LIN3060

Working with Linguistic Archival Materials ( 6 points, SCA Band 1, 0.125 EFTSL)

Leader: Dr Heather Bowe

Offered:
Clayton Second semester 2006 (OCL)

Synopsis: This unit aims to advance students' understanding of the processes necessary for locating, identifying, and analysing historical/archival material to establish the original pronunciation of words, to describe the phonological system and to propose an appropriate spelling system for the language as a whole and for individual words, and to reconstitute aspects of grammar. Such work needs to be undertaken by analysis of the historical/archived texts and audio recordings, drawing comparison from documentation of languages of the same or closeley related language families for which there may be relevant extant material.

Objectives: On completion of this unit students will be able to: 1) demonstrate an understanding of the context in which historical archival materials might have been written down and named; 2) understand general principles for evaluating different naming practices for languages and language varieties; 3) analyse historical archival material in terms of the sound system, aspects of the grammatical system including word building, as revealed by notes and translations provided; 4) consider word meaning and pragmatics of language use by reference to general principles as well as the systems evident in the material being analysed; 5) apply theoretical frameworks utilised by historical researchers in the analysis of phonology, syntax, language relatedness and historical change; and in the design of practical orthologies; 6) apply key concepts to new sets of data; 7) demonstrate competence in the following skills: i) obtaining access to source materials and secondary writings through the library and other resources (including publications produced by community and non-government organisations); ii) analysis and interpretation of texts and audio resources, including the application of appropriate terms, concepts and theoretical frameworks for the discussion of their content and form; iii) assimilation of information and opinion from various sources for purposes of forming independent judgments; iv) small group work (on-campus) /on line discussion (off-campus) 8) be able to formulate research questions associated with the documentation and classification of languages, and the social contexts of language relatedness, particularly in on-literate societies; 9) be able to evaluate and apply appropriate methodologies to implement research questions; 10) have acquired advanced skills in research essay writing.

Assessment: Analytic exercises (1,350 words) 30%; Research project proposal (450 words) 10%; Written research project (2,250 words) 50%; Group/on-line participation (450 words) 10%

Contact Hours: 1 two hour seminar per week

Prohibitions: LIN 3060 or LIN 4060