ENGE1500 Course Outline Department of English
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
ENGE1500 Introduction to English Linguistics
Term-1, 2023-24 Time/Venue: TBA
Instructor: Dr. Tongle Sun Office: FKH322
Email:
[email protected] Phone: 3943-7462
Course Description
This course offers an overview of the linguistic structure of English and how it is used in our social
world. We systematically study the English language at various levels: words, phrases, sentences,
and beyond. This course also provides students with the opportunity to observe and explain the
ways in which English is used in everyday life. Some of the questions to be explored are:
What is the nature of human language?
What is linguistics?
What is the difference between language learning and linguistics?
How can we study English as a system of communication?
What is the role of English in different domains in our society (e.g., in school, at home, on the
internet?)
Topics/Fundamental Concepts
1. Introduction to course / Introduction to language and linguistics
2. Morphology: The words of language
3. Syntax: The sentence patterns of language
4. Semantics: The meaning of language
5. Pragmatics: Language in context
6. Discourse analysis
7. First language acquisition
8. Second language acquisition: Teaching and learning English as a second language
9. Sociolinguistics: Language variation and varieties
10. Language, culture, and communication
Learning Outcomes
At the end of this course, students should be able to:
• Observe the characteristics of modern English language
• Understand some basic concepts in linguistics
• Describe how words are formed in English (Morphology)
• Analyze the structure of English phrases and sentences (Syntax)
• Explain how meaning is organized in our mind (Semantics)
• Identify how language is used by speakers in actual social interaction (Pragmatics)
• Examine how sentences in spoken and written language form larger meaningful units of
communication within contexts (Discourse Analysis)
• Understand how first and second languages are acquired and learned (Language Acquisition)
• Observe how people use English in society (Sociolinguistics)
• Explain the connections between language, culture, and communication (Language and
Culture)
Note: This course outline provides a tentative overview of the course content and may be subject to revision.
ENGE1500 Course Outline Department of English
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Required and Recommended Readings
Required text:
Yule, G. (2020). The study of language (7th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
(Hard copy available at the University bookstore; e-book available via library)
Recommended readings:
Crystal, D. (2019). The Cambridge encyclopedia of the English language (3rd ed.). Cambridge University
Press. (e-book available via library)
Fromkin, V., Rodman, R., & Hyams, N. (2017). An introduction to language (11th ed.). Cengage. (e-
book available via library)
*You may also refer to the end of each chapter in Yule (2020) for further reading on each topic.
Assessment Scheme (Subject to Change)
Assessment Weight
1 Attendance* and participation (at lectures, tutorials, online discussion) 10%
2 In-class midterm quiz 20%
3 Term paper 30%
4 End-of-course examination 40%
*Low attendance in tutorials and lectures will negatively affect your overall coursework grade.
Academic Honesty and Plagiarism
Attention is drawn to University policy and regulations on honesty in academic work, and to the
disciplinary guidelines and procedures applicable to breaches of such policy and regulations.
Details may be found at http://www.cuhk.edu.hk/policy/academichonesty/. Your essay must
be submitted to VeriGuide. Fill in the declaration form and attach it to your essay.
Grading Criteria
Grade A / Excellent: Outstanding performance on ALL learning outcomes.
Demonstrates the ability to synthesize and apply the principles or skills learned in the course in a manner that
would surpass the normal expectations at this level and typical of standards that may be common at higher levels
of study. The ‘A’ grade should be reserved for truly excellent work that exceeds the level expected for the majority
of students and are expected to be achieved only by a small minority.
Grade A- / Very Good: Generally outstanding performance on ALMOST ALL learning outcomes.
Demonstrates the ability to synthesize and apply the principles or skills learned in the course in a manner that
would fully fulfill the normal expectations at this level and occasionally reaches standards that may be common
at higher levels of study.
Grade B+ / Good (Plus): HIGH performance on all learning outcomes, OR HIGH performance on
some learning outcomes which compensates WELL for slightly less satisfactory performance on others,
resulting in overall substantial performance.
Demonstrates the ability to apply WELL the principles or skills learned in the course in a comprehensive manner
that would sufficiently fulfill the normal expectations at this level WELL.
Grade B / Good: SUBSTANTIAL performance on all learning outcomes, OR SUBSTANTIAL
performance on some learning outcomes which compensates for slightly less satisfactory performance
on others, resulting in overall substantial performance.
Demonstrates the ability to apply the principles or skills learned in the course in a MORE COMPREHENSIVE
manner that would sufficiently fulfill the normal expectations at this level.
Note: This course outline provides a tentative overview of the course content and may be subject to revision.
ENGE1500 Course Outline Department of English
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Grade B- / Good (Minus): GOOD performance on all learning outcomes, OR GOOD performance on
some learning outcomes which compensates for slightly less satisfactory performance on others,
resulting in overall substantial performance.
Demonstrates the ability to apply the principles or skills learned in the course in a COMPREHENSIVE manner
that would sufficiently fulfill the normal expectations at this level.
Grade C+ / Fair (Plus): VERY SATISFACTORY performance on the majority of learning outcomes.
Demonstrates the ability to apply the principles or skills learned in the course in a SOMEWHAT SUSTAINED
manner that would meet the basic requirement at this level.
Grade C / Fair: SATISFACTORY performance on the majority of learning outcomes.
Demonstrates the ability to partially apply the principles or skills learned in the course in a manner that would
meet the basic requirement at this level.
Grade C- / Fair (Minus): SOMEWHAT SATISFACTORY performance on A NUMBER OF learning
outcomes.
Demonstrates the ability to SOMEWHAT apply the principles or skills learned in the course in a manner that
would meet the BARE basic requirement at this level.
Grade D+ / Pass (Plus): BARELY SATISFACTORY performance on A FEW learning outcomes.
Addresses the course inadequately by meeting the basic requirement at this level only in some areas while
responding minimally with possibly tangential content in others.
Grade D / Pass: ALMOST BARELY satisfactory performance on VERY FEW learning outcomes.
Addresses the course inadequately by meeting the basic requirement at this level only in very few areas while
responding very minimally with possibly tangential content in others.
Grade F / Failure: Unsatisfactory performance on a number of learning outcomes, OR failure to meet
specified assessment requirements.
Fails to address the course and likely does not understand what the course requires. In other words, the work
completely misses the point.
Note: This course outline provides a tentative overview of the course content and may be subject to revision.
