Unit Outline

Speech pathology is the study, diagnosis and treatment of communication and swallowing disorders, and draws on many diverse fields to maximise people’s ability to communicate and participate in their daily lives. Linguistics provides a key foundation to understanding communication and communication disorders. This unit introduces you to the nature of speech and language; the content, form and use of language; relationships between areas of linguistic enquiry; and how speech and language is transcribed and analysed. You will engage with cases to understand why these areas are important when working with people who have communication difficulties. Analysis and description of phonology using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) will be introduced and its application explored. You will have opportunities to engage with interesting online resources to practice your skills in analysis. You will examine the sociocultural aspects of language and use critical thinking and self-reflection to examine the many facets of language.

Intended Learning Outcomes

As per the Assessment and Results Policy 1.3, your results will reflect your achievement against specified learning outcomes.

On completion of this unit, you will be able to:


1.	Describe the concepts of phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, and pragmatics and their role in speech, language and communication
2.	Define the linguistic branches of neurolinguistics, psycholinguistics, and sociolinguistics and describe the application to speech pathology
3.	Demonstrate phonemic and phonetic transcription of typical and disordered speech using the International Phonetic Alphabet
4.	Apply linguistic principles to analyse and describe language form, meaning and use
5.	Describe the context and influence of multilingualism and language contact in Australia especially for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and the implications for speech pathology

Alterations as a result of student feedback

In response to student feedback, the following changes have been made to the unit:
•   The Assessment Task 2 due date has been rescheduled to a week later (from Week 9 to Week 10) to allow for consolidation of learning content relevant to the Assessment Task.
•   Additional information on theories of language acquisition has been added to Module 3: Syntax which is relevant to Assessment Task 2.
•   Weekly video summaries of learning content (Week in a Minute) have been/will be posted in Communication to enhance interactivity and consolidation in the online learning space.

How will I be Assessed?

For more detailed assessment information please see MyLO.

Assessment schedule


ASSESSMENT TASK #	ASSESSMENT TASK NAME	DATE DUE	WEIGHT	LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Assessment Task 1:	Quizzes	Week 2	30 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 2:	Case or problem activated learning with reflection	Week 10	30 %	LO1, LO2, LO4, LO5
Assessment Task 3:	Case or problem activated learning	Week 13	40 %	LO1, LO3, LO4

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Quizzes

Task Description:

You will be required to complete six (6) short online quizzes at the end of each module. Each quiz will include 10 multiple-choice (MCQs) or short-answer questions (SAQs).

These quizzes are summative and will contribute a total of 30% to the final grade.

This series of six online quizzes provides opportunity to consolidate and demonstrate understanding of theoretical knowledge and concepts in linguistics.

30% (5% per quiz)

Task Length:

20 minutes per quiz

Due Date:

Week 2

Weight:

30 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Demonstrate knowledge of the key concepts in phonetics and linguistic domains of phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, and pragmatics	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
2	Demonstrate knowledge of linguistic branches of neurolinguistics, psycholinguistics, and sociolinguistics	LO2
3	Demonstrate phonemic and phonetic transcription of typical speech using the International Phonetic Alphabet	LO3

Assessment Task 2: Case or problem activated learning with reflection

Task Description:

This task involves analysing and interpreting case information of an adult who speaks Aboriginal English, Standard Australian English, and an Aboriginal home language. You will describe and explain the semantic and pragmatic characteristics evident in the adult’s language applying the concepts and techniques learned in the unit. You will also reflect on your own cultural and linguistic biases.

Task Length:

1200 words

Due Date:

Week 10

Weight:

30 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Apply linguistic theory to primary language data.	LO1, LO4
2	Explain the context of language contact in Australia especially with respect to multilingualism, pidgins, creoles, mixed languages and varieties of Aboriginal English.	LO1, LO5
3	Analyse language to describe semantic and pragmatic characteristics.	LO1, LO4, LO5
4	Reflect on your cultural and linguistic biases and discuss some of the social norms and cultural influences that guide communication.	LO2, LO5

Assessment Task 3: Case or problem activated learning

Task Description:

This task involves the transcription and analysis of a small sample of a typically developing child’s communication. A video clip and orthographic transcription of a child’s language sample will be provided. You will complete a phonetic and phonemic transcription and explain your phonological, morphological and syntactic analyses of the child’s speech and language applying the concepts and techniques learned in the unit.

Task Length:

1500 words

Due Date:

Week 13

Weight:

40 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Apply linguistic theory to primary language data.	LO1, LO4
2	Demonstrate skills in phonetic and phonemic transcription using the International Phonetic Alphabet.	LO1, LO3
3	Analyse speech and language to describe phonetic, phonological, morphological, and syntactic development.	LO1, LO3, LO4

How your final result is determined

To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes, achieve a final unit grade of 50% or greater.

Submission of assignments

Where practicable, assignments should be submitted to an assignment submission folder in MYLO. You must submit assignments by the due date or receive a penalty (unless an extension of time has been approved by the Unit Coordinator). Students submitting any assignment in hard copy, or because of a practicum finalisation, must attach a student cover sheet and signed declaration for the submission to be accepted for marking.

Requests for extensions

If you are unable to submit an assessment task by the due date, you should apply for an extension.

A request for an extension should first be discussed with your Unit Coordinator or teaching support team where possible. A request for an extension must be submitted by the assessment due date, except where you can provide evidence it was not possible to do so. Typically, an application for an extension will be supported by documentary evidence: however, where it is not possible for you to provide evidence please contact your Unit Coordinator.

The Unit Coordinator must notify you of the outcome of an extension request within 3 working days of receiving the request.

Late penalties

Assignments submitted after the deadline will receive a late penalty of 5% of the original available mark for each calendar day (or part day) that the assignment is late. Late submissions will not be accepted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, or after assignments have been returned to other students on a scheduled date, whichever occurs first. Further information on Late Penalties can be found on the Assessments and Results Procedure.

Review of results and appeals

You are entitled to ask for a review of the marking and grading of your assessment task if there is an irregularity in the marking standards or an error in the process for determining the outcome of an assessment. Details on how to request a review of a mark for an assignment are outlined in the Review and Appeal of Academic Decisions Procedure.