LN2505: MORPHOLOGY AND SYNTAX (2015-2016)

Although we often see words as basic units of meaning, many actually consist of smaller subcomponents. These are not thrown together at random, but combine systematically to create meaning. For instance, we can add the English prefix 'un-' to adjectives (as in 'unhappy'), but not nouns (as in *'undog'). Likewise, words are organised into sentences according to the grammatical rules of a specific language: 'happy dogs eat biscuits' is acceptable in English, but 'dogs happy biscuits eat' is not, even though both forms are essentially comprehensible. This course examines how words and sentences are constructed, giving students analytical and conceptual tools to explore these components of language.

By the end of the course, students will have:

• Knowledge of the processes by which new words are created.
• An understanding of the structure of words and how this contributes to their meaning.
• An understanding of the structure of sentences and how this contributes to their meaning.
• The basic technical vocabulary needed to describe grammatical phenomena.
• The basic theoretical apparatus needed to represent simple structures in morphology and syntax.
• The ability to identify, describe, and analyse simple structures in morphology and syntax. 

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

View LN2505 Timetable

More Information about Week Numbers

1st Attempt: 2 homework exercises c.2,500 words (40% each); tutorial assessment mark (20%) Resit: 1 two hour written examination (100%)

Formative assessment will be given through discussion of tutorial topics and students' performance in tutorials (on request). Formative assessment will also be provided in written comments on the homework exercises.

Formative assessment will be given in discussion of tutorial performance and written work, with individual students being able to request individual feedback. Summative assessment will be provided through the two homework exercises and the TAM mark.

None.