LING 5004 - Meaning as Choice

North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2017

Language is a complex phenomenon learned naturally in the first years of life. It is sometimes called the most distinctive feature of humans, and whilst it can be argued that a great number of species have evolved their own distinctive communication, it is also arguable that humans alone have evolved a detailed and specific grammar with which to create meaning. The course will introduce participants to one functional linguistic tradition, namely Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL), and the framework it offers for a close of analysis and interpretation of language in use. The essential question which SFL aims to inform is, `How is language working here?' (here meaning in this context).The model aligns language in use very closely with its context and, accordingly, the notion of context is also theorised. SFL is an `appliable' linguistics and students will apply their understanding of the relationship between grammar, meaning and text to investigate how language works in different contexts. These contexts may include the workplaces of participants, as well as other domains of public interest, for example the media, politics, education, health and sport.

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Course Details

Course Code	LING 5004
Course	Meaning as Choice
Coordinating Unit	Linguistics
Term	Semester 2
Level	Postgraduate Coursework
Location/s	North Terrace Campus
Units	6
Available for Study Abroad and Exchange	Y
Restrictions	Master of Arts (Applied Linguistics) and Master of Education students only
Assessment	Participation (10%), grammar tests x 3 (3 x 20%), review of literature (30%)

Course Staff

Course Coordinator: Dr John Walsh

Course Coordinator: Dr John Walsh
Phone: 08 8303 5196 Email: john.walsh@adelaide.edu.au
Campus: North Terrace Room: Napier Building, Room 924

Course Tutor: Ms. Evita Ratcliffe
Phone: 08 8313 1403Email: evita.ratcliffe@student.adelaide.edu.au
Campus: North Terrace Room: Napier Building, Room 912

Communication: Please make initial inquiries for appointments with John and Evita via email.
Consultation: John Walsh, Monday 2.00 – 4.00pm
Evita Ratcliffe, Thursday 12.00 – 1.00pm

Course Timetable

The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

Course Learning Outcomes

1	demonstrate a knowledge of the key elements of Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL)
2	analyse how language constitutes particular theories of reality, both experiential and interpersonal
3	analyse texts with confidence through understanding and applying grammatical resources from SFL
4	understand how language works in relation to its context of use
5	confidently engage with technical discourse and metalanguage
6	articulate the processes of how language is used to ‘get things done’ in human life
7	apply their knowledge about language to particular domains of professional and personal life
8	critically respond to texts used within the course and those which appear out in the world, for example in the media, including contemporary technologies
9	use new knowledge to better prepare and deliver coherently and logically argued written material
10	engage productively and respectfully with their peers.

University Graduate Attributes

No information currently available.

Learning Resources
Required Resources

Set text: Eggins S. An Introduction to Systemic Functional Linguistics (continuum, 2007)

Recommended Resources

The Linguistics homepage on the Barr Smith Library site has a good section on resources for studies in linguistics and is well stocked with resources particular to Systemic Functional Linguistics.

Online Learning
Additional course-related material is available through MyUni. The following documents will be available via MyUni:
- Course Outlines
- Lecture Content
- Description of assessment tasks
- Seminar related materials
Learning & Teaching Activities

Learning & Teaching Modes

No information currently available.

Workload

No information currently available.

Learning Activities Summary

No information currently available.

The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
Assessment must maintain academic standards.

Assessment Summary

No information currently available.

Assessment Detail

No information currently available.

Submission

No information currently available.

Course Grading

Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
Grade	Mark	Description
FNS		Fail No Submission
F	1-49	Fail
P	50-64	Pass
C	65-74	Credit
D	75-84	Distinction
HD	85-100	High Distinction
CN		Continuing
NFE		No Formal Examination
RP		Result Pending

Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

Student Feedback

The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.
Student Support
Policies & Guidelines
This section contains links to relevant assessment-related policies and guidelines - all university policies.
Fraud Awareness

Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

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Authorised by:	Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Academic)
Maintained by:	Course Outlines Administrator