Start date
17 September 2018
Duration
3 years full-time
4 years inc. placement year
UCAS Code
Q302
Places available (subject to change)
40
Phone contact: +44 (0)1484 472606
About the course
Language is how we make sense of the world. It makes us who we are, and is fundamental to society and the communities we all live in. On this course we’ll look at language and how it shapes us, giving you the chance to get a deeper understanding of what language is and how it works.
Humour, power, relationships, none of these would be possible without language. We’ll look at linguistics in depth and give you the chance to learn descriptive terms so you can analyse language and assess how it works.
You’ll be introduced to the basic concepts and the theory of different branches of linguistics, like phonetics and morphology. We’ll also encourage you to study the role of language in society and how it helps humans understand things. How we acquire it, the way it changes, and the way it forms an array of ways to communicate.
We’ll carry out conversation analysis, sociolinguistics and stylistics to get under the surface of the spoken or written word and understand more about what’s really going on.
The aim is not just to help you become skilled in linguistic analysis, but also to give you transferable skills that will be useful in the professional environment. Previous students have gone on to work in fields like teaching, research, publishing, broadcasting, advertising, management and politics.
In each year of your course you’ll be able to choose option modules to focus on topics that interest you. You could even study a foreign language throughout your course. In your second year you’ll also have the chance to go on a work placement, which is designed to enhance your skills ready for employment and to help you gain useful contacts in your chosen field.
The ERASMUS+ exchange scheme also offers a short-term opportunity to study abroad at one of our partner universities. You’ll join classes and receive credits towards your degree at the same time.
Language is absolutely central to our lives and the world we live in. Through language we form relationships, teach our children and manage our day-to-day lives: It underpins our whole existence. On this course we explore many facets of language, including its history, diversity and structure. We explore its use in a variety of contexts including interaction, politics, humour and forensics. Our students graduate with a set of skills and knowledge that is ideal for a broad range of careers from advertising to teaching, from public relations to local government, from marketing to speech therapy and so on.

Liz Holt, Head of English Language, Linguistics and Modern Languages
Course detail
Core modules:
Introduction to Descriptive Linguistics
This module introduces you to the structure of language as a system. You'll be able to explore the basics of linguistic description, using mostly, but not only, the English language to illustrate. The module focuses on the fundamental linguistic concept of ‘levels’ of language, starting from the smallest (sounds) and building up to sentence structure. Emphasis is on the development of practical skills in analysing language structure. This module will be assessed by a mixture of coursework assessments and formal examinations.
Approaches to Language Study
This module introduces you to a number of theoretical, analytical and methodological advances that have had a significant impact on the development of linguistics as a discipline. You will be introduced to principal ideas in linguistics and practical issues in carrying out research into language. The module thus acts as a precursor to many of the issues that will be explored in greater detail in years 2 and 3 of the course, and is designed to enthuse you about the value of studying language.
Introduction to Stylistics
This module introduces you to the linguistic analysis of literary and other texts. The focus is on describing and explaining the relationship between linguistic choices and poetic effects in the three major literary genres of poetry, drama and prose fiction. In the lectures you are introduced to a range of analytical tools for describing and explaining meaning and effect, and in seminars you are given the opportunity to test out your understanding by applying these tools to the analysis of a number of extracts from literary texts. The emphasis throughout the course is on you developing practical analytical skills.
History of English
This module introduces you to the history of the English language from the Anglo-Saxon period to the present day. You'll have the opportunity to focus on how English has developed historically, from its earliest origins in the Old English period, through its development into Middle English and then Early Modern English, to its present-day status as a global language. The key theme of the module is how English varies over time, and you'll be encouraged to examine how intra- and extra-linguistic factors have caused this.
Option modules:
Choose two from a list which may include:
Introduction to Intercultural Communication
Introduction to Intercultural Communication provides an overview of the main concepts, methodologies and data types of the field of intercultural communication and interpersonal pragmatics in a broader sense. By analysing real-life interactions, you'll study key topics such as relationality, culturally situated language use, misunderstandings, rituals, ideologies and politeness.
A modern language module from a variety of modern language modules
Modern Foreign Language modules can be chosen from the available range and entry levels appropriate to your prior experience and knowledge.*
Core modules:
Language in the Workplace
This module provides you with the opportunity to undertake a work placement or a work-related activity within a language and/or intercultural context. You’ll be asked to present work for assessment in the form of documentation associated with the placement or activity, a written log evaluation of the process, experience and outcomes, and an oral presentation on related issues and career planning.
