Overview
This unit will introduce you to the core linguistic components of English speakers' communication, including morphology, syntax, phonology, semantics and pragmatics. You will learn about the basic units and normal grammatical patterns of English speakers, including how people process language, encode meaning and communicate on a day to day basis. You will develop an understanding of the acquisition of language, its role in communication, and how the social or cultural environment interacts with language. You will then apply this knowledge to identify people with communication disorders versus people with culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
There are no requisites for this unit.
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 2 - 2020
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes – in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University’s Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback – Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from 'Have Your Say' student satisfaction survey
Students reported that the combination of tutorials and lectures was excellent, as they complemented one another nicely. The teaching staff were helpful and approachable, students were provided with lots of practical exercises to complete, and the textbook was also a valuable resource.
The overall structure of this unit will remain the same for 2020, whereby interactive tutorials will be provided to students with the intention of facilitating the learning achieved through recorded lectures. Teaching staff will continue to encourage students to ask questions and seek clarification as required, as well as to access their prescribed textbook and use this effectively as a valuable learning resource.
Feedback from 'Have Your Say' student satisfaction survey
Students reported that the assessment feedback they received was useful, detailed and encouraging, and that it assisted their learning.
Markers of assessment items will continue to place great importance on the provision of detailed, practical and constructive feedback designed to assist students to understand their results, to learn from their experiences and to make improvements when completing assessment tasks in the future.
Feedback from 'Have Your Say' student satisfaction survey
Students reported that there was too much contact time each week for this unit and that the assessment tasks were too large, with some instructions being vague and needing clarification in tutorials.
Students will continue to be provided with a combination of both tutorials and lectures that are designed to complement one another and facilitate student learning. Assessment task instructions will be reviewed to ensure that they are as clear as possible, however students will also continue to be encouraged to approach the teaching staff, either in person or via the SPCH12006 Moodle page, and to ask questions and clarify their understanding of the unit content as well as the assessment tasks as required.
- Describe and analyse the core linguistic components of morphology, syntax, phonology, semantics, and pragmatics within a speech pathology context
- Identify and analyse simple and complex English words and sentences using basic syntactic and morphological analysis skills
- Analyse communication skills with regard to language content, comprehension, processing and use
- Apply an introductory level of linguistic knowledge to describe communication across culturally and linguistically diverse settings.
Competency in linguistic analysis of communication samples is a foundation skill that is necessary for success as a practising speech pathologist. The following information describes the range of practice areas and competencies that are linked to this unit's learning outcomes, content and/or and assessments:
- Speech Pathology Range of Practice Areas: Language and Multi-Modal Communication (Child and Adult)
- Competencies: The learning outcomes in this unit contribute to the development of clinical and professional competencies as outlined by Speech Pathology Australia.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| 1 - Written Assessment - 35% | ||||
| 2 - In-class Test(s) - 30% | ||||
| 3 - Written Assessment - 35% | ||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| 1 - Communication | ||||
| 2 - Problem Solving | ||||
| 3 - Critical Thinking | ||||
| 4 - Information Literacy | ||||
| 5 - Team Work | ||||
| 6 - Information Technology Competence | ||||
| 7 - Cross Cultural Competence | ||||
| 8 - Ethical practice | ||||
| 9 - Social Innovation | ||||
| 10 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | ||||
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
| Assessment Tasks | Graduate Attributes | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | |
| 1 - Written Assessment - 35% | ||||||||||
| 2 - In-class Test(s) - 30% | ||||||||||
| 3 - Written Assessment - 35% | ||||||||||
Textbooks
Introductory Linguistics for Speech and Language Therapy Practice
Edition: First (2013)
Authors: Jan McAllister and Jim Miller
John Wiley and Sons Ltd
Malden Malden , MA , USA
ISBN: 978-0-470-67110-8
Binding: Paperback
Additional Textbook Information
If you prefer to study with a paper copy you can purchase at the CQUni Bookshop here: http://bookshop.cqu.edu.au (search on the Unit code). eBooks can be purchased at the publisher's website.
