MA / MPhil Courses in Linguistics

Not All Courses Are Offered in Any Given Academic Year.

For descriptions of courses within particular series, please click on the links below:

LING60 Series: Courses in Descriptive Linguistics

• LING6001/L60A Phonetics and Phonology

• LING6002/L60B Morphology

• LING6003/L60C Syntax

• LING6004/L60D Semantics

• LING6005/L60E Theoretical Linguistics Development (Compulsory for all programmes)

LING61 Series: Courses in Applied Linguistics

• LING6101/L61A Applied Linguistics Development

• LING6102/L61B First and Second Language Acquisition

• LING6103/L61C English Language Teaching

• LING6104/L61D Second and Foreign Language Teaching

• LING6105/L61E Teaching English as a Second/Foreign Language

• LING6701/L67AApplied Linguistics Research (Same as EDCU6003 - 2 modules)

LING63 Series: Courses in Sociolinguistics

• LING6301/L63A Sociolinguistic Theory

• LING6302/L63B Sociolinguistics of Society

• LING6303/L63C Language Variation and Change

• LING6704/L67D Sociolinguistics Methodology (Same as EDCU6003 - 2 modules)

LING66 Series: Special / Interdisciplinary Topics

• LING6601/L66A Caribbean and Creole Linguistics

• LING6602/L66B Language Planning

• LING6603/L66C Caribbean Lexicography

LING68 Series: Reading Courses

• LING6801/L68A Individual Reading Course

• LING6802/L68B Individual Reading Course

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Descriptive Linguistics (Part-time only):

Candidates must select three (3) courses from the L60 series including L60E which is compulsory, one (1) course on research methods and two (2) additional courses from the planned offerings.

Applied Linguistics:

Candidates must take at least three (3) courses from the Applied Linguistics (L61 Series) including L67A which is compulsory, one (1) foundation course and two (2) additional courses from the planned offerings.

Sociolinguistics:

Candidates must take three (3) courses from the L63 series, one (1) foundation course and two (2) additional courses from the planned offerings.

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

LING6001/L60A PHONETICS AND PHONOLOGY

This course is designed as two overlapping modules - Module 1: Phonetics and Module 2: Phonology. The course will introduce students to the physiological aspects of speech production. It will also explore processes of articulation, phonation and intonation in English and other selected languages, revise concepts of phoneme, features, abstractness, ordering and examine theories of lexical, metrical, autosegmental dependence and government phonology.

LING6005/L60E THEORETICAL LINGUISTICS DEVELOPMENT

This course will explore the development of the notion of grammar in the context of different historical perspectives and goals. It will also introduce students to the development of linguistics paying attention to the ideologies which shape it. Special attention will also be paid to issues related to the history and historiography of language, speech and linguistic theory.

Assessment:

100% course work: 

• 3 or more short term papers;

• 1 research paper; 

• oral presentations

Required Texts:     

• Brogyani, Bela (ed) 1992 Prehistory, History & Historiography of Language, Speech & Linguistic Theory
• Byron, Theodora & F.R. Studies in the History of Western
• Palmer (eds.) 1986 Linguistics
• Debeaugrande, Robert 1991 Linguistic Theory: The Discourse of Fundamental Works
• Harris, Randy 1993 The Linguistics Wars
• Hymes, Dell ed. 1974 Studies in the History of Linguistics: Traditions and Paradigms
• Newmeyer, Frrederick Linguistic Theory in America
• Sampson, Geoffrey 1980 Schools of Linguistics

LING6102/L61B FIRST AND SECOND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION

This course will explore issues related to the development of competence in a first and second language and the research approaches and procedures that have been used to study this phenomenon. Issues related to theoretical distinctions between competence and proficiency in so far as the latter is related to the development of literacy related abilities in formal contexts will also be explored. Topics to be covered include: (I) the relationship between linguistics and language acquisition, (ii) universal grammar, (iii) the acquisition of phonology, morphology and syntax, (iv) semantic development, (v) second language acquisition and research issues, (vi) integrated theory of second language learning, (vii) issues related to cognition, the environment and language acquisition.

