Overview
Linguistics 2 offers young linguists an opportunity to delve further into a variety of topics introduced in Linguistics 1, along with a few new areas of study and application of linguistic principles to new languages. As in Ling 1, there is a balance between modules investigating the structure of language and others that describe how language is used.
For more information about our curriculum, please see the Student Handbook 2025.
The modules to be taught are listed below:
Systemic Functional Linguistics
Lecturer: Dr. Ian Siebörger
This module teaches a deeper investigation of the grammatical aspects of the Systemic-Functional model of language, introduced in the Language in the Media module in first year. In particular it includes:
- an introduction to the Systemic-Functional model of context
- more detailed analyses of the Ideational, Interpersonal and Textual metafunctions
- clauses and clause structure
- real-world applications of Systemic Functional Linguistics
African Linguistics
Lecturer: Ms. Mbali Jiyane
This module covers some of the following topics:
- Bantu languages overview
- Agglutination and word formation
- The verb complex
- Grammatical functions and agreement
- Argument structure-changing operations
- Object marking parameters
Psycholinguistics
Lecturer: Ms. Tracy Probert
This module aims to increase your understanding of language acquisition, in particular second language acquisition and language learning. This module will expose you to theories and central arguments around second language acquisition. This module covers the following topics:
- theories on second language acquisition
- the nature of learner language: second language analysis
- comparing L1 and L2 acquisition
- affective, social and cultural factors in L2 acquisition
- bilingualism
Phonetics and Phonology
Lecturer: Dr. William Bennett
This module covers various topics in phonetics, phonology, and the phonetics-phonology interface, including themes such as:
- consonantal gestures
- acoustic phonetics
- vowels and vowel-like articulations
- introductory phonological theory
- phonetics vs. phonology
- surface and underlying representations
- feature theory
- phonological typology and naturalness
Sociolinguistics
Lecturer: Ms. Kelly Kilian
This module covers some of the following topics:
- sociolinguistic concepts
- research procedures (dialectology, variation studies)
- variation based on age, class, social network and ethnicity
Linguistics & Community/Pragmatics
Lecturer: Prof. Mark de Vos
This module will be an opportunity for students to make connections between linguistic knowledge and insights gained through serving in the Makhanda community at a local school.
This module aims to:
- sensitize students to linguistic issues in the Makhanda community
- give students an opportunity to apply their linguistic knowledge in real-world contexts
- explore the linguistic dimensions of those contexts and understand how the linguistic and the social intersect
- develop students’ responsibility and leadership abilities
- equip students with knowledge and skills needed for civic engagement
Syntax
Lecturer: Prof. Mark de Vos
This module builds on the Language Structures module in first year, and explores the following topics:
- constituent structure
- Relationships between constituents: Binding; C-command; Merge; Move; Agree.
- clause structure and argument structure
- Phrase structure and X-bar Theory
- Cross-linguistic similarities and differences
- A derivational (Minimalist) approach to syntactic structure
Discourse Analysis
Lecturer: TBA
For more information about Linguistics 2, please contact Mbali Jiyane.
Last Modified: Mon, 10 Feb 2025 09:40:59 SAST
