English Language and Linguistics

SP170L

What exactly do you know when you know a language? We will study this question by looking closely at English: how it is pronounced, how words, phrases, and sentences are formed, how it is acquired by children, and related topics in the linguistics of English.

This course provides an introduction to linguistics, which is the scientific analysis of language. While human language is complex, it is governed by systematic rules that are implicitly known by speakers, which it is possible to examine in a detailed way. We will begin by discussing phonetics and phonology (sounds and their patterns), which will then enable us to examine morphology (word formation), after which we will focus on syntax (phrase and sentence construction). Finally, we will also discuss the process by which language is acquired by learners. We will explore these topics mainly through examining English, since English was the starting point for many important discoveries in linguistics. We will discuss other languages as well, to widen our perspective on the general topics we will investigate.

Higher Education Entrance Qualification, acceptance into the English One-Year Programme at Nord University, and/or international/exchange student status at Nord University. The class can be taken as a single-standing course by agreement.

KNOWLEDGE

The student

has knowledge of what is entailed by 'language', and how the study of language can be approached scientifically
has knowledge about how English words and sentences are constructed and interpreted
has knowledge about basic concepts within the language acquisition process

SKILLS

The student

can analyze the structure of English words and sentences using appropriate notation
can transcribe examples from English using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)
can discuss English language and linguistics using appropriate concepts and terminology
can update and broaden one's knowledge of English language and linguistics
can apply linguistic concepts to reason about the process of acquiring/learning language

GENERAL COMPETENCE

The student

can reflect on and apply concepts from English language and linguistics to novel facts
has understanding of methods of linguistic analysis
can carry out an oral presentation that communicates a research result from English language and linguistics
can engage in an independent research project culminating in a final essay

No costs beyond semester fee and course literature.

Compulsory for students in the English One-Year Programme. The course is also offered as an elective outside of these programmes.

The program is campus-based and has weekly instruction (12 weeks). Teaching is given in the form of lectures and group activities, with time for individual follow-up as necessary. Students are expected to have Internet access, in particular our learning platform Canvas and the library's electronic holdings. Students are encouraged to have writing/drawing equipment (pen and paper and/or tablet) for use during in-class practice activities.

There will be an internal evaluation of the course near the end of the term. Centrally administered course evaluations are an important part of the university's quality assurance system and students are strongly encouraged to take part.

Compound evaluation - all parts must be approved for the final grade in the course.

Obligatory participation (OD): Minimum 80 %. Approved / Not Approved

Assessment task (AK): presentation. Approved / Not Approved

Final Exam (MA): Final assessment as portfolio consisting of several elements, including a short essay on a self-chosen research topic. The portfolio counts as 100 % of the total grade, assessed A-F.

All aids allowed

Generating an answer using ChatGPT or similar artificial intelligence and submitting it wholly or partially as one's own answer is considered cheating

Students are expected to have an understanding of basic grammatical concepts, in particular word classes such as verb, noun, preposition, adjective, and grammatical relations such as subject, direct object, indirect object and agreement.

Overlap refers to a similarity between courses with the same content. Therefore, you will receive the following reduction in credits if you have taken the courses listed below:

SP107L-001 - Written supervised examination - 10 credits

SP216L-001 - Language Acquisition, written exam - 5 credits

SP216L - Linguistics - Language Acquisition - 5 credits

SPR150L - English Language - 15 credits

SPR101L - English Language - 15 credits

Curriculum literature

Leganto

Course language

English

Credits

Study location

Bodø

Responsible faculty

The Faculty of Education and Arts

Course coordinator

Information about the course coordinator for the selected semester is no longer available. Please contact the current course coordinator.