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Monash University

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Linguistics - Faculty of Arts

Offered by the School of Languages Cultures and Linguistics
Campus availability: Clayton, Off-campus learning (minor only)

Relevant courses

  • 2449 Diploma in Arts (Linguistics)
  • 0002 Bachelor of Arts (and associated double degrees)
  • 3907 Bachelor of Arts (English Language)
  • 3910 Bachelor of Arts (Global)
  • 1366 Bachelor of Arts (Languages)
  • 0202 Bachelor of Letters

Linguistics is the study of the structure and function of language and the uses of language in communication, including written, spoken and 'cyber' contexts. Linguistics explores how languages differ and what they all share, and provides the techniques and principles to be adopted in the analysis and description of any given language. In addition, the linguistic study of language and language use in socio-cultural contexts contributes to our understanding of identities, social and cultural organisation, multiculturalism and multilingualism, institutions and power, as well as the creative functions of language in texts and discourses. Knowledge of linguistics is central to the study of languages (eg English, Australian Aboriginal languages, Chinese, French, German, Greek, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Spanish). Linguistics also offers students of anthropology, mathematics, philosophy, sociology, engineering, psychology, law, and computer science, useful insights into the nature of language in their particular area of interest. Examples of the practical applications of linguistics include communications within organisations, communications interfaces with electronic systems, the preparation of materials for language teaching, the documentation of endangered languages, the development of language policies in government and education, and in the areas of business, professional and technical communication, tourism, intercultural communication and speech therapy.

The first year provides students with an introduction to the nature of language, including the manner in which sounds are produced and represented (phonetics), the organisation and relationship of sounds in language (phonology), the forms and structures of words (morphology), the organisation of words in sentences (syntax), the analysis of meaning (semantics and pragmatics), language change (historical linguistics) and language variation and the uses of language in social contexts (sociolinguistics).

In the second and third years, the areas of syntax, semantics, pragmatics, phonetics, phonology, and sociolinguistics are developed on a general and comparative basis and there are also units exploring varieties of English, historical and comparative linguistics, Aboriginal languages, Austronesian languages, discourse analysis, language and identity, psycholinguistics, first and second language acquisition, intercultural communication, endangered languages, multiliteracies in English and the structure of English.

Linguistics also offers a fourth-year honours program which combines coursework and a 24-point research thesis as the foundation for postgraduate research degrees.

Off-campus learning and online resource delivery

Several linguistics units are offered by off-campus learning or by a combination of online resources and face-to-face teaching contact. These units are usually available in the same semester as the on-campus delivery of the unit. The access to online resources and off-campus learning allows for flexibility, and face-to-face class commitments are kept to a minimum. Alternative arrangements include the use of the Monash portal and electronic group discussion programs. In addition to the online or print resources, students can access tutorial support by telephone, fax and email. The intention is that the flexible learning program should make linguistics units available to students whose work or other commitments make it difficult for them to attend regular classes on-campus. The following units can be undertaken on-campus, or through flexible mode using online resources: LIN1010, LIN1020, LIN2310/LIN3310, LIN2330/LIN3330 and LIN2/3570. For more details on flexible learning units, contact the linguistics program or visit the website at http://www.arts.monash.edu.au/linguistics.

Study abroad

Students may apply to study linguistics abroad. A list of exchange partner universities is available from the Study Abroad website at http://www.monash.edu.au/students/studyabroad/programs/partners/index.html.

Students should select a shortlist of suitable linguistics units from the exchange partner universities in which they are interested. Units to be taken abroad need to be approved by the Linguistics Program at Monash before the commencement of the trip. Please submit the unit titles (and synopsis if available), assessment details and total number of contact hours to Dr Anna Margetts at anna.margetts@arts.monash.edu.au or contact the School of Languages, Cultures and Linguistics at LCL.Enquiries@arts.monash.edu.au.

Sequences

Important major and minor information

Prior to 2005 students were required to complete at least one unit from five groupings. The new structure of four groupings is simpler and clearer, and allows students more flexibility. While ensuring that students cover the basics of the field it will allow them more opportunity to specialise. Students who commenced studying Linguistics prior to 2005 will benefit from the simplified structure as they will have more choice in designing their major.

Students completing studies via off-campus learning can complete a standard minor only in Linguistics. The units that are offered via off-campus learning are starred (*).

Students are encouraged to discuss their course structure or any other matter related to their linguistics study with the relevant year coordinator.

First year sequence

A first-year sequence in Linguistics comprises LIN1010 and LIN1020.

Minor sequence

Students complete a standard minor chosen from the units listed below.

Major sequence

Students majoring in linguistics are explicitly guided when selecting their units and, at second/third-year level, are expected to build on a completed first-year sequence by specialising in particular areas of linguistics.

NOTE:Students who major in linguistics are encouraged to gain the experience of learning a language other than their first language.

Students complete a standard major chosen from the units listed below, including at least one unit from each of the four groupings or 'clusters' of units.

Units

First-year level

  • LIN1010 The language game: Why do we talk the way we do?*
  • LIN1020 Describing and analysing language and communication*

Second/Third-year level

Group 1 - Structure
Group 2 - Sound and Meaning
Group 3 - Language and Society
Group 4 - Applications
  • LIN2430/LIN3430 Psycholinguistics and child language acquisition
  • LIN2470/LIN3470 Intercultural communication#
  • LIN2490/LIN3490 Literacies and communication: education, media and cyberspace
  • LIN2550/LIN3550 Second language acquisition and attrition
  • LIN3040 Researching and documenting languages*^
  • LIN3050 Developing language maintenance programs*^
  • LIN3060 Working with linguistic archival materials *^
  • LIN3180 Data management for linguistics

# Not offered from 2004.

^ Not offered from 2008.

Contact details

Enquiries (Clayton): Room S423, fourth floor, South Wing, Menzies building

Telephone +61 3 9905 2281 or +61 3 9905 2223

Email lcl.enquiries@arts.monash.edu.au

Visit http://www.arts.monash.edu.au/lcl and http://www.arts.monash.edu.au/linguistics