LIN1030

Language in Australian society

Joanne Winter

6 points - Distance education - First semester - Clayton - Prohibited combination: LIN1030 and LIN1010 or LIN1030 and LIN1020

Objectives On successfully completing the subject students should have an understanding of the nature of the relationship between language and society and be able to relate and discuss features of the language situation in Australian contexts to the study of sociolinguistics and applied linguistics generally. They should be able to place this understanding together with the language analysis skills presented in the subject to a range of language data and written and spoken texts. The study of linguistics, in particular the Australian context, undertaken in this subject should enable students to critically evaluate and discuss folk linguistic beliefs about language use and linguistic representation.

Synopsis This subject provides students with an introduction to linguistics through the study of the complexity and diversity of language use and representation in Australian contexts. Some of these contexts include descriptions of Australian English and its social and geographical variation, community languages including indigenous languages and a survey of issues which arise out of the contact complexities such as cross cultural communication, language learning and understanding and policy and planning. In addition the subject introduces key concepts and skills necessary for the linguistic analysis of language in its social, cultural, historical and pragmatic contexts. In exploring the interaction between language and society the topics deal with written and spoken language, child and adult language as well as public and private discourse and the issue of language attitudes and jargon.

Assessment Three short assignments (800 words each): 45% Research report (1000 words): 15% Exam (1 hour): 40%

Prescribed texts

Language in Australian Society: A study guide Monash University Department of Linguistics
Many voices ABC, Melbourne

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