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: American Psychological Association 7th Edition (APA 7th edition)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
b.zupan@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
About languages
Linguistic impacts on SLP resources and practices
Language structures
Introduction to word classes
Language and meaning
Words and non-words
Chapter
McAllister, J. & Miller, J. (2013). Introductory Linguistics for Speech and Language Therapy Practice. West Sussex, UK: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
- Chapters 1, 2 & 5
Additional reading tasks may be set by your lecturer and/or tutor.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
About languages
Language relatedness and diversity
Language structures
Word structure and formation and MLU
Language and meaning
Word meaning: lexemes and concepts and techniques for analysing their meaning
Chapter
McAllister, J. & Miller, J. (2013). Introductory Linguistics for Speech and Language Therapy Practice. West Sussex, UK: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
- Chapters 3 & 6
Additional reading tasks may be set by your lecturer and/or tutor.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
About languages
Languages commonly spoken in Australia
Language structures
A closer look at characteristics of some word classes
Language and meaning
Sentence meaning
Chapter
McAllister, J. & Miller, J. (2013). Introductory Linguistics for Speech and Language Therapy Practice. West Sussex, UK: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
- Chapters 4 & 5
Additional reading tasks may be set by your lecturer and/or tutor.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
About languages
English dialects spoken in Australia
Language structures
Introduction to phrases and clauses
Language and meaning
An introduction to deixis and reference/anaphora
Chapter
McAllister, J. & Miller, J. (2013). Introductory Linguistics for Speech and Language Therapy Practice. West Sussex, UK: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
- Chapters 7 & 11
Additional reading tasks may be set by your lecturer and/or tutor.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
About languages
Traditional Australian Indigenous languages
Language structures
Verb variables: tense and aspect; active and passive voice, modals
Language and meaning
More on deixis and reference
Note that due to a public holiday on August 14th, there will be no Friday tutorial this week.
Chapter
McAllister, J. & Miller, J. (2013). Introductory Linguistics for Speech and Language Therapy Practice. West Sussex, UK: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
- Chapter 8.4 & 11
Additional reading tasks may be set by your lecturer and/or tutor.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
No classes this week
Chapter
No readings
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
About languages
Contact languages in Australia and elsewhere
Language structures
Basic sentence types: simple sentences
Declarative, imperative, interrogative clauses
Language and meaning
Frames and scripts
Chapter
McAllister, J. & Miller, J. (2013). Introductory Linguistics for Speech and Language Therapy Practice. West Sussex, UK: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
- Chapters 8 & 12.3
Additional reading tasks may be set by your lecturer and/or tutor.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
About languages
Bilingualism, second language acquisition, learning other languages
Language structures
Subordinate clauses
Language and meaning
Metaphor, irony and humour
Chapter
McAllister, J. & Miller, J. (2013). Introductory Linguistics for Speech and Language Therapy Practice. West Sussex, UK: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
- Chapters 9 & 12.4
Additional reading tasks may be set by your lecturer and/or tutor.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
About languages
Multimodal communication and sign languages, AUSLAN
Language structures
Untensed (non-finite) clauses
Language and meaning
Implicature, explicature, presupposition
Chapter
McAllister, J. & Miller, J. (2013). Introductory Linguistics for Speech and Language Therapy Practice. West Sussex, UK: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
- Chapters 10 & 12.5-7
Additional reading tasks may be set by your lecturer and/or tutor.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
About languages
Language data: demographic data sources, client questionnaires
Language structures
Coherence and cohesion
Language and meaning
Language choices: registers/styles versus other language codes; translanguaging, code-switching; language and identity
Chapter
McAllister, J. & Miller, J. (2013). Introductory Linguistics for Speech and Language Therapy Practice. West Sussex, UK: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
- Chapter 14
Additional reading tasks may be set by your lecturer and/or tutor.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
About languages
Untangling natural L2 trajectories, cultural differences and special needs in speech language
Language structures
Information structure: given and new, theme and focus
Language and meaning
Speech acts and conversation
Chapter
McAllister, J. & Miller, J. (2013). Introductory Linguistics for Speech and Language Therapy Practice. West Sussex, UK: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
- Chapters 13 & 15
Additional reading tasks may be set by your lecturer and/or tutor.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
About languages
Other language-based professionals
Language structures
Syntax and narrative text organisation
Language and meaning
More on speech acts and conversation
Chapter
McAllister, J. & Miller, J. (2013). Introductory Linguistics for Speech and Language Therapy Practice. West Sussex, UK: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
- Chapters 13 & 16
Additional reading tasks may be set by your lecturer and/or tutor.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
This week we will review a range of topics covered throughout the term
Chapter
Specific reading tasks may be set by your lecturer and/or tutor.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
No classes
Chapter
No readings
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
No classes
Chapter
No readings
Events and Submissions/Topic
Your Unit Coordinator for this unit is Leisa Skinner, however your main lecture material will be delivered online by Denise Angelo, a linguist, researcher and lecturer who is currently completing her PhD through Australian National University in Canberra. Denise will be uploading recorded lectures to Moodle each week, which you can then view in your time and at your own pace each week.
