Language Comparison
Code: 100224 ECTS Credits: 6| Degree | Type | Year | Semester |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2500245 English Studies | OB | 3 | 2 |
| 2501902 English and Catalan | OT | 3 | 0 |
| 2501902 English and Catalan | OT | 4 | 0 |
| 2501907 English and Classics | OT | 3 | 0 |
| 2501907 English and Classics | OT | 4 | 0 |
| 2501910 English and Spanish | OT | 3 | 0 |
| 2501910 English and Spanish | OT | 4 | 0 |
| 2501913 English and French | OT | 3 | 0 |
| 2501913 English and French | OT | 4 | 0 |
Contact
- Name:
- Hortensia Curell Gotor
- Email:
- Hortensia.Curell@uab.cat
Use of Languages
- Principal working language:
- english (eng)
- Some groups entirely in English:
- Yes
- Some groups entirely in Catalan:
- No
- Some groups entirely in Spanish:
- No
Teachers
- Ana Fernández Montraveta
Prerequisites
Prerequisites
The knowledge learnt in the first-year subject “Gramàtica descriptiva” (Descriptive Grammar), and the second-year subjects “Fonètica i fonologia angleses I & II” (English Phonetics and Phonology I & II) and “Gramàtica anglesa” (English Grammar) will be taken for granted. THEY WILL NOT BE EXPLAINED AGAIN.
Students must have a C2 initial level of English, Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment. According to this level, students can understand with ease virtually everything heard or read. Can summarise information from different spoken and written sources, reconstructing arguments and accounts in a coherent presentation. Can express him/herself spontaneously, very fluently and precisely, differentiating finer shades of meaning even in more complex situations.
INFORMATION FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS. This is a contrastive course (English & Spanish /Catalan). Only those students with an excellent command of Spanish or Catalan (preferably both) can take it. All those interested should contact the teachers before enrolling.
Objectives and Contextualisation
Objectives
This subject consists in an introduction to contrastive analysis. This knowledge is then applied to noun and verb morphology, the lexical level, NPs and VPs and constructions in English, Catalan and Spanish.
By the end of the course, the student will be able to:
- Define the main elements of contrastive analysis.
- Recognise the main differences in noun and verb morphology, the lexical level, NPs and VPs, word order and constructions in English, Catalan and Spanish.
- Formulate differences between the three languages, different from the ones explained in class.
Competences
- English Studies
- Describe synchronously the main grammar units, constructions and phenomena of the English language.
- Students have the ability to gather and interpret relevant data (normally within their study area) to issue judgments that include reflection on important issues of social, scientific or ethical.
- Students must be capable of communicating information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialised and non-specialised audiences.
- Utilising new technologies in order to capture and organise information in English and other languages, and applying it to the personal continued training and to the problem-solving in the professional or research activity.
- Working in an autonomous and responsible way in a professional or research environment in English or other languages, in order to accomplish the previously set objectives.
- English and Catalan
- Describe synchronously the main grammar units, constructions and phenomena of the English language.
- Students have the ability to gather and interpret relevant data (normally within their study area) to issue judgments that include reflection on important issues of social, scientific or ethical.
- Students must be capable of communicating information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialised and non-specialised audiences.
- English and Classics
- Describe synchronously the main grammar units, constructions and phenomena of the English language.
- Students have the ability to gather and interpret relevant data (normally within their study area) to issue judgments that include reflection on important issues of social, scientific or ethical.
- Students must be capable of communicating information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialised and non-specialised audiences.
- English and Spanish
- Describe synchronously the main grammar units, constructions and phenomena of the English language.
- Students have the ability to gather and interpret relevant data (normally within their study area) to issue judgments that include reflection on important issues of social, scientific or ethical.
- Students must be capable of communicating information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialised and non-specialised audiences.
- English and French
- Describe synchronously the main grammar units, constructions and phenomena of the English language.
- Students have the ability to gather and interpret relevant data (normally within their study area) to issue judgments that include reflection on important issues of social, scientific or ethical.
- Students must be capable of communicating information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialised and non-specialised audiences.
Learning Outcomes
- Applying the acquired methodologies of work planning to work in an environment in the English language.
- Applying the acquired scientific and work planning methodologies to the research in English.
- Applying the information in English that is available on the Internet, in databases, etc. to the work and/or research environments.
- Communicating in the studied language in oral and written form, properly using vocabulary and grammar.
- Defining and explaining the basic concepts of interlinguistic comparison and applying them to Catalan, Spanish and English.
- Describing contrastive aspects between Catalan, Spanish and English using the correct terminology and the appropriate grammar description tools.
- Effectively communicating and applying the argumentative and textual processes to formal and scientific texts.
- Issue appropriate critical assessments based on the comprehension of relevant information about social, scientific or ethical issues related to linguistics.
