll develop your understanding of the basic structure/grammar of English and develop your awareness of how different choices of forms of spoken and written English might affect meaning.

• Perspectives on the History of English Language

  In this module you will trace the development of the English language from the Anglo-Saxon period to the present, by looking selectively at major social and historical influences on language change.

• Introduction to Pragmatics

  This module is an introduction to the study of meaning in linguistics. You will explore the key concepts in pragmatics – the study of language in use. These concepts include: the nature of context and the difference between context-dependent and context-independent meaning; Gricean non-natural meaning and ‘saying versus ‘implicating’; generalised conversational implicatures; speech act theory; non-literal language and tropes; relevance theory; contextualist approaches, pragmatics and mental architecture.

• General Linguistics 1: Phonetics and Phonology

  In this module you will develop your understanding of phonetics and phonology. In phonetics, you will study physical properties of speech sounds and of the articulatory mechanisms used in speech production and perception. In phonology, you'll study the systematic use of sounds in language. By the end of the module you will be able to describe phonetic and phonological processes from a variety of the world’s languages, as well as undertake basic phonetic and phonological analysis in a range of languages, and transcribe a wide variety of sounds.

• Language Acquisition and Development

  This module will introduce you to the key questions in language acquisition and development, such as:

  • What is distinctive about human language?
  • Are all languages basically similar?
  • How do humans acquire language?
  • What theoretical models have been proposed to explain language acquisition?

  In order to add an empirical dimension to these discussions, you will also look in detail at how English is acquired by children and how disability and impairment can affect language development and use.

• General Linguistics 2: Morphology and Syntax

  In this module you will develop your understanding of morphology and syntax. Descriptive analysis in the two branches of linguistics will enable you to examine how different natural languages can be, by illustrating a range of morphological and syntactic features.

Our courses are reviewed and enhanced on an ongoing basis in order to make sure that what you learn with us is relevant and that your course enables you to develop appropriate skills. When you apply to study with us, we will inform you of any new developments in your chosen programme through our applicant portal.