Student Handbook -Unit Supplement

Aims1. to provide students with an understanding of the variety and complexity ofcommunication systems

2. to develop students' awareness of the range of theoretical approaches to the study ofcommunication units and systems and their abilities to apply those theories 3. to investigate and compare the structure of human, animal, artificial, non-linguistic andlinguistic means of communication  Learning OutcomesOn successful completion of this unit, students should be able, at threshold level, to:1. describe the principal theories of human, animal, artificial, non-linguistic and linguisticcommunication in terms of semiotic entities, relations and systems 2. apply those main theories in the analysis of communication situations in order todescribe actual human, animal, artificial, non-linguistics and linguistic units, relationsand systems 3. distinguish, illustrate and explain the main forms of voluntary and involuntary signallingbehaviour and its properties  Syllabus OutlineThe topics covered in the unit will include: see attached information Scheduled Activities (Hours)Lecture - 12 hours, Analytical Work/Short Presentation - 12 hours   Learning and Teaching StrategyLectures are related to a planned programme of basic readings and to analyticalexercises to develop the background understanding and to give practice in applyingmethods of analysis. Student learning will be self-checked through the completion ofunassessed worksheets corresponding to sections of the course and discussed in class.Students will also give short unassessed formative presentations of topics covered in thecourse to develop independent study and help towards their assessed work. Students will be encouraged to use Victory for learning material and all  matters relatedto the course. Assessment Schedule and Strategy1. Students will write one essay of 2,500 words covering all 3 aims. In this project, theywill identify and analyse the communication entities and systems of a communicationsituation of their choice - human, animal, artificial, linguistic or non-linguistic. Studentswill be given credit for theoretical awareness, application of theory to the description ofthe selected communication situation, organisation, observational skill, relevance ofmethods and reading. : Due Date Friday of Week 13    

English and Linguistics Programmes – Communication Theory and SystemsSemester 1, 2011-2012 This unit is core for BA Hons. Communication and English Studies at level 3 andoptional for other level 3 students. In this unit you will learn definitions of communication, the differences betweencommunication and non-communication, ways of analysing the communicationprocess, types of communication entity, ways of classifying and analysingcommunication systems. We will also study communication functions. We will studyboth human and non-human communication, and verbal and non-verbalcommunication. The first part of the unit will concentrate on more general issues andthe second part will be concerned with human, verbal communication, especiallysyntax, semantics/pragmatics and communicational interaction through sentences. The main objectives are to -  understand the nature, purposes and structure of communication processes andsystems, human and non-human, natural and artificial. Verbal and non-verbaland the variety and complexity of communication systems.-  Identify  and  define  the  units  of  communication,  meaningful  and  non-meaningful, - signs, symbols, signals, icons, badges, gestures, non-meaningfulunits  such  as  phonemes  –  understand  their  diversity,  communicationalmechanisms  and  the  grouping  of  communication  systems  into  systems  ofsystems-  Gain an understanding of the range of communication theories and approachesto the study of communication-  Understand  approaches  to  the  classification  of  communication  processes  andsystems-  Investigate syntactic and semantic aspects of human communication processesand systems-  Compare  human  linguistic  and  non-linguistic  communication  and  animalcommunication Reading Particularly useful texts in bold but be aware that all texts should be usedcritically. There are no universally accepted views and terminology can vary.

