VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI

UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES

FACULTY OF LINGUISTICS AND CULTURES OF ENGLISH SPEAKING COUNTRIES
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INTRODUCTION TO ENGLISH LINGUISTICS 1
Program: Undergraduate
Course title: Introduction to English Linguistics 1
Course credit value: 3
Course code: ENG2055
Course status: Core
Semester: 5
Class hour: 3 / week

1. INSTRUCTORS:

Name and Title Research interests Phone Email

number
Trương Thị Ánh Phonetics and 0356122183 truong.anh09011@gmail.com
Phonology, Syntax,
Functional Grammar.
Vũ Minh Huyền Phonetics and 0904086260 vuhuyen84@gmail.com
Phonology, Syntax,
Discourse Analysis
Nguyễn Thị Thùy Linh Phonetics and 0989314446 linhnguyen804@yahoo.com
Phonology, Syntax,
Discourse Analysis
Nguyễn Tuấn Minh Phonetics and 0375246062 tuanminh7292@gmail.com
Phonology, Syntax,
Semantics
Đoàn Thị Nương Phonetics and 0988909630 Nuong.doan88@gmail.com
Phonology, Syntax,
Pragmatics, Discourse
Analysis
Nguyễn T. Minh Tâm Phonetics and 0989669422 minhtambb@gmail.com
Phonology, Syntax,
Functional Grammar.
Phạm Xuân Thọ Phonetics and 0913385159 thovnu@gmail.com
Phonology, Syntax,
Semantics, Pragmatics

2. PREREQUISITES: There are no prerequisites for this course, other than an interest in linguistics
and a good English language proficiency level.

3. COREQUISITES: Level B2 in the CEFR

4. SUBSEQUENT COURSES: Introduction to English Linguistics 2

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5. COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This course is a general introduction to English linguistics. It is designed for ELT and English
linguistics students. The course will focus primarily on the three core areas of linguistics: phonetics
and phonology (the sounds of English and how they are classified or combined), morphology (how
words are formed from smaller units of meaning), and syntax (how words come together to form
sentences).
Broader topics of linguistics such as semantics, pragmatics, discourse analysis, critical discourse
analysis, sociolinguistics, and language acquisition will be explored in the second module of this
course.

6. COURSE OBJECTIVES :
- In terms of knowledge: The course offers students insight into English phonetics and
phonology, morphology and syntax through the medium of English. It also provides the
foundation needed for subsequent study in TESOL / applied linguistics. It is expected that by
the end of the course, students should be able to understand and work with basic concepts and
methodologies in linguistic science, to analyse language in terms of its phonology, morphology
and syntax, and to discuss linguistic issues in an informed way with both linguists and non-
linguists.

- In terms of skills: To encourage students to think critically, discuss the issues with classmates
and teachers and question what they or written resources say. To give students an opportunity
to present their own ideas and those of others in a logical way.

- In terms of attitude: To teach students to be serious and honest in studying, taking exams and
carrying out research.

7. TEACHING MATERIALS:

Prescribed textbook:

- Brinton, L. J. & Brinton, D. M. (2010a). The Linguistic Structure of Modern English, A

Linguistic Introduction. Philadelphia: John Benjamins Publishing Company.
- Brinton, L. J. & Brinton, D. M. (2010b). The Linguistic Structure of Modern English, A
Linguistic Introduction, Workbook. http://doi.org/10.1075/z.156.workbook

Recommended readings:

- Finegan, E. (2008). Language: Its Structure and Use (5th ed.). Thomson Wadsworth.
- Fromkin, V., Rodman, R. & Hyams, N. (2014). An Introduction to Language (10th ed.).
Wadsworth Cengage Learning.
- Myer, C. F. (2009). Introducing English Linguistics. Cambridge University Press.
- Yule, G. (2017). The Study of Language (6th ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

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8. COURSE STRUCTURE AND TEACHING METHODS :

Class periods will be a mixture of lectures, discussion of readings, and in-class tutorials. There
are 3 contact hours per week in the semester. The schedule includes, but is not limited to, the
following questions thorough understanding of which is sought on the part of students.