Plus choose one from a list which may include-
Field Linguistics
This module introduces you to the history and practice of field linguistics and helps you to acquire the skills needed for successful description of unfamiliar languages. Imagine you are the first literate person to contact an isolated village of speakers of a previously undiscovered language. Your group will have the opportunity to work with one speaker of a language unknown to you, to discover some of the regularities of sounds and structures that make up this language.
Professional English as a Foreign Language: Further Studies
This advanced module provides those of you with university entry-level English with the opportunity to develop your ability to communicate in the language. Oral role-plays improve confidence and range of expression, whilst written activities build fluency and quality of composition. Reading and aural exercises consolidate these skills. The topic-based content of the module is contemporary and is designed to provide you with a broad understanding of key social, political and cultural phenomena. You will be assessed through reading/writing, speaking and listening activities carried out in tutorial.
Option modules:
Choose three from a list which may include:
Communication across Cultures
Communication across Cultures provides introduction to culture-specific interactional norms, by comparing linguistic behaviour in a range of target cultures. This module puts strong emphasis on cross-cultural rather than intercultural issues, giving you a wide comparative overview of interactional norms across cultures, with the aim of boosting your practical competence in interpreting cross-cultural differences in terms of language behaviour.
Conversation Analysis
This module focuses on informal conversation. Fundamental features of this variety will be explored, including the turn-taking system, turn construction units, storytelling, overlap, repair and preference. Discussion will include consideration of approaches to the study of language, and the relationship between language and society as a result of studying conversation analytic findings.
Stylistics
This module focuses on the linguistic analysis of style in language. It aims to improve your skills in text analysis through the introduction of a range of cutting-edge theories, frameworks and methods for literary and non-literary stylistic analysis. You'll have the opportunity to explore the relationship between form and function in language by analysing a wide range of texts and investigating such issues as text style, genre style and authorial style.
Corpus Linguistics
Corpus linguistics focuses on the techniques of computational corpus-based language study. The module concentrates on the analysis of electronic linguistic corpora using corpus linguistics software packages such as AntConc and WMatrix. Corpus linguistics methodologies are used to illuminate such areas of linguistics as grammar, lexicography and stylistics. Additionally, you'll have the chance to examine how to build, store and exploit your own corpora for linguistic analysis.
Pragmatics
After considering the scope of pragmatics (language use) and its place in the study of language and communication, this module covers its major conceptual foundations (speech act theory, deixis, presupposition, implicature, relevance theory, context) and then proceeds to introduce its major developments and applications (the pragmatic perspective on conversational structure; interpersonal pragmatics, intercultural pragmatics; discursive pragmatics; metapragmatics.)
Phonetics and Phonology
This module develops your skills in the phonetic and phonological approach to language analysis. It will build upon your knowledge from Introduction to Descriptive Linguistics, while introducing new levels of phonetic and phonological analysis. This module will cover the basics of acoustic analysis of speech, commonly used phonological notation, and the position of phonology within linguistics. You will be introduced to a new piece of software to conduct acoustic analysis of speech and also be provided the tools to analyse and describe sound alternations in different languages.
Intercultural Communication
The aim of this module is to develop the tools of syntactic analysis and description that you began to acquire in the Introduction to Descriptive Linguistics module. You will be introduced to a more formal syntactic framework, specifically Minimalist Generative Syntax, which will be contrasted with other generative and non-generative approaches. You will be introduced to the theoretical motivations behind Minimalism and apply the theoretical apparatus to solve syntactic problems. This will provide a more nuanced understanding of the grammatical features of language, how languages differ and how grammatical relationships are realised.
Syntax
The aim of this module is to develop the tools of syntactic analysis and description that you began to acquire in 'Introduction to Descriptive Linguistics'. You will be introduced to a more formal syntactic framework, specifically Minimalist Generative Syntax, which will be contrasted with other generative and non-generative approaches. You will be introduced to the theoretical motivations behind Minimalism and apply the theoretical apparatus to solve syntactic problems. This will provide a more nuanced understanding of the grammatical features of language, how languages differ and how grammatical relationships are realised.
A modern language module from a variety of modern language modules
Modern Foreign Language modules can be chosen from the available range and entry levels appropriate to your prior experience and knowledge.*
The course also offers an optional one-year (40 weeks) work placement after the second year, in the UK or abroad. This will give you the opportunity to gain valuable hands-on experience, insight into your chosen career and open up your graduate employment prospects.