 Aitchison, J. 1998. The Articulate Mammal. London : Routledge.Akamatsu,  T.  1992 Essentials  of  Functional  Phonology.  Leuven:  University  ofLouvain.Buhler, K. 1968. Theory of Language. The Hague:Mouton.Chandler, D. 2001. Semiotics.London Routledge.Chandler, D.  [online] Semiotics for Beginners. , P. (ed.). 1996. Communication Theory Reader. London:Routledge.Cook, G. 1989. Discourse Analysis. Oxford:OUP.Corner, J. and Hawthorn, J. 2000. A Communication Studies Reader. London:Arnold.Dimbleby,R. and Burton, G. 1992. Man Made Wirds – an introduction tocommunication. London:Methuen.Hall, S. 2007. This Means This:This Means That. London:Laurence King.Hervey, S. 1989. Semiotic Perspectives. Mouton : Berlin.Kress, G. van Leeuwen, T. 2006. Reading Images. London:Routledge.Kolstrup, S. [online]. Semiotics. Imv.au.dk/semiotics.Lyons, J. 1997. Language, Meaning and Context. London:Fontana.Martin, B. and Ringham, F. 2006. Key Terms in Semiotics. London:Continuum.Martinet, A. 1989. Elements of General Linguistics. London:Faber.Morris, D. 1968. The Naked Ape. Harmondsworth:Penguin.Morris, D. 1984. ManwatchingMulder, J. and Hervey, S. 1972. Theory of the Linguistic Sign. TheHague:Mouton.Palmer, F. 1988. Semantics. Cambridge:CUP.Sebeok, T. 1994. Introduction to Semiotics. London:Pinter. Sebeok, T. 1994. I Think I am a Verb. New York: Plenum.Sebeok, T. 1995. Signs. New York:Plenum.Wharton,T.2009. Pragmatics & Non-verbal Communication, Cambridge UniversityPress. Some special topics: Baldwin, J. 2006. Visual Communication. Lausanne:AVA.Frings, H. and Frings, M. 1964. Animal Communication. London:Blaisdell.Goddard, A. 1998. The Language of Advertising. London:Routledge.Hinde, R. 1970. Animal Behaviour. New York:McGraw-Hill.Hinde, R. 1982. Ethology. Glasgow:Fontana.McQuail, D. 1994. Mass Communication Theory (3rd. ed.). London:Sage.Smith, J.M. 2003. Animal Signals. Oxford:OUP.  See also back copies of the Journal, Semiotica and entries in EncyclopaediaBritannica (“Communication”), as well as relevant entries in Crystal, D.Encyclopaedia of Languages and Linguistics.) Some basic texts are hard to get hold of. Copies are available in the CommunicationStudy reading pack in the Learning Resources Centre. There are several copies for thebenefit  of  all  students.  They  must  not  be  removed  from  the  Learning  ResourcesCentre. These readings support the listed books. Encyclopaedia Britannica Articles "Communication" (=EB1)and "Communication (animal)" (= EB2) Chapter 2 of The Theory of the Linguistic Sign by J. Mulder and S. Hervey (=M & H) Chapter One of On Human Communication by C. Cherry (= Cherry) "The  Communication  Process",  Chapter  Two  of Structural  Linguistics  and  HumanCommunication by B. Malmberg (=Malmberg) Various sections from Communication Studies by J. Corner and J. Hawthorn (eds.) (=C & H), also available in the library and a fundamental text. A section from The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals by C. Darwin (=Darwin) A section from Gestures by. D. Morris (= D. Morris) A section from Signs, Language and Behaviour by C. Morris (= C. Morris) "Man's Place in Nature"  (= Chapter 64) from A  Course in Modern Linguistics by C.Hockett (= Hockett) A  section  from  T.  Akamatsu, Foundations  of  Functional  Phonology,  on  doublearticulation and language functions.A.  Martinet,  “A  Functional  View  of  Grammar”, Studies  in  Functional  Syntax,Munich: Fink, 1975.Sections  from  the  Strategy  of  Linguistics,  by  J.  Mulder  and  S.  Hervey,Edinburgh:Scottish Academic Press, 1980, on sign theory and syntax.#p#分页标题#e# USE ALL LITERATURE CRITICALLY The course will be run in a lecture and seminar  format with exercises and topics fordiscussion.Each  student  will  have  to  prepare  a  project  as  described  below.  It  is  importantfor  students  to  identify  a  communication  system  of interest  as  soon  as  possible.And  to  discuss  it  with  the  unit  coordinator  in  order  to  get  advice.  A  list  ofpossibilities is found below. Communication Theory and Systems (“Reading”  –  refers  to  either  the  reading  pack  or  relevant  reading  from  the  readinglist.) 1.   Lecture - What is communication ? –Definitions and Terminology.Reading  –  Encyclopaedia  Britannica1,  Cherry,  Malmberg,  Corner  and  Hawthorn  1,Shannon and WeaverSeminar : To explore the dimension of the concept of communication. 2.   Lecture  -  Animal  vs.  Human  communication  -  How  do  animals communicate  ?What  do  they  communicate  ?  The  expression  of  emotions  in  dogs  and  cats  or  otheranimals. In what ways are they similar/different ? Reading – Encyclopaedia Britannica2, Darwin,  Seminar – examples of animal communication  3.  Lecture - Human communication- How do humans communicate ?What  do  they  communicate  ?  The  expression  of  emotions:  In  what  ways  are  theysimilar/different from animals? How is speech different ? Doing a Project – What do you have to do? And how do you do it?  4. Lecture – Introduction to Theoretical principles:The Process SchoolSeminar: Application of model(s) first steps in the project.   5.  Lecture  –  The  Semiotic  School:  Linguistic  systems  –  language  as  a  system  ofsystems. Reading – Mulder and Hervey, MalmbergSeminar – applying the linear model of communication.  STUDENTS  SHOULD  SELECT  A  PROJECT  TOPIC  BY  THIS  STAGE  ANDSUBMIT A PROPOSAL FOR COMMENT 6.   Lecture -  Communication  and  non-communication  -    Signs,  symbols,  icons,badges.Reading –Mulder and Hervey, Hockett, AitchisonClassification  of  Communication  systems  –  how  do  we  classify  communicationsystems?, morse code, signalling in cats and dogs, sports refereeing, speech,… How iscommunication organised in a community?Reading – Mulder and Hervey, , Hockett, Aitchison.Seminar  -  recognising  semiotic  entities  and  distinguishing  communication  and  non-communication. Discussion on the project  7. Lecture – Human non-linguistic communication - What systems of non-linguisticsignalling  do  we  employ?  Voluntarily  or  involuntarily?  How  do  they  compare  withspeech  ?  Unhappiness/joy  -  how  are  they  expressed ? What  other  emotions,  feelingsetc. are expressed ? How ?Reading - D. Morris, Hockett , Poyatos, ArgyleSeminar – analysis of visual communication systemsDiscussion on the project  8. Lecture –The Rhetorical Tradition.Seminar:  Classroom Applications 9. Lecture – Communication Functions /Reading – Akamatsu, Bηhler, Malmberg (Readings)Seminar – recognising and defining communication functions: Syntax and communicational functionReading – as above, Martinet, AkamatsuInformal presentation of the project by selected students ( around 5 mns each)