Assessment: 

Course work 50%--to be assessed by a combination of the following:

• two short term papers

• a research project / paper

• seminar presentations

Examination 50%

Required Texts:  

• Fletcher, Paul & M. Garman. 1986. Language Acquisition

• Goodluck, Helen. 1981. Language Acquisition

• Ingram, David. 1989. First Language Acquisition

• Lindfors, Judith W. 1987. Children's Language and Learning

• Strozer, Judith R. 1994. Language Acquisition after Puberty

Recommended:  

• Brown, Roger. 1973. A First Langauge

• Cook, V. 1988. Chomsky's Universal Grammar

• Donaldson, Margaret. 1978. Children's Minds

• Garman, Michael. 1990. Psycholinguistics

• Lightbown, Patsy & N. Spada. 1993. How Languages are Learned

• Snow, C. & C. Ferguson 1977. Talking to Children

LING6103/L61C ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHING

The aim of this course is to have students explore theoretical issues relevant to English language teaching, the principles of selected approaches to the teaching of English and an exploration of methods used to teach English. The course will also allow for the exploration of concepts such as competence and proficiency and the distinction between cognitive academic language proficiency (CALP) / literacy related skills and basic interpersonal communication skill (BICS). The relevance of grammar instruction and its relationship to the development of writing abilities as well as the different approaches to grammar instruction will also be examined. Topics to be covered in the course will include: the learning English in a creole context, a historical survey of approaches to teaching English, the teaching of oracy, emergent literacy and the teaching of reading, an exploration of selected theoretical perspectives on the teaching of reading, teaching reading skills as strategies, approaches to teaching writing, language through literature, vocabulary instruction, the role of grammar and approaches to grammar instruction and integrated approaches to instruction.

Assessment:  

100% Course work to be assessed by a combination of the following:

• three short term papers

• one research project / paper

• seminar presentations

• practical assignment

Required Texts:  

• Brown, H. Douglas. 1987. Principles of Language Learning and Teaching

• California State. Dept. of Education. Practical Ideas for Teaching Writing as Process

• Freedman, Aviva, I. Pringle & J. Yalden. 1983. Learning to Write: First Language, Second Language

• Heimlich, Joan and Pittelman, S. 1986. Semantic Mapping: Classroom Applications

• Nagy, William. 1988. Teaching Vocabulary to Improve Reading Comprehension

• Noguchi, Rei 1991. Grammar and the Teaching of Writing

• Pittelman, Susan, J. Heimlich, L. Berglund & M. French. 1991. (1996) Semantic Feature Analysis

• Sheridan, Daniel 1993. Teaching Secondary English: Readings and Applications

LING6104/L61D SECOND AND FOREIGN LANGUAGE TEACHING

This course will examine established methods of foreign language teaching and it will also explore more recent approaches. Traditional methods to be discussed will include: the grammar-translation method, the direct method, audiolingual method and communicative language teaching. The course will also explore the theoretical approaches related to the methods studied. Concepts such as bottom-up and top-down approaches to listening and reading, the relevance of schema theory and other learner-centred approaches to language teaching will be examined.

Assessment:

100% course work to be assessed by a combination of the following:

• seminar presentations

• research paper

• research project

• practical assignment

Required texts:  

• Nunan, David. 1991. Language Teaching Methodology: A Textbook for Teachers
• Oller, John W. (Ed.). 1993. Methods that Work
• Omaggio-Hadley, Alice Teaching Language in Context
• Richards, J. & Long, M. (eds.) Methodology in TESOL

LING6105/L61E TESOL PRINCIPLES AND APPROACHES

This course will focus on the principles and methods used to teach English to speakers of other languages. Students will be exposed to a historical survey of the approaches used, the theoretical principals underlying the approaches and relevant research findings on the efficacy of these approaches. Emphasis will be placed on principles and methods of instruction and the topics to be covered will include: psycholinguistic issues in second language learning, a historical survey of TESOL approaches, developing proficiency in listening and speaking, approaches to teaching reading, schema theory and ESL pedagogy, writing in the second language classroom, approaches to grammar instruction, learner-centred approaches to ESL and policy issues related to ESL instruction in Caribbean sociolinguistic contexts.

Assessment:

100% Course work to be assessed by a combination of the following:

• research project

• research / term paper

• seminar presentations

Required Texts:  

• Long, Michael, & Jack Richards (eds.). Methodology in TESOL: A Book of Readings

• Nunan, David. 1991. Language Teaching Methodology: A Textbooks for Teachers

• Oller, John Jr. & P. Richard-Amato (eds.). 1993. Methods that Work

• Richards, Jack. 1990. The Language Teaching Matrix

• Richards, Jack and T. Rodgers (1986). Approaches and Methods in Language Teachin

LING6301/L63A SOCIOLINGUISTIC THEORY

This course seeks to examine the development and growth of Sociolonguistics as a field of study in the latter half of the Twentieth century. The following topics will be addresed:

• the definition and scope of Sociolonguistics;

• the definition and interpretation of basic concepts of theoretical importance in sociolinguistic research e.g. language-dialect, speech community, linguistic repertoire, linguistic variable, social variable, communicative competence, etc.;

• the contributions of researchers such as Gumperz, Hymes, and Labov to developments in (socio)linguistic theory.

