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LINGUISTICS

Major Combinations:
NQF Level 5: LIN1501, LIN1502
NQF Level 6: LIN2601, LIN2602, LIN2603
NQF Level 7: LIN3701, LIN3702, LIN3703, LIN3704, LIN3705

Translation for Specific Purposes - HTR4802
Honours NQF level: 8 Credits: 24
Module presented in English Module presented online
Purpose: The aim of this module is to expose students to aspects of lexicography and terminology and to equip them with knowledge and skills which they can apply when confronted with specialised texts. Topics that are covered include; Introduction to specialised translation/interpreting: 1. Categorising technical texts; 2. Specialised text types and translation methods; 3. Reformulating to a brief: making technical texts accessible. Terminology skills for translators and interpreters: 1. Terminology theory for translators and interpreters; 2. Collecting, processing and disseminating terminology; 3. Term formation processes; 4. Terminology standardisation; 5. Role of technical translation (also literary and Bible translation) in raising the status of a language; Translators, interpreters and lexicography: 1. Principles of lexicography; 2. Technical dictionaries; 3. Online dictionaries and spell-checkers. Introduction to Corpus-based Translation Studies: 1. Aspects of corpus linguistics; 2. Types of corpora; 3. Corpus tools and programmes; 4. Basic corpus research.
Language in a Changing World - LIN2602
Under Graduate Degree Semester module NQF level: 6 Credits: 12
Module presented in English
Purpose: This module examines the factors in society which cause languages to change, as well as attitudes towards language change and their implications for language planning and language practitioners. The phenomena of language shift and maintenance are also analysed.
Perspectives on Translation and Interpreting Studies - HTR4803
Honours NQF level: 8 Credits: 24
Module presented in English Module presented online
Purpose: Of this module introduces students to some theoretical issues regarding translation and interpreting. The information provided in this module also forms a vital foundation for future postgraduate research at Masters or Doctoral level. Modern theoretical models of translation are covered, including: 1. Prescriptive translation theory to Descriptive Translation Studies and Corpus-based Translation Studies; 2. Functionalism in translation; 3. The cultural studies paradigm in translation studies; 4. Interpreting studies. Practical translation of a variety of financial texts and technical texts. Practical interpreting of technical texts and conference-level oral texts is also an option. Students specifically interested in Bible translation can contact the Department for Bible texts or other related texts.
Sound and Sound Structure - LIN2603
Under Graduate Degree Semester module NQF level: 6 Credits: 12
Module presented in English
Purpose: Essentially, this course is a basic introduction to the disciplines more formally known as 'phonetics' and 'phonology'. The aim of this module is therefore to enable students to define, identify and illustrate a set of basic concepts used in the description of the sound structure of languages in general, and to relate the meaningful properties of sound structure to sound production and perception. The module is very practical in that it will help students to describe the basic sounds and sound structure of any language they choose to study.
Professional Practice - HTR4804
Honours NQF level: 8 Credits: 12
Module presented in English Module presented online
Purpose: On this module aim to refine the student's practical translation skills and provide them with some information that will be useful to them in their careers as professional translators. This paper covers the following: Professional translation management; Language editing; Professional translation/interpreting practice; Ethics in translation. The last assignment in this paper is a non-venue-linked examination. This means that students do not have to write a formal exam in an exam venue, but may complete the assignment at home using dictionaries and other sources and then submit the assignment in the normal way.
Approaches in Linguistics - LIN3701
Under Graduate Degree Semester module NQF level: 7 Credits: 12
Module presented in English
Purpose: Of this module you will be introduced to the basic structure of a linguistic theory. You will be taught to explain, compare and evaluate selected linguistic theories in the domains of syntax, semantics and/or phonology within the formal and functional traditions in linguistics.
Translation and Editing Techniques - LIN3702
Under Graduate Degree Semester module NQF level: 7 Credits: 12
Module presented in English
Purpose: This module introduces you to the practice and profession of translation and editing. It aims to help you to identify and solve translation problems at word, sentence and text level, by using relevant and appropriate translation strategies. Students will gain insight into professional ethics, translating culture, and basic terminology theory. Various general text types are discussed, such as journalistic texts, written correspondence, public information leaflets, brochures and tourist information or equivalent module. General translation practice is covered in the module Translation and editing practice (see entries by individual language departments). Advice: It is recommended that you register for a module which focuses on translation practice with a language department after completing this module or together with it. You may also decide to take Creative writing and literary translation (African Languages only) or the module on text skills (Basiese Teksvaardighede (AFK1502) in the Department of Afrikaans. Full professional qualifications in translation are offered at postgraduate level. It is recommended that you translate into your mother tongue/first language. You may take any language in combination with English or Afrikaans, for example English into Zulu, English into Afrikaans, but not Spanish into German or Zulu into Tsonga. This is a market related decision: most translations in South Africa have English as either source or target language. It is recommended that you combine this module with any relevant language module.
