Admission requirements
We strongly recommend that you have passed Linguistics 2 prior to enrolling in this course.
For this course transitional provisions apply. If you are a student who started the BA programme in 2024-2025 or earlier and have to retake this course, please check the 'More info'-tab or contact your study advisor.
Description
The first part of this course continues our examination of the phrase and sentence structure of English. We study the way in which noun phrases and sentences (more specifically, clauses) are built up, as well as their relationship to other phrases and clauses. We also pay some attention to syntactic variation between different varieties of English.
The second part of this course is concerned with the relationship between phonetic and phonological structure in English, building on the material considered in Linguistics 1 and Linguistics 2. The focus of the course will be on the internal structure of speech sounds, on the phonological organisation of these sounds into syllables and on the relationship between phonology and the structure of morphologically complex words. Each week, the lecture introduces phonological concepts and terminology that will be applied to the phonological processes and problem-solving exercises that will be discussed in the tutorial. As a preparation for each lecture and tutorial, you read one or more book chapters and you prepare exercises or short assignments at home.
The weekly tutorials discuss the readings for that particular week in more detail. Each week, you should prepare the exercises and assignments given for that week. Some assignments are meant to help you interpret the readings and understand the most relevant recent theories in the field of linguistics.
Course objectives
In the first part of this course, students:
learn to analyse the internal structure of noun phrases and clauses
learn to draw tree diagrams for the structure of phrases and clauses
learn to identify different clause types and their function
learn to formulate (orally and in writing) syntactic arguments about sentence and phrase structure
learn to reflect on syntactic arguments about sentence and phrase structure
learn about syntactic variation between different varieties of English
In the second part of this course, students:
gain a better understanding of the phonological representation of segments and syllables, and of segmental processes such as assimilation..
develop analytical and problem-solving skills. For this reason, you will do exercises and assignments that are intended to help you to think about the theories discussed by focusing your attention on analyses of phonological processes.
Timetable
The timetables are available through My Timetable.
Mode of instruction
Lecture (1 hour per week)
Seminar (1 hour per week)
Assessment method
Assessment
Midterm written exam (1.5-hours) on phonology
Final written exam (1.5-hours) on syntax
Attendance is compulsory. Missing more than two tutorials means that students may be excluded from the tutorials. Unauthorized absence also applies to being unprepared, not participating and/or not bringing the relevant course materials to class.
Weighing
Midterm written exam (50%); minimum grade required: 5.5
Final written exam (50%); minimum grade required: 5.5
The final mark for the course is established by determination of the weighted average combined with additional requirements. The additional requirement is a 5.5 for both exams. To pass the course, the weighted average of the partial grades must be 5.5 or higher.
Please note: you need to have passed both Ling3A (midterm exam) and Ling3B (final exam) to pass this course. If you fail one or both parts, you need to retake both parts the following academic year.
Resit
If the mark for either exam is below 5.5, the exam will have to be retaken during the resit period.
Inspection and feedback
How and when an exam review will take place will be disclosed together with the publication of the exam results at the latest. If a student requests a review within 30 days after publication of the exam results, an exam review will have to be organized.
Reading list
Börjars, Kersti and Kate Burridge (2019), Introducing English grammar. 3rd edition. London: Routledge.
Philip Carr (2019), English Phonetics and Phonology: An Introduction. 3rd edition. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell.
A course programme will be made available through Brightspace before the start of the course. The booktitles and / or syllabi to be used in the course, where it can be purchased and how this literature should be studied beforehand.
Registration
Enrolment through MyStudyMap is mandatory.
General information about course and exam enrolment is available on the website.
Registration À la carte education, Contract teaching and Exchange
Information for those interested in taking this course in context of À la carte education (without taking examinations), eg. about costs, registration and conditions.
Information for those interested in taking this course in context of Contract teaching (with taking examinations), eg. about costs, registration and conditions.
For the registration of exchange students contact Humanities International Office.
Contact
For substantive questions, contact the lecturer listed in the right information bar.
For questions about enrolment, admission, etc, contact the Education Administration Office: Arsenaal
Remarks
Not applicable.