Identifying Data 2018/19
Subject (*) Contrastive Linguistics in English Code 613505012
Study programme
Mestrado Universitario en Estudos Ingleses Avanzados e as súas Aplicacións (2013)
Descriptors Cycle Period Year Type Credits
Official Master's Degree 2nd four-month period
 First Optional 3
Language
English
Teaching method Face-to-face
Prerequisites
Department Letras
Coordinador
Woodward Smith, Elizabeth Anne
 E-mail
elizabeth.woodward@udc.es
Lecturers
Woodward Smith, Elizabeth Anne
 E-mail
elizabeth.woodward@udc.es
Web
General description A Lingüística Contrastiva, unha rama da lingüística que se interesa pola comparación entre dúas ou máis (subsistemas de) linguas, asóciase desde fai moito co ensino de idiomas principalmente. Con todo, á parte de este aspecto aplicado, tamén consiste nas teorías que sustentan a comprensión da tipoloxía lingüística e os aspectos universais das linguas.

Study programme competencies
Code Study programme competences
A1 E01 – Familiarity with the main research models in linguistic research.
A2 E02 – Familiarity with the main resources, tools and methodologies in linguistic research.
A5 E05 – Familiarity with studies related to English for specific purposes and their application to other subject fields.
A6 E06 – Familiarity with studies on variation and linguistic change in the English-speaking domain.
A8 E08 – Awareness of the role of English in communication in the different kinds of media.
A9 E09 – Familiarity with the main models and resources in literary/cultural research in the English-speaking domain.
A11 E11 – Ability to identify and analyse the most relevant characteristics of culture and institutions in the English-speaking world through the study of different types of texts belonging to different historical periods.
A12 E12 – Understanding of different theoretical and critical approaches, as well as their application to the analysis of literary and cultural texts in the English-speaking domain.
B6 G01 –The capacity to delve into those concepts, principles, theories or models related with the different fields of English Studies is a necessary skill, as is the ability to solve specific problems in a particular field of study via appropriate methodology.
B7 G02 – Students must be capable of applying the knowledge acquired in the multidisciplinary and multifaceted area of English Studies
B8 G03 – An efficient use of new information technology and communication in English Studies is a necessary skill.
B9 G04 – Students must be able to publicly present their ideas, reports or experiences, as well as give informed opinions based on criteria, external norms or personal reflection. All of this implies having sufficient command of both oral and written academic and scientific language
B10 G05 – Skills related to research and the handling of new knowledge and information in the context of English Studies are to be acquired by students
B11 G06 – Students should be able to develop a critical sense in order to assess the relevance of both existing research in the fields of English Studies, and their own research.
B12 G07 –Linguistic competence (C2 level) in oral and written English must be developed and consolidated.
B13 G08 – Students should become progressively autonomous in the learning process, and in the search for appropriate resources and information, via the use of bibliographic and documentary sources related to English Studies.
B14 G09 – Students are expected to be able to carry out research projects of an academic nature in the different fields of English Studies
B15 G10 – The ability to present and defend a research project using adequate terminology and resources appropriate to the field of study is a skill which should be acquired.

Learning aims
Learning outcomes Study programme competences
A practice-oriented linguistic approach is offered, seeking to describe the differences and similarities between a pair of languages(English/Spanish/Galician). AR1
AR2
AR5
AR6
AR8
AR9
AR11
AR12
 BR6
BR7
BR8
BR10
BR11
BR13
BR14
Different kinds of texts will be compared in terms of register, period, context, both written and audiovisual. Topics for student research will be encouraged. BR9
BR12
BR15

Contents
Topic Sub-topic
1.Brief history of Contrastive Linguistics
2. Terminological issues. Basic principles of theoretical and applied contrastive linguistics.
3. Types of contrastive studies. Methodology of inter-and intra-linguistic comparison.
4. Contrastive Linguistics and corpus Linguistics.
5. Practical applications of contrastive studies: a. Translation studies b. Foreign language acquisition and teaching; c. Lexicography 		Readings and commentaries. Practical applications to translation studies and the teaching of foreign languages. Various themes (press, media, advertising, tourism, literature, children's literature)

Planning
Methodologies / tests Competencies Ordinary class hours Student’s personal work hours Total hours
Supervised projects A2 A9 A11 A12 B6 B7 B8 B10 B11 B13 B14 2 10 12
Oral presentation B9 B12 B15 2 10 12
Workbook A12 B7 B11 4 10 14
Directed discussion B9 B11 B12 10 7 17
Seminar A1 A5 A6 A8 14 0 14
 
Personalized attention 6 0 6
 
(*)The information in the planning table is for guidance only and does not take into account the heterogeneity of the students.

Methodologies
Methodologies Description
Supervised projects Individual research assignment supervised by the teacher.
Oral presentation Presentation in class of draft of research assignment.
Workbook Reading and analysis of texts related to the subject-matter.
Directed discussion Participation in class activities
Seminar Teacher-guided debate of primary texts and their problems.

