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Linguistics

Explore and understand the structure and history of the English language.

About the programme

UCAS Code: BA Combined Honours (Y001)

In Stage 1 of your Combined Honours degree, you'll take Linguistics modules offered by the School of English Literature, Language and Linguistics.

You'll get to study both the structure and history of the English language.

Stages 2 and 3 then give you the chance to extend your understanding, with various options introducing variations and varieties of English.

You also get to choose from a range of special topics, such as:

  • semantics
  • pragmatics
  • the sociology of language
  • the psychology of language

Offered by the School of English Literature, Language and Linguistics.

You have the chance to socialise with other students via the lively and active English Society

a panoramic photograph of the school of english literature landguage and linguistics archive section, percy building, newcastle university

Pre-requisites

There are no pre-requisites for taking Linguistics as part of your Combined Honours degree.

Modules

Find out about our typical modules. Modules are subject to change and could differ on an annual basis.

Stage 1

Select the module code for specific module information including the module summary and aims, knowledge and skills you'll gain, and the module leader.

Students taking three subjects in Stage 1 must take the following 40 credits:

Module Code Module Title Credit Value Semester 
SEL1027 Introduction to the Structure of Language 1: Phonetics, Phonology and Morphology 20 1
SEL1028

Introduction to the Structure of Language 2:

Syntax, Semantics and Pragmatics

(Pre-requisite SEL1027)

20 

Candidates taking two subjects in Stage 1 must take the above 40 credits, and either:

Module CodeModule Title Credit ValueSemester
SEL1008 The Nature of Language 20 1
SEL1032

Dealing with Data (Pre-requisite SEL1027)

20 2
Stage 2

You should select a minimum of 40 credits and maximum of 80 credits from the modules below.

Note: Students choosing Stage 2 modules in Linguistics should note that some modules in Stage 3 have pre-requisites, so you will need to check what Stage 3 modules you're interested in and plan your module selection appropriately. You will not be allowed to take a module at Stage 3 if you have not passed the appropriate pre-requisite module or modules at Stage 2.

Module CodeModule Title Credit ValueSemester
SEL2000 Phonological Theory (Pre-requisites SEL1027) 20 1
SEL2089 Syntactic Theory (Pre-requisite SEL1028) 20 1
SEL2091 Sociolinguistics  20 1
SEL2212 Early English: Texts, Patterns and Varieties (Pre-requisite SEL1032) 20 2
SEL2219 Monsters, Misery & Miracles: Heroic Life in Old English Poetry (Capped at 150) 20 1
SEL2229 Experimental Methods in Linguistics (Pre-requisites SEL1028 and SEL1032) 20 2
SEL2230 Multilingualism (Pre-requisite SEL2235) 20 2
SEL2234 Pragmatic Theory (Pre-requisites SEL1028) 20 1
SEL2235 CHiLD: Current Hypotheses in Language Development (Pre-requisite SEL1027 and SEL1028) 20 1
SEL2236 It’s not what you say, it’s how you say it: Prosody and intonation (Pre-requisite SEL1027) 20 2
SEL2237 Introduction to Second Language Acquisition (Pre-requisite SEL1028) 20 2
Stage 3

You should select a minimum of 40 credits and maximum of 80 credits from the below table. You may opt to replace one of these modules by a module offered in Stage 2.

Many modules in Stage 3 contain pre-requisites so you will need to plan your module selection appropriately. You will not be allowed to take a module if you have not passed the appropriate pre-requisite module or modules.

Module CodeModule Title Credit Value Semester
SEL3005 Origins and Evolution of Language (Capped at 60) 20 1
SEL3056 Language in the City (Pre-requisite SEL2091) (Capped at 60) 20 2
SEL3326 Short-form Dissertation 1: English Language and Linguistics 20 1
SEL3327 Short-form Dissertation 2: English Language and Linguistics 20 2
SEL3349 The History of Linguistic Ideas 20 1
SEL3413 Language and Ageing (Pre-requisite SEL1032) (Capped at 60) 20 2
SEL3430 Advanced Second Language Acquisition (Pre-requisites SEL1028 and SEL2237) (Capped at 60) 20 1
SEL3431 Laboratory Phonology (Pre-requisites SEL1027 and SEL2000) (Capped at 60) 20 2
SEL3438 From Input to Output: The Blackbox of Child Language Acquisition (Pre-requisite SEL2235) (Capped at 60) 20 2
SEL3441 Medieval and Early Modern Meaning: English Historical Semantics (Pre-requisite SEL1028) (Capped at 60) 20 1

Get in touch

If you have any questions about choosing this subject as part of your Combined Honours degree, contact us and we'll be more than happy to help. 

Subject adviser

Gabriel Martinez Vera - School of English Literature, Language & Linguistics

Our address

Combined Honours Centre
9th Level, Henry Daysh Building
Newcastle University
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 7RU

Tel: +44 (0)191 208 7479