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LING305 Meaning in Language

Updated: 12 July 2011
Credit Points 6
Offering Not offered in 2012
Intensive School(s) None
Supervised Exam There is a UNE Supervised Examination held at the end of the teaching period in which you are enrolled.
Pre-requisites LING102 or LING100
Co-requisites None
Restrictions LING205 or LING405 or LING505
Notes None
Combined Units LING505 - Meaning in Language
Coordinator(s) To be advised
Unit Description

An introduction to semantics - the study of how languages express meaning. This unit begins with background on traditional and contemporary approaches, then undertakes a series of case studies in descriptive semantics mainly using the reductive paraphrase or Natural Semantic Metalanguage (NSM) method. Topics include emotions, speech-acts, discourse particles and interjections, concrete objects, natural kind terms, motion, physical activity verbs, causative constructions and grammatical categories. The language-culture connection is a key theme. The unit is supported by a variety of online tools including online assessment.

Materials Text information will be published prior to commencement of the teaching period.
Disclaimer Unit information may be subject to change prior to commencement of the teaching period.
Assessment Assessment information will be published prior to commencement of the teaching period.
Learning Outcomes (LO) Upon completion of this unit, students will be able to:
  1. demonstrate an understanding of some of the main methods and approaches to semantic description used in linguistics today;
  2. describe and explain semantic issues arising in a number of domains (such as emotions, discourse particles, artefact words, natural kind terms, and selected grammatical constructions);
  3. describe and explain ways in which words, grammatical constructions, and discourse conventions of a language may be culture-related; and
  4. employ one particular method of semantic analysis (the reductive paraphrase or Natural Semantic Metalanguage (NSM) method).

Graduate Attributes (GA)
Attribute Taught Assessed Practised
1 Knowledge of a Discipline
Students will gain knowledge of ways in which words, grammatical constructions, and discourse conventions of a language may be culture-related. Their knowledge will be assessed across all assessment tasks.
True True True
2 Communication Skills
Students' involvement in this unit, whether through class discussion or online discussion will foster the ability to communicate effectively; encourage students to find, organise, and present information effectively; and to construct coherent and well reasoned arguments. This will be assessed in all assessment tasks.
True True
3 Global Perspectives
The unit encourages an appreciation and knowledge of global diversity through the study of meaning across languages. This will be assessed in all assessment tasks.
True True True
4 Information Literacy
Students are encouraged to search for information, in hard copy and online, through library sources and the internet to supplement their reading for their research projects/essays.
True
5 Life-Long Learning
This unit provides the opportunity for students to identify, evaluate, and implement personal learning strategies and study skills that will be valuable throughout their lives.
True
6 Problem Solving
In this unit students will be required to apply critical thinking to linguistic issues, and to solve data based problems critically and intelligently. Problem-solving skills will be assessed in all assessment tasks.
True True True
7 Social Responsibility
The learning activities in this unit will encourage students to develop their sense of social responsibility in the area of intercultural relations and the recognition of diversity.
True
8 Team Work
Teamwork is involved in in-class group activities for on-campus students and for off-campus students the online discussions encourage a high level of group awareness and support.
True
   

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