In addition, you will have face-to-face weekly tutorials, delivered online through Zoom, with Caroline Henderson-Brooks, a lecturer at CQUniversity who is also a linguist. These tutorials are designed to complement the lectures in an interactive manner and provide you with the opportunity to ask questions and practise applying what you have learnt through Denise's lectures.
It is expected that the prescribed textbook, Introductory Linguistics for Speech and Language Therapy Practice, will be immensely useful for you, not only when completing this particular unit but also well beyond this year and even beyond graduation. A hard copy of this textbook will be available through the CQU bookshop, however you may also purchase an e-text via this link: https://www.wiley.com/en-au/Introductory+Linguistics+for+Speech+and+Language+Therapy+Practice-p-9780470671108
In previous years, a textbook titled Longman Student Grammar of Spoken and Written English (Biber, Conrad & Leech, 2002) has also been helpful, as it addresses much of the linguistics content within the unit. In addition, a book titled The Study of Language (Yule, 2014), has also been used by students studying this unit. Whilst these texts are no longer prescribed for this unit, you may wish to refer to them during the term - both are available through the CQU library.
And finally, please be aware that whilst this unit is expected to be very exciting and interesting, it is also a very challenging subject, with quite complex content. Self-directed study will be important, as well as discipline when it comes to viewing the recorded lectures. The assessment tasks are also expected to be quite challenging, so be sure to start on these early where you can, rather than waiting until the last minute to complete them. Basically, be prepared to put in the hard yards, and you will reap the rewards.
1 In-class Test(s)
This assessment task will involve testing your ability to complete grammatical analyses in real time during an in-class test. You will be expected to complete a range of tasks addressing the areas of knowledge that have been taught in the lectures prior to the test. This may include (but is not limited to) tasks such as reading through individual sentences and/or passages that are provided to you and:
- identifying the word classes that specific words belong to
- identifying specific syntactic phenomena, such as different types of phrases and clauses
- identifying examples of anaphoric and deictic expressions
- identifying morphemes
- providing clear rationales for your responses to the different tasks
The test will be held in Week 6. You will have 60 minutes to complete the test.
Week 6 Friday (28 Aug 2020) 9:00 am AEST
The in-class test will commence online through Zoom at 9:00am on Friday the 28th of August. You should therefore link into the class at least five minutes early, to ensure that you are ready to start on time and that you are not having any technical issues.
Week 8 Friday (11 Sept 2020)
Marks and feedback will be made available via Moodle.
Each question included on the test will be allocated a set number of marks, which will be clearly indicated on the test. The number of marks allocated to each question will be based on the complexity of the task and the amount of information required to answer it accurately and completely. Full marks will be awarded for complete and accurate answers. Partial marks may be awarded in instances where responses are somewhat accurate however require minor clarification. Nil marks will be awarded for any responses that are inaccurate and/or incomplete.
In order to pass this test, a minimum mark of 50% must be achieved. This test must also be passed in order to pass the SPCH12006 unit.
No submission method provided.
- Describe and analyse the core linguistic components of morphology, syntax, phonology, semantics, and pragmatics within a speech pathology context
- Identify and analyse simple and complex English words and sentences using basic syntactic and morphological analysis skills
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Cross Cultural Competence
- Ethical practice
2 Written Assessment
This assessment task will require you to view a video recording of an individual speaking, transcribe this orthographically, then analyse the language sample and interpret your findings. Your analysis will focus on four of the core aspects of language - morphology, syntax, semantics and pragmatics. For example, this may include completing tasks such as identifying word classes, morphemes, sentence types, semantic relationships, reference and deixis, and complex verb groups. Some of the tasks you will be required to complete may be similar to that which was covered in the in-class test, however in this assessment piece, these tasks will require a greater depth of analysis and interpretation and will be based on a 'real-life' person's communication sample rather than individual sentences or passages. You will also be required to reflect upon your experiences when completing this assessment task, exploring the specific challenges and the learning that occurred.