Assessment:

Course work 100% to consist of a combination of the following:

• 3 or more short papers

• 1 Research Paper

• oral presentations

Required Texts:  

• Ammon, U., et al. Sociolinguistics

• Chambers, J.K. Sociolinguistic Theory

• Dittmar, N. Sociolinguistics: a Critical Survey of Theory and Application

• Figueroa, E. Sociolinguistic Metatheory

• Newmeyer, F. Linguistics: the Cambridge Survey. Vol. I

LING6302/L63B SOCIOLINGUISTICS OF SOCIETY

This course is designed to expose students to a more detailed examination and analysis of basic sociolinguistic concepts, issues and problems that are of theoretical importance and practical relevance to (West Indian) speech communities, given their diverse linguistic backgrounds.

Assessment:

• Two term papers 50%

• One three-hour examination 50%

Required Texts: 

• Fasold R. 1984. Sociolinguistics of Society

• Saville-Troike, M. 1982. The Ethnography of Communication

• Devonish, H. 1986. Language and Liberation: Creole Language Politics in the Caribbean

LING6303/L63C LANGUAGE VARIATION AND CHANGE

This course will introduce students to various approaches which attempt to describe and explain sociolinguistic patterns of variation observed in speech communities and to show the applicability of these approaches to language variation problems in the Caribbean. Topics will include (I) the Quantitative/Correlative Approach (Labov), (ii) the Implicational Approach (DeCamp, Rickford), (iii) The Social Network Model (Milroy), (iv) The Language as Acts of Identity/Multidimensional Model (LePage et al.).

Assessment:

• 50% Course work

• 50% Examination

Required texts:

• Fasold, R. 1990. Sociolinguistics of Language

• Milroy, L. 1987. Observing and Analysing Natural Language

• Rickford, J.R. 1987. Dimensions of a Creole Continuum

• Rickford, J.R. 1979. Variation in a Creole Continuum: Quantitative vs. Implicational Approaches

• Romaine, S. (Ed.). 1982. Sociolinguistic Variation in Speech Communities

LING6603/L66C CARIBBEAN LEXICOGRAPHY

This course will explore concepts and relevant issues related to Lexicography - Caribbean Lexicography in particular. Topics to be covered in the course will include (i) Questions of relevance and importance, (ii) What is Caribbean English? Caribbean French? Caribbean Spanish? Problems of inventorying undocumented Caribbean environments in Euro-metropolitan terms, (iii) Phonology and Orthography: The Creoles..., (iv) Determining terminology of categories..., (v) English and World Englishes in comparison with e.g. French: The Caribbean position, (vi) the heritage of Britain and Europe, (vii) The heritage of Africa, (viii) The Indic heritage, (ix) Caribbean lexico-cultural innovation; and others.

Assessment:

100% Course work to consist of one or a combination of the following:

• research / term paper

• project / practical assignment

• 2 or 3 short papers

• mid-term and/or term tests.

Required Texts:

• Allsopp, S.RR. 1996. Dictionary of Caribbean English Usage

• Sydney, Landau. 1982. Dictionaries

LING6701/L67A APPLIED LINGUISTICS RESEARCH (Same as EDCU6003 - 2 modules)

This course consists of two modules which will be taught concurrently. The first module will focus on general principles of research design and statistical approaches, while the second will focus specifically on approaches used in applied linguistics. Students will be required to work on a project leading to the design and writing of a research proposal. Topics to be covered in the course include: (I) approaches used in social research and in research on language learning and teaching, (ii) sampling techniques, (iii) types of research design (iv) selecting subjects (v) data collection and analysis procedures etc.

Assessment:

100% Course work:

• 1 or 2 Critical Reviews

• 2 Seminar presentations

• Research Proposal

Required Texts:

• Nunan, David (1992) Research Methods in Language Learning
• Hatch, E. & Lazaraton A (1991) The Research Manual: Design & Statistics for Applied Linguistics