SML1019 : Introduction to Linguistics
- Offered for Year: 2025/26
- Module Leader(s): Dr Damien Hall
- Lecturer: Professor Ian MacKenzie, Dr Carol Fehringer
- Owning School: Modern Languages
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
| Semester 1 Credit Value: | 10 |
| Semester 2 Credit Value: | 10 |
| ECTS Credits: | 10.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
Aims
In consonance with the overall aims of the degrees offered in the SML, this module aims to provide students with a broad-based introduction to linguistics using data mainly from French, German, and Spanish. It provides a basic introduction to the scientific study of human language. Students will be introduced to the description of French, German, or Spanish, especially to phonetic transcription and some basic tools for the description of the respective sound system, word structure and sentence structure. Later in the module, more general topics such as sociolinguistics and historical linguistics will be explored.
Outline Of Syllabus
Lectures and seminars alternate.
Topics covered will include most of the following (precise details could vary according to staff availability):
- phonetics
- phonology
- morphology
- syntax
- historical linguistics
- sociolinguistics: language contact
- sociolinguistics: language variation
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Structured Guided Learning | Lecture materials | 5 | 2:00 | 10:00 | Online asynchronous |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 4 | 1:00 | 4:00 | N/A |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 20 | 1:00 | 20:00 | PiP |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Drop-in/surgery | 3 | 1:00 | 3:00 | PiP |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 162 | 1:00 | 162:00 | N/A |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Module talk | 1 | 1:00 | 1:00 | PiP |
| Total | 200:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
The module talk introduces students to what linguistics is and does, and goes over practical aspects such as how the module will run.
Structured learning from recordings introduces students to the general principles of a number of subdisciplines of linguistics in turn. They will be asked to listen to recordings and do some preliminary reading before engaging in the small group teaching. The blended learning mode of teaching is being retained because it showed itself to be very effective, allowing students time to reflect in their own time.
Small group teaching will enable students to apply the general principles of each linguistic subdiscipline to their own language (in each semester students will choose whether to join the French, German or Spanish seminar).
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Exams
| Description | Length | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Written Examination | 50 | 1 | M | 30 | In- class test |
| Written Examination | 120 | 2 | A | 70 | N/A |
Formative Assessments
Formative Assessment is an assessment which develops your skills in being assessed, allows for you to receive feedback, and prepares you for being assessed. However, it does not count to your final mark.
| Description | Semester | When Set | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Written exercise | 1 | M | Practice phonetic transcription, or other practice relevant to the assessment (e.g. a mock exam) |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
The written in-class test will assess factual and technical knowledge, while the final examination will also assess analytical skills and self-expression. The overall assessment package aims to ensure both subject-specific knowledge development and the consolidation of core transferrable skills.
The formative assessment is a practice transcription in Semester 1, or another form of practice relevant to the Semester 1 summative assessment, such as a mock exam. Not all summative assessment includes phonetic transcription of passages.
RESIT: 2-hour exam, covering the whole module content (the first-sit 2-hour exam covers only the Semester 2 topics).
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- SML1019's Timetable