- Locating and organising relevant information in English that is available on the Internet, in databases, etc.
- Recognising and explaining the particular linguistic characteristics of Catalan, Spanish and English texts.
Content
Content
UNIT 1. Introduction to contrastive analysis
UNIT 2. Noun and verb morphology in English, Catalan and Spanish
UNIT 3. The lexicon in English, Catalan and Spanish
UNIT 4. NP in English, Catalan and Spanish
UNIT 5. VP and constructions in English, Catalan and Spanish
In this subject, gender perspective will be taken into account in the following aspects:
1) Making students aware of the sexist uses of language, and provide non-sexist alternatives.
2) Not allowing a sexist use of language in the students’ oral and written contributions.
3) Guaranteeing in the classroom an atmosphere respectful with the diversity and plurality of ideas, people and politics.
4) Avoiding gender stereotypes in examples.
5) Including gender-related material in the following units: morphology and lexicon.
6) Including texts about gender in the compulsory readings.
7) Writing, in the references, the full names of authors, instead of only the initial.
Methodology
Methodology
The teaching methodology is based on:
- Directed (33% - 2 cr)
- Supervised (17% - 1 cr)
- Autonomous (33% - 2 cr)
- Assessment (17% - 1 cr)
Activities
| Title | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type: Directed | |||
| Practical classes | 20 | 0.8 | 5, 6, 10 |
| Theoretical classes | 30 | 1.2 | 5, 6, 10 |
| Type: Supervised | |||
| Paper writing | 15 | 0.6 | 5, 6, 9, 10 |
| Preparation of oral presentation | 10 | 0.4 | 5, 6, 10 |
| Type: Autonomous | |||
| Exercises | 10 | 0.4 | 6 |
| Information search | 10 | 0.4 | 3, 9 |
| Personal study | 20 | 0.8 | 2, 9, 10 |
| Readings | 10 | 0.4 | 8, 10 |
Assessment
Assessment
The final grade will be calculated as follows:
- Final exam: 50%
- Written paper: 20%
- Oral presentation: 15%
- Homework and in-class activities: 15%
Important issues
1) The final exam, the oral presentation and the paper are COMPULSORY, together with 80% of the homework and in-class activities.
2) The minimum grade required in the two exams and the paper (+ oral presentation) is 4.
3) The handing in of 30% of items excludes the possibility of obtaining a No avaluable as a final grade of the course.
4) The level of English will be taken into account when correcting exams and in the final assessment.
5) EXTREMELY IMPORTANT: Any kind of plagiarism, whether total or partial, is a fail (0) for that particular exercise. PLAGIARISM means copying unidentified chunks from a text, regardless of the number of sentences, and pretending that it is the student's own work. (THIS INCLUDES COPYING SENTENCES OR FRAGMENTS FROM THE INTERNET AND ADDING THEM TO THE STUDENT'S WORK WITHOUT ALTERING THEM IN ANY WAY). This is a very serious offence. Students must learn to respect other people's intellectual property and they must always identify the sources that are being used. Students must be responsible for producing original work that is genuinely theirs.
Procedure for Reviewing Grades Awarded
On carrying out each evaluation activity, lecturers will inform students (on Moodle) of the procedures to be followed for reviewing all grades awarded, and the date on which such a review will take place.
Reassessment
Re-assessment for this subject requires a content-synthesis test, for which the following conditions are applicable:
- The student must previously have obtained an average overall grade equal to or higher than 3.5.
- The student must previously have passed 60% of the subject’s assessment requirements.
- The maximum grade than can be obtained through re-assessment is 6.
Evaluation Activities Excluded from Reassessment
The following activities are not eligible for reassessment: homework and in-class assignments, paper and oral presentation.
Approximate assessment calendar:
Final exam: last week
Written assignment: end April
Oral presentation: during the whole semester
Homework and in-class activities: throughout the semester
Assessment Activities
| Title | Weighting | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Final exam | 50% | 12.5 | 0.5 | 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 4, 9, 10 |
| Homework and in-class acitivites | 15% | 3.75 | 0.15 | 3, 5, 6, 4, 9, 10 |
| Oral presentation | 15% | 3.75 | 0.15 | 5, 6, 4 |
| Paper | 20% | 5 | 0.2 | 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 7, 4, 9, 10 |
Bibliography
References
Mackenzie, J. Lachlan & Elena Martínez Caro. 2012. Compare and Contrast: An English Grammar for Speakers of Spanish. Granada: Editorial Comares.
Quirk, Randoph et al. 1985. A Comprehensive Grammar of the English Language. London: Longman.
Real Academia de la Lengua Española. 2009. Nueva gramàtica de la lengua española. Madrid: Espasa Calpe.
Solà, Joan et al. 2008. Gramàtica del català contemporani. Barcelona: Editorial Empúries.
Specific references for each unit will be provided throughout the semester.