GENERAL SCHEDULE

Contents Course structure

Lecture Exercises Discussion Assessment Total

Phonetics and 7.5 5 2.5 12

Phonology
Morphology 4.5 3 1.5 9
Syntax 7.5 5 2.5 12
Review and 3 1 2 6
Assessment

WEEKLY SCHEDULE

WEEK TOPICS TO BE COVERED READINGS

1 - Introduction Brinton, L. J. & Brinton, D. M.
16/8 – 20/8 - Phonetics vs. phonology (2010a), Chapter 2
- The vocal organs Brinton, L. J. & Brinton, D. M.
- How the sounds are produced (2010b) pps: 9-14
(consonants vs. vowels; oral sounds vs.
nasal sounds; voiced vs. voiceless
sounds)
2 - Consonants Brinton, L. J. & Brinton, D. M.
23/8 – 27/8 - Classification of consonants (2010a), Chapter 2
- Consonants of English and their phonetic Brinton, L. J. & Brinton, D. M.
notation (2010b) pps: 9-14
- Vowels
- Classification of vowels
- Vowels of English and their phonetic
notation
3 - Phonemes Brinton, L. J. & Brinton, D. M.
30/8 – 3/9 - Allophones (2010a), Chapter 3
- Symbols Brinton, L. J (2000) (b) pp: 15-16
- Broad / Narrow transcription
4 - Syllables and syllable structure Brinton, L. J. & Brinton, D. M.
6/9 – 10/9 - Suprasegmental features (2010a), Chapter 3
- Stress Brinton, L. J. & Brinton, D. M.
- Intonation (2010b): pp: 33 - 39
5 - Revision
13/9 – 17/9
6 - Morphology Brinton, L. J. & Brinton, D. M.
20/9 – 24/9 - Types of morphemes (2010a), Chapter 4
- Morphemes versus morphs Brinton, L. J. & Brinton, D. M.
- Morphological realization rules (2010b): pp: 49 – 55

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 7 - Word formation processes Brinton, L. J. & Brinton, D. M.
27/9 – 1/10 - Derivation (2010a), Chapter 4
- Reduplication Brinton, L. J (2010b): pp: 56 – 60
- Conversion versus functional shift
- Compounding
8 - Word formation processes (continued) Brinton, L. J. & Brinton, D. M.
4/10 – 8/10 - Blending (2010a), Chapter 4
- Back formations Brinton, L. J. & Brinton, D. M.
- Shortening (2010b): pp: 61 – 66
- Root creation
9 Revision
11/10 – 15/10
10 Mid-term test
18/10 – 22/10
11 - Grammatical categories (number, gender, Brinton, L. J. & Brinton, D. M.
25/10 – 29/10 person, case, degree, definiteness, tense, (2010a), Chapter 5
aspect, mood, voice) Brinton, L. J. & Brinton, D. M.
(2010b): pp: 82 – 93

12 - Phrasal structures Brinton, L. J. & Brinton, D. M.

1/11 – 5/11 - Noun phrase (2010a), Chapter 7
- Verb phrase Brinton, L. J. & Brinton, D. M.
- Adjective phrase (2010b): pp: 140 – 153
- Adverb phrase
- Prepositional phrases
- Verb complementation
13 - Types of clauses (in terms of clause Brinton, L. J. & Brinton, D. M.
8/11 – 12/11 patterns, verb phrase, subordination, (2010a), Chapter 8
clause function) Brinton, L. J. & Brinton, D. M.
(2010b): pp: 216 - 225
14 - Types of sentences (in terms of number Brinton, L. J. & Brinton, D. M.
15/11 – 19/11 and type of clauses, in terms of (2010a), Chapter 9
communicative functions) Brinton, L. J. & Brinton, D. M.
(2010b): pp: 183 - 188
15 Q & A + Revision
22/11 – 26/11

9. COURSE POLICY:

Students are expected to:

• Attend at least 80% of the total class hours if she/he wants to take the final test

• Actively prepare for the class (read and reflect on what they have read for each class
meeting)

• Actively participate in the class activities

• Work cooperatively and collaboratively with peers

• Complete all the homework before going to class

• Complete the final test (exact date and time to be advised later)

10. ASSESSMENT AND GRADING:

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Form Weighting Task Purpose
Participation 10% - Students have to - To help students understand the
participate actively in the lectures better.
course by taking part in
discussion, doing the
required reading and
homework.
Mid-term test 30% - Students are required to - To assess students’
complete a 45 minute- understanding of the knowledge
written test in Week 10. they have acquired from Week 1
up to Week 9 as well as their
ability to apply what they have
learned in solving practical
problems.
- To familiarize students with the
types of questions used in the
final test.
Final Test 60% - Students answer both - To assess students’
(Date: TBA) theoretical and practical understanding of the topics
questions. covered in the course and their
ability to apply this understanding
to solve practical problems.

11. UNIVERSITY PLAGIARISM POLICY:

• Cheating is an offence course to University disciplinary procedures.

• Plagiarism in oral, written or visual presentations is the presentation of the work, idea or
creation of another person, without appropriate referencing, as though it is one’s own.

• Failure to acknowledge the use of another person’s work or ideas may result in charges of
academic misconduct which carry a range of penalties including cancellation of results and
exclusion from your program

• Works detected plagiarism will be marked down to 0.