| CODE | LIN3060 | |||||||||
| TITLE | Current Issues in Linguistics | |||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 03 - Years 2, 3, 4 in Modular Undergraduate Course | |||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 6 | |||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 4 | |||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Institute of Linguistics and Language Technology | |||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This unit takes the form of a series of seminars. Following a couple of introductory lectures, during which students are introduced to recent theoretical and methodological developments in the study of language, students will be engaged in intensive discussions based on weekly readings. The unit is therefore designed to engage students in critical thinking on current research, while bringing to bear the basic knowledge they have acquired during their first two years of study, especially as it relates to the following core areas of Linguistics: 1. Morphology and Syntax 2. Phonetics and Phonology 3. Semantics and Pragmatics. Study-unit Aims: The unit aims to: 1) inculcate a critical approach to contemporary theoretical and applied work in Linguistics, especially by encouraging them to think critically and compare different theoretical positions on a particular topic; 2) prepare students to think holistically about problems in Linguistics, by identifying points of convergence between theoretical positions and empirical observations that they have hitherto explored as part of focused study units dealing with specific topics (such as Morphology, Phonology or Semantics). Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - compare and evaluate different theoretical approaches to Linguistic problems; - identify the scientific merit of a particular approach, as well as its weaknesses; - be conversant with current trends in Linguistic research. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - critically evaluate a research report; - identify the broad theoretical orientation of a new piece of research. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: As this study unit focuses on current research, students will be supplied with a set of readings, which will be distributed throughout the semester. These will usually take the form of journal articles or book chapters and will constitute the core texts for the class. The following is also proposed as an additional textbook (primarily for background reading purposes): - Department of Linguistics, OSU (2011). Language Files: Materials for an Introduction to Language and Linguistics. Ohio: Ohio State University Press. |
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| ADDITIONAL NOTES | Pre-requisite Study-units: LIN1070, LIN1080, LIN1090, LIN2022, LIN2083, LIN2190, LIN2290. | |||||||||
| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture | |||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Ray Fabri Albert Gatt Sarah Grech Alexandra Vella (Co-ord.) |
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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 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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