Learning and Teaching an additional Language - LIN3703
Under Graduate Degree Semester module NQF level: 7 Credits: 12
Module presented in English Module presented online
Purpose: This module aims to give students a well-rounded and systematic knowledge base in the understanding of issues involved in learning and teaching an additional language (a language other than the first language). Students will develop an integrated, coherent and critical understanding of theories of language learning, methods of language teaching as well as important variables relating to the teaching of language. Students who successfully complete this module will demonstrate the ability to critique, analyse and synthesise types of knowledge relevant to this module using evidence-based solutions and theory-driven arguments. They will also be able to explore the practical applications and implications of such knowledge for language learning and language teaching.
Language Planning and Linguistic Description - LIN3704
Under Graduate Degree Semester module NQF level: 7 Credits: 12
Module presented in English
Purpose: To enable students to identify and characterise problems related to language planning and development in a multilingual society, with special reference to the development of standard languages in Africa, and the role of grammars and dictionaries.
Text Structure and Function - LIN3705
Under Graduate Degree Semester module NQF level: 7 Credits: 12
Module presented in English
Purpose: To introduce students to text linguistic skills that will enable them to identify what makes texts coherent, to recognise differences between spoken and written texts, to identify the sort of coherence and cohesion problems that may develop in the writing of texts, to explain why we understand some texts more easily than others, and to compare various types of written texts (e.g. narrative versus academic writing).
Issues and Factors in Applied Linguistics - HAPL481
Honours Year module NQF level: 8 Credits: 24
Module presented in English Module presented online
Purpose: The purpose of this module is to equip students, including language teachers and other language professionals, with an informed and critical understanding of the key issues, theoretical trends and research practices within Applied Linguistics, as these relate to the maturational, cognitive and affective factors that impact additional language learning and teaching. Students who qualify in this module can connect their understanding of Applied Linguistics with their actual engagement in additional language learning or teaching, so that they learn from new knowledge, from their actions and from their learning/teaching contexts. The module provides students with evidence-based additional language learning and teaching principles and techniques, and with the capacity to promote and implement a culture of reflective professionalism and best practice in additional language learning and teaching within a multilingual society.
Methods and Testing in Applied Linguistics - HAPL482
Honours Year module NQF level: 8 Credits: 24
Module presented in English Module presented online
Purpose: The purpose of this module is to enable students who are teaching or planning to teach language to evaluate and implement additional language teaching methodologies and suitable language assessment procedures. This module is geared toward those who are teaching language in formal situations; yet, it would also be useful for others interested in how we learn languages.
Reading and Writing in Applied Linguistics - HAPL483
Honours Year module NQF level: 8 Credits: 24
Module presented in English Module presented online
Purpose: The purpose of this module is to equip students, including language teachers and other language professionals, with an informed and critical understanding of the key issues, theoretical trends and research practices within Applied Linguistics, as these relate to domains of reading and writing. Students who emerge as competent from this module will gain a deeper understanding of the crucial role that reading and writing play in language, literacy and academic development, especially in an additional language. Specifically, they will be equipped with knowledge of the developmental aspects of reading and writing, the skills and knowledge that underlie reading and writing and the practices that best promote their development. In a similar manner. vocabulary will be examined by students as a subtheme that straddles both reading and writing. Students will be able to connect their understanding of reading, writing and vocabulary to South Africaﾒs literacy crisis and further conceptualize its importance in the learning contexts of the real world. The module provides students with evidence-based additional language learning and teaching principles and techniques to promote reading and writing in the AL classroom with the capacity to promote and implement a culture of reflective professionalism and best practice in additional language learning and teaching within a multilingual society.
