School of Foreign Languages

HANOI UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

INTRODUCTION TO THE COURSE

Language Analysis

Introduction
1. Course overview
2. Course contents
3. Basic concepts

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 COURSE DESCRIPTION

The course consists of two parts:

- Part 1 researches and analyzes the spoken and
written English language system, focusing on
grammar, vocabulary, phonemes, and semantics;
- Part 2 studies language usage and writing
principles. Moreover, the students are provided with
teamwork, presentation skills and attitudes needed to
work in the future.

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ASSESSMENT

1. On-going assessment: 40%

- In - class discussion: 10%
- Group presentation: 30%
The On-going assessment will be adjusted by the grading of
students’ attendance whose value ranges from -2 to +1
according to the Regulations on full-time undergraduate
training at Hanoi University of Science and Technology
2. Final term assessment: Group Assignment: 60%
Essay (3500 words)

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PRESENTATION

Presentation date:
You are expected to present in weeks 13, 14.
The teacher will form your groups of four students. You will be
decided the order in which the groups will do the presentations.

Presentation guidelines:
Time:
Each presentation will last 15-20 minutes, followed by 5
minutes for Q & A.
Content: You will decide the topic on your own
The presentation delivery is assessed . This is an opportunity for
you to discover information for yourselves, so you should look
for other sources other than the textbook.
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FINAL - TERM ASSESSMENT

Guidlines for your essay:

1. Identify a technical text of 700 words at maximum (in English) which you
have found in a book/journal and analyse grammatical features identified
in the text. Discuss the ways in which language is used in the technical text.
2. Identify an audio-(video) recorded speech in English (the speakers can be
native- or non-native speakers of English). Select an extract of around 500

words and analyse it in terms of phonological/pronunciation features. Discuss

the speakers’ use of language in informal speech.

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FINAL - TERM ASSESSMENT

3. Select a piece of news in English (total length around

500 words) and analyse its lexical uses and meanings.

You should draw on the concepts introduced in the
module. Discuss the lexical features of the news which
makes learning and using English in news
interesting for students.

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COURSE REQUIREMENTS

1. Preparation, attendance and participation: Students

are required to read the prescribed book and be able to

participate in class discussions based on questions given in
each unit. They are also expected to attend class regularly
and participate in the lesson.
2. Homework: The students are expected to do all the
homework given at the end of each unit.

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COURSE CONTENTS

Part I: The sounds of Language

Part II: Grammar & Structure
Part III: Morphology & Meaning

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BASIC CONCEPTS
Language and Linguistics
1. What is Language?
A language is a system of conventional spoken, manual (signed),
or written symbols by means of which human beings, as
members of a social group and participants in its culture, express
themselves. The functions of language include communication,
the expression of identity, play, imaginative expression, and
emotional release.
2. What is Linguistics?
The scientific study of language is called linguistics, such major
divisions as phonetics, grammar (including syntax and
morphology), and semantics, dealing in detail with these various
aspects of language.
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BASIC CONCEPTS
Feature of human language

- Human language is open-ended and productive, meaning that it

allows humans to produce a vast range of utterances from a finite set
of elements, and to create new words and sentences. This is possible
because human language is based on a dual code, in which a finite
number of elements which are meaningless in themselves (e.g.
sounds, letters or gestures) can be combined to form an infinite
number of larger units of meaning (words and sentences)

- Human languages differ from animal communication systems in

that they employ grammatical and semantic categories, such as noun
and verb, present and past, which may be used to express
exceedingly complex meanings

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Forms of Communication

- Gesture
- Facial expression
- Non-verbal vocal communication
- Speech
- Writing

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Forms of Communication
Gesture

A gesture is a form of non-verbal communication or non-

vocal communication in which visible bodily actions
communicate particular messages, either in place of, or
in conjunction with, speech. Gestures include movement
of the hands, face, or other parts of the body.

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FORMS OF COMMUNICATION
GESTURE

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Forms of Communication
Gesture

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Facial Expression

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Facial Expression

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Facial Expression
Basic types:
Happiness
Sadness
Fear
Anger
Disgust

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Forms of Communication
Speech

Speech is the faculty of producing articulated sounds,

which, when blended together, form language

https://www.britannica.com/video/143183/Speech-sound
s-faculty-language

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FORMS OF COMMUNICATION
SPEECH CHAIN

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FORMS OF COMMUNICATION
SPEECH CHAIN

Part II: Grammar & Structure

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American Sign language

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Writing System
* Alphabetic
Roman; Greek; Cyrillic(Eastern Europe , North and
Central Asian countries, e.g. Russian letters: а б в г д
е ё ж з и й к л м н о п р с т у ф х ц ч ш щ ъ ы ь э ю я);
Japanese (Romaji - Japanese ローマ字 (rōmaji,
“roman letters”)
* Syllabic
Arabic; Japanese (Kana- syllabic Japanese scripts, あ
ア -a, いイ -i)
* Ideographic, logographic
Chinese; Japanese (Kanji, The Japanese term kanji for
the Chinese characters literally means "Han
characters" 汉字 , 漢字 )

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Homework

Transcribe the video: speech

https://www.britannica.com/video/143183/Speech-sounds-faculty-language
Read part 1 (Making Sounds) and part 2 (English Consonants)
and prepare to discuss and present in class about:
- Vocal organs
- Oral and nasal sounds
- Place and manner of Articulation
- Describing speech sounds

The next lesson

Module 1: Phonetics and phonology
Making speech sounds

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