Core module:
Dissertation In English Language and Linguistics
You'll be asked to produce an extended piece of work supervised individually by a member of staff. There will be a regular schedule of supervisions and you'll be asked to submit evidence of your progress (outlines, drafts, etc.) at regular intervals. The skills workshops will focus on raising your awareness of research practices, and developing your organisational and self-management skills.
OR
Project in English Language
In this module you'll produce a 5,000 word project supervised individually by a member of staff. You'll choose an area of research, engage with secondary material and carry out a detailed analysis of primary sources. There will be a regular schedule of supervisions and you will submit evidence of your progress (outlines, drafts, etc.) at regular intervals. This module is assessed with a 5,000 word project (100%).
Professional English as a Foreign Language: Comparative Studies
This upper advanced module provides those of you who have passed Professional English as a Foreign Language: Further Studies module (or who have equivalent competence) with the opportunity to further develop your ability to communicate in the language. Oral role-plays and group discussions improve confidence and range of expression, whilst written activities build communication skills. Reading and aural exercises complement these. The topic-based content of the module is contemporary and is designed to provide you with a good understanding of key socio-cultural issues of places where the language is spoken. You will be assessed through reading/writing, speaking and listening activities carried out in tutorial.
Option modules:
Choose four from a list which may include:
Relations Across Cultures
The module studies a wide range of interpersonal pragmatic practices, focusing on how relationships are co-constructed in interaction. Instead of approaching interpersonal relations as stand-alone phenomena, the module provides an analytic view to encourage you to capture these practices in a single framework, by approaching them as social actions situated in time and space.
Translation in Practice
This module introduces you to the translation theory and provides the instruction and setting for translation practice. You'll have the opportunity to explore translation history and the emergence of translation studies, the current problems and issues in the field. You'll be supported to apply these theoretical concepts to texts, evaluating the difficulties and problems faced in the translation process. You'll be encouraged to examine the tools to overcome difficulties and the vocabulary to describe and criticise translations. You'll also have the chance to explore the practicalities of the translation business, from seeking work to using technologies available.
Audiovisual Translation
This module allows you to explore current issues and practices in a number of aspects of audiovisual translation (AVT), including subtitling, audio description and dubbing for TV and film drama. The module aims to develop your understanding of the effects of decisions made in the process of audiovisual translation, and to use linguistic insights to improve professional practice in this area. You'll have the opportunity to explore both the theoretical and practical aspects of audiovisual translation and gain knowledge of the industry.
Language of Humour
This module focuses on how the kind of language we use can vary according to such factors as the geographical or social background of the speaker, the formality or informality of the speech situation and the purpose of the speech event. In addition, you'll have the opportunity to consider how the identity of speakers is represented by the way in which they use language, and how speakers interact with others in order to achieve particular conversational goals.
Multilingualism
This module explores bilingualism and multilingualism, describing the phenomena and learning how they are acquired, practised and lost in speakers. You'll have the chance to explore the social contexts surrounding multilingualism, such as education and community, as well as social attitudes towards multilingualism.
Language and Power
You'll have the opportunity to explore issues relating to language and power and how to apply the techniques of critical linguistics to example texts ranging from casual conversation to political speechmaking. Techniques you’ll have the chance to study include the analysis of naming, transitivity, modality, speech and thought representation, presupposition, opposition, negation and deixis. You'll also be encouraged to read and discuss extracts of the seminal work in this field.
Child Language Acquisition
This module provides an introduction into the way in which children acquire language. Along with overviewing some general issues such as the acquisition of vocabulary and grammar, the module explores the procedure of acquiring social skills through language learning. This ‘socialisation’ process spans expression of one’s emotions via language, through the proper use of conventional language, to distinguishing between the norm of language use in group and individual settings. The module aims to train you to collect and critically analyse language data produced by children.
Face and Politeness
This module is about how people get on – or don’t get on – with each other. It explores why people say the things they say and do the things they do, the effects of these actions on their feelings and sense of self, and how they evaluate what people say and do as polite or rude, friendly or unfriendly, acceptable or unacceptable.
Forensic Phonetics and Forensic Linguistics
This module provides an introduction to forensics as it is applied to both speech (Forensic Phonetics) and text (Forensic Linguistics). On this module you will learn about the roles speech and text play as evidence in the courtroom as well as for criminal investigations. You will be introduced to a range of topics from both forensic phonetics and forensic linguistics that will enable you to situate the use of language in the real world and to analyse speech and written language from a forensic perspective. The topics introduced through this module will be supported by lectures and hands-on lab work.