Personalized attention
Methodologies
Oral presentation
Seminar
Supervised projects
Description
Personalised supervision in class and via the virtual platform.


Assessment
Methodologies Competencies Description Qualification
Oral presentation B9 B12 B15 Oral presentation of draft of the individual research work. 20
Workbook A12 B7 B11 Tasks based on the reading of recommended texts. 10
Supervised projects A2 A9 A11 A12 B6 B7 B8 B10 B11 B13 B14 Individual written research assignment. 60
Directed discussion B9 B11 B12 Active participation in class activities, based on the comparison and analysis of relevant texts. 10
 
Assessment comments

 

Given that this degree programme is part distance learning, part actual attendance, students are required to attend the compulsory sessions, unless they have applied for exemption within the time period specified by the Academic Commission of the degree, and this exemption has been granted. This exemption will be valid provided students comply with the rules on attendance in force in the three universities participating in the programme, and provided they comply with the assessment systems which are specified in the teaching guides for each module. Students should be aware, however, that not attending certain classroom sessions may affect their final grades.

Students who have been granted exemption, as specified in the university regulations, will be assessed as follows: Activities related to the course syllabus (20%) and an individual written research paper (80%). The research paper must also be presented orally.

Students who do not submit a supervised project, or who fail to submit at least 50% of the other tasks for assessment, will be graded as absent from assessment (NP: no presentado).

Students who do not pass in the first opportunity will be able to re-sit in July, when they will be required to demonstrate that they have acquired the skills for each module:

  • Individual written research assignment. Submission deadline: exam date established on official calendar for second opportunity. Oral presentation of this assignment on exam date for second opportunity(60 + 20 = 80%).
  • Exercises based on recommended reading and topics dealt with in the module (20%).

Important: Any instance of PLAGIARISM will derive in the student failing this module.

  • Turnitin is a tool for staff to use in order to check sections of written work originating in other texts and locating the sources. It is a useful way of detecting plagiarism. Its use is optional, but students are to be warned in the teaching guide that it is able to detect pieces of work previously presented in this or any other university, including work by the same student (for any subjectmatter). If coincidences are found, this will be understood as academic fraud, and the regulations concerning academic assessment, grading and complaints on testing will be applied. 
  • With this warning, students are hereby informed of the academic consequences.

Sources of information
Basic VALERO GARCÉS, C. (1997). A CROSS-LINGUISTIC STUDY OF THE VERBAL SYNTAGM: A CASE STUDY OF ECONOMIC TEXTS IN eNGLISH AND SPANISH. UNESCO ALSED NEWSLETTER 20.1 (43): 25-39
FISIAK, J. (1981). CONTRASTIVE LINGUISTICS AND THE LANGUAGE TEACHER. OXFORD: PERGAMON PRESS
OLEKSY, W. (1989). CONTRASTIVE PRAGMATICS. AMSTERDAM/PHILADELPHIA: JOHN BENJAMINS
WIERZBICKA, A. (1991). CROSS-CULTURAL PRAGMATICS: THE SEMANTICS OF HUMAN INTERACTION. BERLIN/NEW YORK: MOUTON DE GRUYTER
BLUM-KULKA, S. J. HOUSE 6 G. KASPER (1989). CROSS-CULTURAL PRAGMATICS: REQUESTS AND APOLOGIES.. N.J. NORWOOD: ABLEX
LADO, R. (1957). LINGUISTICS ACROSS CULTURES: APPLIED LINGUISTICS FOR LANGUAGE TEACHERS. ANN ARBOUR: UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN PRESS
NICKEL, G. (1971). PAPERS IN CONTRASTIVE LINGUISTICS. CAMBRIDGE: CUP
TANEN, D. (1984). THE PRAGMATICS OF CROSS-CULTURAL COMMUNICATION. APPLIED LINGUISTICS 5: 189-195
WOOWARD-SMITH, E.& E. EYNULLAEVA. (2012). The Verbal and the Visual in Advertising Language: A Cross-cultural Analysis. Relational Designs in Literature and the Arts: Page and Stage, Canvas and Screen. RODOPI.
BENSON, C. (2002). TRANSFER/CROSS-LINGUISTIC INFLUENCE. ELT JOURNAL 56.1:68-70
WOODWARD-SMITH, E. (2002). What's on the menu? The cultural implications of terms for food and drink in English literary texts. 2nd Internacional contrastive Linguistics Conference (ISBN: 84-9750-027-X)

Complementary


Recommendations
Subjects that it is recommended to have taken before

Subjects that are recommended to be taken simultaneously

Subjects that continue the syllabus

Other comments


(*)The teaching guide is the document in which the URV publishes the information about all its courses. It is a public document and cannot be modified. Only in exceptional cases can it be revised by the competent agent or duly revised so that it is in line with current legislation.