Unit rationale, description and aim
Linguistics and phonetics are core foundation knowledge areas that speech pathology students must possess in order to develop clinical occupational competencies in the Speech Pathology Australia range of practice areas, including Language, Speech, and Multi-modal communication.
This unit introduces students to the linguistic domains of syntax, semantics, morphology, phonology and pragmatics, and the science of speech, that is phonetics. Students will develop knowledge and skills in transcribing typical speech, through the introduction of the International Phonetic Alphabet, and develop skills in the grammatical analysis of language. Students will apply linguistic domains to explore the diversity of language, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages.
Consequently, this unit contains a learning outcome from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Curriculum Framework (HCF, 2014) specifically addressing the HCF cultural capability- Diversity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.
Students will also explore branches of linguistics relevant to speech pathology, including , psycholinguistics, and neurolinguistics. Finally, the link between each of these areas and the practice of speech pathology will be highlighted for students. This unit provides students with essential knowledge and skills that will be built upon in subsequent units of study. The aim of this unit is to facilitate the development of foundational knowledge ,skills, in linguistics and phonetics to enable students to develop their abilities in analysing speech and language for speech pathology practice, and develop positive attitudes towards language diversity.
Learning outcomes
To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.
Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.
Explore the graduate capabilities.
Describe concepts in phonetics; the linguistic dom...
Learning Outcome 01
Demonstrate skills in phonemic and phonetic transc...
Learning Outcome 02
Demonstrate skills in the grammatical analysis of ...
Learning Outcome 03
Apply linguistic principles to explain and analyse...
Learning Outcome 04
HCF 3.1* Describe the diversity of Aboriginal and ...
Learning Outcome 05
Content
Topics will include:
Background to linguistics and phonetics
- Relevance to speech pathology practice
- Introduction to terminology
- Situating linguistics (language) and phonetics (speech) in diverse social, cultural and developmental contexts
Domains of speech and language
- Semantics
- Lexical semantics
- Impact of sentence/phrase on meaning
- Analysing semantics
Syntax
- Sentence structure
- Phrase structure
- Analysing syntax
Morphology
- Morphemes
- Word formation rules
- Word classes
- Grammatical morphemes
- Analysing morphemes
Phonology
- Classification of speech sounds
- Phonemes
- Distinctive features
- Classes
- Prosody (intonation and stress)
- Rules of phonology
- Analysing phonology
- Phonetics
- Articulatory phonetics
- Acoustic phonetics and auditory phonetics International phonetic alphabet
Pragmatics
- Linguistic and situational context
- Speech Acts
- Conversational principles and implicatures
Linguistic branches
- Contextual uses and variations in language (Sociolinguistics)
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages and cultural considerations
- Introduction to neurolinguistics and psycholinguistics
Assessment strategy and rationale
The assessments tasks in this unit are (a) Transcription Test – Hurdle Assessment, (b) Quizzes , (c) Speech and Language Analysis Report, and (d) Written Examination. The sequence of assessment in the unit allows students to develop their knowledge and skills on tasks that are progressively more complex and/or cover a progressively wider range of content.
The Hurdle Assessment, the transcription test, requires students to practise and demonstrate essential transcription skills to describe and record human speech. This is a hurdle assessment because these are core skills which are essential for speech pathology practice. The Hurdle Assessment allows students to demonstrate their emerging transcription skills using simplified examples of human speech and provides scaffolding for Assessment 3, which uses real and more complex examples of human speech in context.
Assessment 1, quizzes, is designed for students to demonstrate acquisition of theoretical knowledge as a foundation for the final two assessment pieces. The use of multiple quizzes across the duration of the unit will allow for formative feedback to be distributed across the course of the unit to enable deeper learning and better preparation for the subsequent assessments.
Assessment 2, a speech and language analysis report, requires students to apply their knowledge of linguistic principles to explain and analyse human speech, language and communication.
Assessment 3, a written examination, allows students to further demonstrate their understanding through assimilating their knowledge of a broad range of linguistic and phonetic concepts in answering multiple choice and short answer questions, as well as demonstrating their knowledge of the extensions of linguistics in the branches of neurolinguistics, psycholinguistics, and sociolinguistics.
Overview of assessments
Hurdle Assessment: Transcription Test This hurdle...
Hurdle Assessment: Transcription Test
This hurdle assessment enables students to practise and demonstrate transcription skills that are essential professional skills for speech pathology practice
Pass/Fail
Quizzes Quizzes allow students an opportunity to ...
Quizzes
Quizzes allow students an opportunity to consolidate and demonstrate understanding of theoretical knowledge in linguistics.
20%
Speech and language analysis report This report e...
Speech and language analysis report
This report enables students to demonstrate their application of linguistic knowledge to describe, analyse and explain human speech and language in context
40%
Written examination This examination enables stud...
Written examination
This examination enables students to demonstrate their understanding and application of knowledge and skills in linguistics.
40%
Learning and teaching strategy and rationale
Students will be introduced to key information related to anatomy and physiology through online learning and consolidate their understanding through collaborative group learning in activities utilizing anatomical models, body painting, digital learning, and surface anatomy during real time classes. This unit uses an active learning approach to support students in the acquisition, assimilation, and application of the knowledge and skills in linguistics and phonetics. Students will be introduced to the key concepts in linguistics and phonetics through the online learning, activities and will synthesise their understanding o through real-time classes. Students are also expected to attend practical classes on transcription and grammatical analysis to develop skills in these areas, which are core skills required for speech pathology practice. This approach allows students to develop responsibility for their learning and to construct knowledge actively within a face-face social environment while receiving expert support.
Professional Standards for Speech Pathologists in Australia
In connection to the learning outcomes, the Professional Standards for Speech Pathologists in Australia (Professional Standards) detail
- the knowledge, skills and attributes a speech pathologist practising in Australia must demonstrate and apply, at any point in their career, as relevant to their speech pathology role and work context
- the knowledge, skills and attributes a graduating speech pathology student must demonstrate and be able to apply by the time they complete their entry-level degree.
The Professional Standards should not be read in isolation. Speech pathologists should also be cognisant of, and comply with, relevant legislation, Speech Pathology Australia policies and the Speech Pathology Australia Code of Ethics.
Relating to
Maintain high standards of communication, information sharing and record keeping
Relevant Learning OutcomeLO2, LO3, LO4
Relating to
Develop shared understanding of speech pathology
Relevant Learning OutcomeLO1, LO3, LO4, LO5
Relating to
Assess communication and swallowing needs
Relevant Learning OutcomeLO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5
Relating to
Interpret, diagnose and report on assessments
Relevant Learning OutcomeLO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5