STUDENTS  SHOULD  SEEK  TUTORIAL  ADVICE  ON  THEIR  PROJECTSBY THIS STAGE. 10. Lecture - Double Articulation and the Linguistic Analysis of Experience .How  do  we  relate  our  experiences  to  linguistic  communication  system?  What  islinguistic economy?Reading – Akamatsu, Martinet, Mulder and Hervey, Martinet (ch.1)Seminar  –  analysis  of  the  stages  in  the  verbal  communication  process:  where  doesconvention come in?Informal presentation of the project by selected students ( around 5 mns each)  11. Lecture – Application of Theories 1:analysis of meaning. Central and peripheral meaning. Reading – Hervey, Lyons, PalmerSeminar – describing semantic fields and setting up semantic structurespragmatic aspects of meaning and their relation to linguistic structuresReading – Lyons, PalmerSeminar  –  exercises  on  the  identification  and  description of  pragmatic  aspects  ofmeaningInformal presentation of the project by selected students ( around 5 mns each) 12 Lecture  –  Revision:  Sentences:  paratactic  features  and  pragmatic  functions  –aspects of conversational interactionReading – Buhler, Martinet, C. Morris.Seminar – practice in conversational analysis/ Week  13  –  Hand  in  Project.  Friday  13  January  2011- 12  noon.  Please  showevidence  of  checking  your  work  through  Turnitin  to avoid  any  issue  related  toplagiarism.  AssessmentStudents will be assessed onOne project to describe and analyse the communication units and systems involved ina communication situation of the student’s choice. There must be explicit descriptionof a communication system and related processes with a clear, critical use of theoryand communication-theoretic models. ( 2,500 words). Students  must  keep  to  the  word  limits  and  must  avoid  plagiarism  –  see  handbook.  Correctreferencing and bibliographical citation are required – see Handbook and also the guidelines onthe avoidance of plagiarism.. The Project must contain:1.  An  example  of  human  or  animal  communication  that  you  have  seen  orread about in the last 3 months.2.   a clear description of the communication event3.  an analysis that draws on the theoretical principles that are associated.4.  an  application  of  the  chosen  theory  to  communication  data  to  produce  aclear  and  theoretically  justified  description  of  the  system  or  processchosen. (Note: students should avoid topics which are too general or too big in terms ofthe  amount  of  data;  they  are  required  to  select  topics  which  will  demonstratelearning  from  the  unit.  Tutorial  advice  is  available  in  office  hours  and  studentsmust seek advice before starting projects.) Here are few suggestions of areas to explore:-    analysis of conversational interaction/ written texts  -    animal behaviour  -    use of public signs ( ie road/ maps/ supermarkets, airports)  -    features of advertising  -    dress codes( ie Military, uniforms)-  facial gestures in humans-  hand gestures in different cultures-  interaction of verbal and non-verbal in writing (e.g. on labels or in emails)-  visual communication in diagrams or maps-  The project could include evidence of  examples of communications citedabove ( eg.photos etc…)  Marking Criteria In the Project credit will be given for1.  Identification and presentation of the communication situation2.  relevant formulation of research questions3.  relevant reading and theory4.  application  of  methods  and  description  of  the  selected  communication  units#p#分页标题#e#and systems5.  organisation of the whole6.  critical use of relevant theory  Resit Task The decision whether you need to do a resit task lies with the Board of Examiners. Ifyou  need  to  do  a  resit,  we  will  contact  you.  If  necessary  for  this  unit,  it  will  be  aresubmission of the assessment artefact.     In the following pages you will find-  some exercises and worksheets for in-class work and revision.