Week 10 Friday (25 Sept 2020) 9:00 pm AEST
Week 12 Friday (9 Oct 2020)
Marks and feedback will be made available via Moodle within fourteen days of the due date.
Specific instructions for this assessment task will be posted on Moodle, including a comprehensive marking rubric. The following is a list of the range of different areas you will be assessed on:
- Orthographic transcription of a language sample
- Analysis of the speaker's use and/or understanding of morphology (this will include your ability to accurately complete a number of set tasks, such as identifying different morpheme types and calculating the speaker's Mean Length of Utterance (MLU))
- Analysis of the speaker's use and/or understanding of syntax (this will include your ability to accurately complete a number of set tasks, such as identifying different sentence types, complex verb groups, and elaborated noun phrases)
- Analysis of the speaker's use and/or understanding of semantics (this will include your ability to accurately complete a number of set tasks, such as describing the speaker's use of anaphoric and/or deictic references and semantic relationships)
- Analysis of the speaker's use and/or understanding of pragmatic skills (this will include your ability to accurately complete a number of set tasks, such as analysing the speaker's use of non-verbal cues and different speech acts)
- Interpretation of results from each analysis
- Reflection on the experience of completing the different components of the assessment task, including a discussion regarding any challenges you faced, the learning that occurred, and the potential impact that your learning may have on you in the future as a student clinician
- The standard of writing (including spelling, syntax, punctuation and overall readability), organisation and presentation
- The accurate use of APA referencing
Within each section of this assessment task, you will be awarded marks based upon the accuracy and completeness of your answers, your ability to use referencing appropriately, and your demonstrated understanding of the assessed concepts. The weighting for each section (i.e. the number of marks allocated to each part of the assessment task) will be specified in the marking rubric.
- Describe and analyse the core linguistic components of morphology, syntax, phonology, semantics, and pragmatics within a speech pathology context
- Identify and analyse simple and complex English words and sentences using basic syntactic and morphological analysis skills
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Cross Cultural Competence
- Ethical practice
3 Written Assessment
This assessment task will require you to explore and analyse data that is available regarding languages spoken in different locations within Queensland. You will need to document your research findings, critically analyse the quality of the data you have found, and identify any gaps or contradictions in this data. You will be asked to explain why health professionals, including speech pathologists, need to be aware of language differences and local 'language ecologies', and to describe the kinds of considerations and adjustments that may/can/should/should not be made by health professionals in order to work more effectively with communities and clients who speak a different language/language variety.
Review/Exam Week Friday (16 Oct 2020) 9:00 pm AEST
Marks and feedback will be made available via Moodle within fourteen days of the due date.
Specific instructions for this assessment task will be posted on Moodle, including a comprehensive marking rubric. You will be assessed on your ability to:
- conduct thorough, appropriate research and locate available data on specific languages/varieties spoken in areas within Queensland (these areas will be allocated to you during the term)
- document and critically analyse your research findings, including the quality of the data and any gaps and/or contradictions you have identified
- explore and demonstrate an understanding of why health professionals, including speech pathologists, need to be aware of language differences and local 'language ecologies'
- describe and demonstrate an understanding of the kinds of considerations and adjustments that may/can/should/should not be made by health professionals in order to work more effectively with communities and clients who speak a different language/variety
- reflect on your learning experiences that occurred as a result of completing this assignment
- present your assignment in a professional manner - this will include the standard of writing (including spelling, syntax, punctuation and overall readability), organisation and overall presentation
- accurately use APA referencing
Within each section of this assessment task, you will be awarded marks based upon the accuracy and completeness of your answers, your ability to conduct research into the relevant areas, your use of APA referencing, and your overall demonstrated understanding of the assessed areas. The weighting for each section (i.e. the number of marks allocated to each part of the assessment task) will be specified in the marking rubric.
- Analyse communication skills with regard to language content, comprehension, processing and use
- Apply an introductory level of linguistic knowledge to describe communication across culturally and linguistically diverse settings.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Information Technology Competence
- Cross Cultural Competence
- Ethical practice
- Social Innovation
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
