| CODE | ENG1083 | ||||||||||||
| TITLE | Introduction to English Syntax and Phonetics | ||||||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 01 - Year 1 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 5 | ||||||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 4 | ||||||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | English | ||||||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit comprises two segments. In Part 1, students are introduced to syntactic theory and analysis, whereas in Part 2, the description and production of English sounds will be explored. Part 1: Description Introduction to English Syntax Students will focus on describing both simple and complex phrase and clause structures in English, and they will learn to describe the rule-governed nature of both spoken and written language, using different descriptive frameworks. The descriptive frameworks allow students to acquire a keener understanding both of how the English language works and how it can be described. Part 2: Description Introduction to English Phonetics The second part of this study-unit investigates the production and nature of English speech sounds. In view of the importance of the organs of articulation in the production of speech sounds, first an overview of the vocal tract is given, followed by descriptions of the consonants, the vowels and the diphthongs according to established linguistic criteria. Since the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), the standard alphabet is used to represent sounds, students will be given in-class exercises (dictation and written texts) to practice phonemic transcriptions. Study-Unit Aims: - To sensitise students to patterns of language usage in English; - To familiarise students with different notation used to describe language; - To provide students with the opportunity to analyse syntactically spoken and written texts; - To introduce students to the structure and function of the speech articulatory mechanism; - To guide students towards describing the English sound inventory; - To assist students to analyse their own speech; - To familiarise students with transcription conventions; - To encourage students to use the linguistic tools to describe and analyse English sounds. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Identify and evaluate the main features of syntactic analysis; - recognise the basic descriptive frameworks needed for syntactic analysis; - analyse the sounds that are found in the English sound inventory; - identify the descriptive frameworks used in the study of English sounds. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - examine and analyse syntactic structure in their own and others' language while using the given theoretical and descriptive frameworks; - analyse both spoken and written texts; - apply their knowledge of describing and analysing English sounds; - use phonetic conventions. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main Texts: - Biber, D., Conrad, S., & Leech, G. (2002). A student grammar of spoken and written English. Longman. - Roach, P. (2010). English Phonetics and Phonology: A Practical Course. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Supplementary Readings: - Brinton, L.J. (2000). The Structure of Modern English: a linguistic introduction. Benjamins. - Carr, P. (2019). English Phonetics and Phonology. Abingdon Oxon: Wiley-Blackwell. - Catford, J.C. (2002). A Practical Introduction to Phonetics. Oxford: Oxford University Press. - Collins, B., Mees, I. and Carley, P. (2019). Practical English Phonetics and Phonology: A Resource book for Students. London & New York: Routledge. - Cruttendon, A. (2021). Writing systems and Phonetics. London & New York: Routledge. - Payne, T.E. (2006). Exploring Language Structure: A Student’s Guide. Cambridge University Press. - Szgiga, E. (2013). The Sounds of Language: An Introduction to Phonetics and Phonology. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture | ||||||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Lydia Sciriha Odette Vassallo |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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