Cross-Cultural Communication
This module explores variation in culture-specific interactional norms, by comparing linguistic behaviour in a range of target cultures. It puts strong emphasis on cross-cultural rather than intercultural issues, thus giving you a wide comparative overview of interactional norms across cultures, and boosting your practical competence in interpreting cross-cultural differences in terms of language behaviour.
A modern language module from a variety of modern language modules
Modern Foreign Language modules can be chosen from the available range and entry levels appropriate to the student’s prior experience and knowledge.*
*You may only choose ONE modern language module per year
At any year of study, one module outside the named degree programme, but offered within the School of Music, Humanities and Media, may be taken as an alternative to any of the option modules listed above where feasible and subject to timetabling restrictions and the approval of your Course Leader.
Teaching and assessment
13% of the study time on this course is spent in lectures, seminars, tutorials etc. All teaching is supported by opportunities for individual consultation with staff. You will be encouraged to participate in group and pair work, and individual presentations.
A variety of assessment methods are used, in order to take into account different learning styles and skills. Methods used include formal reports, essays, textual analysis, formal examinations and oral presentations.
Your module specification/course handbook will provide full details of the assessment criteria applying to your course.
Feedback (either written and/or verbal) is normally provided on all coursework submissions within three term time weeks – unless the submission was made towards the end of the session in which case feedback would be available on request after the formal publication of results. Feedback on exam performance/final coursework is available on request after the publication of results.
Entry requirements
ABBat A Level |
128 UCAS tariff points from a combination of Level 3 qualifications |
DDM in BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma |
|
We do not require any specific subject choices at A Level, but would like to see evidence of interest in language and linguistics demonstrated in the personal statement.
Other suitable experience or qualifications will be considered. For further information please see the University's minimum entry requirements.
Teaching excellence
- Huddersfield is a TEF gold-rated institution delivering consistently outstanding teaching and learning of the highest quality found in the UK (Teaching Excellence Framework, 2017).
- We won the first Global Teaching Excellence Award recognising the University’s commitment to world-class teaching and its success in developing students as independent learners and critical thinkers (HEA, 2017).
- Here at Huddersfield, you’ll be taught by some of the best lecturers in the country. The University is number one in England for the proportion of staff with teaching qualifications (HESA, 2018).
- For the past ten years, we’ve been the UK’s leading university for National Teaching Fellowships too, which rate Britain’s best lecturers. It’s all part of our ongoing drive for teaching excellence, which helps our students to achieve great things too.
- We’re unique in the fact that all our permanent teaching staff* have, or are completing, doctorates. This expertise, together with our teaching credentials, means that students here learn from knowledgeable and well-qualified teachers and academics who are at the forefront of their subject area.
*Permanent staff, after probation: some recently appointed colleagues will only obtain recognition in the months after their arrival in Huddersfield, once they have started teaching; research degrees applies to those on contracts of more than half-time.
Facilities
Student support
At the University of Huddersfield, you'll find support networks and services to help you get ahead in your studies and social life. Whether you study at undergraduate or postgraduate level, you'll soon discover that you're never far away from our dedicated staff and resources to help you to navigate through your personal student journey. Find out more about all our support services.
Important information
We will always try to deliver your course as described on this web page. However, sometimes we may have to make changes as set out below.
We review all optional modules each year and change them to reflect the expertise of our staff, current trends in research and as a result of student feedback. We will always ensure that you have a range of options to choose from and we will let students know in good time the options available for them to choose for the following year.
We will only change core modules for a course if it is necessary for us to do so, for example to maintain course accreditation. We will let you know about any such changes as soon as possible, usually before you begin the relevant academic year.
Sometimes we have to make changes to other aspects of a course or how it is delivered. We only make these changes if they are for reasons outside of our control, or where they are for our students’ benefit. Again, we will let you know about any such changes as soon as possible, usually before the relevant academic year. Our regulations set out our procedure which we will follow when we need to make any such changes.
When you enrol as a student of the University, your study and time with us will be governed by a framework of regulations, policies and procedures, which form the basis of your agreement with us. These include regulations regarding the assessment of your course, academic integrity, your conduct (including attendance) and disciplinary procedure, fees and finance and compliance with visa requirements (where relevant). It is important that you familiarise yourself with these as you will be asked to agree to abide by them when you join us as a student. You will find a guide to the key terms here, where you will also find links to the full text of each of the regulations, policies and procedures referred to.
The Office for Students (OfS) is the principal regulator for the University.
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