Module Code - Title:
LI5922
-
LANGUAGE SYSTEMS 2
Year Last Offered:
2025/6
Hours Per Week:
Grading Type:
N
Prerequisite Modules:
LI5931
Rationale and Purpose of the Module:
To examine the theories and patterns of language as spoken and written discourse.
To apply corpus-based methodologies to the study of discourse.
To familiarise students with further aspects of notions of modality and conditionality.
To study basic semantic and morphological concepts and relations in English.
Syllabus:
Morphology: derivations, inflections, compounding. Modality: epistemic and deontic meanings, modal verbs and other ways of expressing modality. Conditionality and hypotheticality. The spelling and pronunciation of English. Semantic concepts and relations. Discourse analysis: pragmatics, genre, exchange structure, conversation analysis, politeness, speech functions and acts, critical discourse analysis and issues of power, spoken and written discourse. Corpus-based discourse analysis.
Learning Outcomes:
Cognitive (Knowledge, Understanding, Application, Analysis, Evaluation, Synthesis)
On successful completion of this module, students should be able to:
Describe and demonstrate the the way in which morphological processes operate on words in English
Outline how conditionality and modality operate in Englsih in structural and functional terms
Identify and discuss theories within the fields of discourse and conversation anaylsis and pragmatice
Apply these theories to the critical analyses of language in context in independent and comparative ways
Affective (Attitudes and Values)
Discuss and critically explore how language is used in pragmatic ways in a variety of contexts with different participants and power realtions
Acknowledge and recognise the various levels at which language operates in discoursal settings
Psychomotor (Physical Skills)
Demonstrate and apply an advanced level of corpus-based computation skills for the analysis of small and large pieces of spoken or written discourse
How the Module will be Taught and what will be the Learning Experiences of the Students:
Knowledge will be structured in interactive lecture and lab mode where students engage with the social construction of knowledge through individual and group tasks, projects, reviews and presentations. 1 hours per week will be in a language lab and 2 hours in a classroom.
Research Findings Incorporated in to the Syllabus (If Relevant):
Research findings from Farr, McCarthy, Atkins, Kelly-Holmes and previous and present UL postgraduate MA and PhD students who have used corpus-based approaches to the study of language.
Prime Texts:
Carter, R., and M. McCarthy (2006)
Cambridge Grammar of Spoken and Written English
, CUP
McCarthy, M. (1991)
Discourse Analysis for Language Teachers
, CUP
Cook, G. (1989)
Discourse
, Oxford University Press
Jaworski, A. and N. Coupland (Eds) (2000)
The Discourse Reader
, Routledge
Other Relevant Texts:
Hughes, R. (2006)
Spoken English, TESOL and Applied Linguistics
, Palgrave Macmillan
Reppen, R., S. Fitzmaurice, and D. Biber (2002)
Using Corpora to Explore Linguistic Variation
, John Benjamins
O'Grady, W. et al (1996)
Contemporary Linguistics
, Longman
Schriffrin, D. et al (Eds) (2001)
The Handbook of Discourse Analysis
, Blackwell
Palmer, F.R. (2001)
Mood and Modality
, CUP
Davis, A. and Elder, C (2006)
Handbook of Applied Linguistics
, Blackwell
Aarts, B. and A. McMahon (2006)
Handbook of English Linguistics
, Blackwell
Spolsky, B. and F. M. Hult (2008)
Handbook of Educational Linguistics
, Blackwell
Programme(s) in which this Module is Offered:
Semester(s) Module is Offered:
Module Leader:
Brona.Murphy@ul.ie