Language Planning in Education - HAPL484
Honours Year module NQF level: 8 Credits: 12
Module presented in English Module presented online
Purpose: The purpose of this module is to equip students with an informed and critical understanding of the key issues in language planning-in-education including the issue of choice of medium of instruction in multilingual classrooms, models of bilingual education for linguistic minorities and the educational implications of practices such as classroom code-switching and translanguaging. It also provides students with an understanding of educational language policies and language planning processes to be able to create a language strategy for their respective work environments and engage themselves in the production of a bilingual or multilingual citizenry. These aims will enable students to demonstrate their understanding with their performance so that they learn to adapt to a changing world. The module will also enable students to promote and implement a culture of language tolerance in a plurilingual or multilingual context. This module would also be useful for language teachers, other language professionals and all who use language because they need to be aware of language policy issues in a multilingual society.
Language Contact and Variation - HLIN481
Honours Year module NQF level: 8 Credits: 24
Module presented in English Module presented online
Purpose: The purpose of this module is to enable students to gain insights into the relationships between language and society, and to apply current sociolinguistic theories to context-based research. This module should be useful for language practitioners, including language planners, language teachers, dialectologists, and all who use language and who needs to be aware of sociolinguistic variables that govern communication in a multilingual society.
Cognitive Linguistics - HLIN482
Honours NQF level: 8 Credits: 24
Module presented in English Module presented online
Purpose: The purpose of this module is to enable students to gain insights into the relationship between language and cognition, and to apply current cognitive linguistic theories of grammar and semantics to discourse related research. This module would be useful for anyone interested in the symbolic and interactive functions of language or related research pertaining to the meaning-making process as is done in other cognitive fields such as philosophy of mind and cognitive psychology.
Grammatical Patterns and Concepts - LIN1501
Under Graduate Degree Semester module NQF level: 5 Credits: 12
Module presented in English
Purpose: In this module, students are expected to learn how to define, identify and illustrate a set of basic grammatical concepts used in the description of language. In the context of this module, 'grammatical' focuses primarily on morphological and syntactic phenomena. The module is very practical in that it gives students the tools to enable them to describe the basic structure of any language they choose to study.
Research Report in Linguistics - HRLIN81
Honours NQF level: 8 Credits: 36
Module presented in English Module presented online
Purpose: To enable students to gain insights into research methodology, research ethics and conventions. This paper comprises four assignments, the last of which is a portfolio of evidence. This means that students will not write a formal examination in this paper. The portfolio will consist of a research proposal that will serve as the final assessment.
Multilingualism: the Role of Language in the South African Context - LIN1502
Under Graduate Degree Semester module NQF level: 5 Credits: 12
Module presented in English
Purpose: This module introduces you to language use in multilingual societies, equipping you to deal with actual language issues that you may come across in the South African context. This module is intended to provide insight into the way in which language functions both to separate and unite communities, and will cover topics such as children's acquisition of first and additional languages, bilingual schooling, language variation, language planning and cross cultural interaction.
Translation Method and Function - HTR4801
Honours NQF level: 8 Credits: 24
Module presented in English Module presented online
Purpose: Of this module aims to teach students basic translation techniques and strategies. It covers topics such as: A functional approach to translation: 1. Professional translation: an act of communication; 2. Translation analysis and method. Equivalence at word level: 1. Meaning and translation/interpreting; 2. Problems of non-equivalence at word level; 3. Strategies to deal with non-equivalence at word level. Equivalence above word level: 1. Collocations, fixed expressions; idioms, metaphors; 2. Problems of non-equivalence above word level; 3. Strategies to deal with non-equivalence above word level. Equivalence at text level: 1. Principles of text linguistics (cohesion and coherence); 2. Text typology and text comparison; 3. Problems in obtaining equivalence at text level. Translation as intercultural activity: Practical translation of a variety of text types, e.g. journalistic texts; tourist brochures; biblical texts; public information brochures; editorials; Internet web pages. Practical interpreting of general oral texts will be an option from 2010.
Language Acquisition in a Natural Environment - LIN2601
Under Graduate Degree Semester module NQF level: 6 Credits: 12
Module presented in English Module presented online
Purpose: The purpose of this module is to explore the nature of first language acquisition, as it relates to cognitive functioning and the natural environment. Students who complete this module will understand language acquisition from different theoretical perspectives and will be able to apply their knowledge of first language acquisition to interact effectively with children in a way that will facilitate and enrich their linguistic development. This module provides students with the knowledge and skills to develop an awareness of linguistic complexities in the acquisition of languages. It will also allow students to develop an understanding, tolerance and sensitivity for children with disabilities and the way in which language acquisition differs in these children. This module would therefore be useful for ECD specialists, language teachers, speech language therapists and educational psychologists.