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: BK-ENG2055-03
Course status: Core
Semester: Summer
Class hour: 5 / week

1. INSTRUCTORS:

Name and Title Research interests Phone Email

number
Vũ Minh Huyền Phonetics and 0904086260 vuhuyen84@gmail.com
Phonology, Syntax,
Semantics, Pragmatics
Nguyễn Tuấn Minh Phonetics and 0375246062 tuanminh7292@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

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 four 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), syntax (how words come together to form
sentences).
Broader topics of linguistics such as semantics, pragmatics, sociolinguistics, discourse analysis,
etc. will be explored in the second module of this course.

6. COURSE OBJECTIVES :

1
 - In terms of knowledge: The course offers students insight into English phonetics and
phonology, morphology, syntax and semantics 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. (2000a). The Structure of Modern English, A Linguistic Introduction.

Philadelphia: John Benjamins Publishing Company.
- Brinton, L. J. (2000b). The Structure of Modern English, A Linguistic Introduction, Workbook.
Philadelphia: John Benjamins Publishing Company.

Recommended readings:

- Yule, G. (2010). The Study of Language. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

- Finegan, E. (2008). Language: Its Structure and Use (5th Ed.). Harcourt Brace
- Fromkin, V., Rodman, R. &Hyams, N. (2009). An Introduction to Language. Heinline&Heinline
- Quirk, R. &Greenbaum, S. (1976). A University Grammar of English. NXB GTVT.

8. COURSE STRUCTURE AND TEACHING METHODS :

Class periods will be a mixture of lectures, discussion of readings, and in-class tutorials. There
are 5 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.

WEEKLY SCHEDULE

WEEK TOPICS TO BE COVERED READINGS

1 - Introduction Brinton, L. J. (2000a),

- Phonetics vs. phonology Chapter 2
(3-9/6) - The vocal organs
Brinton, L. J. (2000b) pps:
- How the sounds are produced (consonants vs.
9-14
vowels; oral sounds vs. nasal sounds; voiced vs.
voiceless sounds)
Consonants
- Classification of consonants

2
 - Consonants of English and their phonetic notation
Vowels
- Classification of vowels
- Vowels of English and their phonetic notation

2 Phonemes Brinton, L. J. (2000a),

- Allophones Chapter 3
(10-16/6) - Symbols
Brinton, L. J (2000) (b) pp:
- Broad / Narrow transcription
15-16
- Syllables and syllable structure
Suprasegmental features Brinton, L. J. (2000b): pp:
- Stress 33 - 39
- Intonation

3 Morphology Brinton, L. J. (2000a),

- Types of morphemes Chapter 4
(17-23/6) - Morphemes versus morphs
Brinton, L. J (2000b): pp:
- Morphological realization rules
49 – 55
Word formation processes
- Derivation Brinton, L. J. (2000a),
- Reduplication Chapter 4
- Conversion versus functional shift Brinton, L. J (2000) (b): pp:
- Compounding 56 – 60
- Blending
- Back formations Brinton, L. J (2000b): pp:
- Shortening 61 – 66
- Root creation

4 Revision
(24 -30/6)

5 Mid-term test
(1-7/7)
Brinton, L. J. & Brinton, D.
6 Grammatical categories (number, gender, person,
M. (2010a), Chapter 5
case, degree, definiteness, tense, aspect, mood,
(8-14/7) Brinton, L. J. & Brinton, D.
voice)
M. (2010b): pp: 82 – 93
Phrasal structures
- Noun phrase
- Verb phrase
- Adjective phrase
- Adverb phrase
- Prepositional phrases
- Verb complementation
- Types of clauses (in terms of clause patterns, verb Brinton, L. J. & Brinton, D.
7
phrase, subordination, clause function) M. (2010a), Chapter 8 -9
(15-21/7) - Types of sentences (in terms of number and type of
Brinton, L. J. & Brinton, D.
clauses, in terms of communicative functions)
M. (2010b): pp: 216 – 225,
183 – 188

8 Self-study
(22-28/7)

9 REVISION
(29/7 – 4/8 )

3
 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:

Form Weighting Task Purpose

Participation 20% - Students have to
participate actively in the
course by taking part in
discussion, doing
homework reading.
Mid-term test 20% - Students are required to
complete a 45 minute-
written test in Week 5.
Final Test 60% - Students answer both
(Date: TBA) theoretical and practical
questions.
- To help students understand the
lectures better.
- To assess students’
understanding of the knowledge
they have acquired from Week 1
up to Week 4 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.
- To assess students’
understanding of the topics
covered in the course and their
ability to apply this understanding
to solve practical problems.