LAN101 Introduction To Language and Grammar
LAN101 Introduction To Language and Grammar
General Objectives: This module aims to introduce students to the definitions of language suggested by linguists and scholars and then
distinguishes between human language and animal systems of communication. The module, then, introduces learners to the fundamental
concepts of language such as phonetics, morphology, syntax, semantics, and pragmatics. Further students will be equipped with the skills to
use major types of English grammar such as functional and prescriptive grammar in their English usage to enable an effective communicative
process and interpretation of meanings in both academic context and real-life situations. In order to meet this objective, students will engage in
a variety of task-based activities.
Assessment Approach
A. Opinion-exchange tasks (10%)
This assessment task aims to make the grammatical study memorable by providing a personalised context. Students in pairs will engage in
discussions and exchange of ideas for ten minutes in front of the class. A maximum of five pairs can discuss during one session. The tutor and
students will be the judge and audience. The tutor will provide cue cards to the pair that contain personal topics such as, but not limited to,
hobbies, favourite authors, best artists, personal talent and other topics. This task will help students to develop complete sentences, use proper
subject-verb agreement, develop cohesive discourse and use proper collocations. The task will be assessed based on the following criteria:
Focus on the topic 1%
Use of complete sentences 3%
Use of correct subject-verb agreement 3%
Cohesion in discourse 1%
Proper collocations 2%
Pre-requisite: None
Subject Matter:
Unit I: Definition and characteristics of language
1.1 Definitions of language
1.2 Human language versus animal system of communication
1.2.1 Distinctive Properties of human language and animal system of communication
1.2.1.1 Displacement
1.2.1.2 Arbitrariness
1.2.1.3 Productivity
1.2.1.4 Cultural transmission
1.2.1.5 Duality
Unit II: Introduction to the structure of language: Phonetics, Morphology, and Syntax
2.1 Phonetics
2.1.1 Definition of phonetics
2.1.2 Definition of phoneme as the basic unit of sound
2.1.3 Differences between grapheme and phoneme
2.2 Morphology
2.2.1 Definition of morphology
2.2.2 Definition of morpheme as the basic unit of word
2.2.3 Differences between free and bound morpheme
2.2.4 Differences between phoneme and morpheme
2.3 Syntax
2.3.1 Definition of syntax as the construction of sentence
2.3.2 Concept of subject and predicate
2.3.3 Differences between word, phrase, clause, and sentence
2.3.4 Agreement in subject and verb
2.3.5 Basic English word order
1. Essential Reading
Allen, R. (2004). Punctuation. Oxford University Press.
Cutts, M. (2013). The Oxford guide to plain English (4th ed.). Oxford University Press.
McIntosh, C. (Ed.). (2009). Oxford collocations dictionary for students of English (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press.
Murphy, R. (2015). English grammar in use (4th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
Swan, M. (2017). Practical English usage (4th ed.). Oxford University Press.
Thomson, A. J., & Martinet, A. V. (2009). A practical English grammar (4th ed.). Oxford University Press.
2. Additional Reading
Butterfield, J. (2013). Oxford A-Z of English usage. Oxford University Press.
Murphy, R. (2015). Essential grammar in use (4th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
Seely, J. (2013a). Oxford A-Z of English grammar and punctuation. Oxford University Press.
Seely, J. (2013b). The Oxford guide to effective writing and speaking (3rd ed.). Oxford University Press.