Monash University Handbook 2010 Undergraduate - Unit

Synopsis

This unit provides students with an introduction to theoretical and descriptive frameworks adopted in the analysis of language. You will be introduced to techniques for different levels of language analysis; key questions and theoretical and descriptive frameworks adopted in the analysis of language; and some of the applications of these theoretical tools. There is a description of speech sounds and their organization in linguistic systems, the structures of words and sentences and their meanings, the description and analysis of historical processes of language change over time.

Objectives

On successful completion of this unit students should be able to: apply techniques and procedures, methods and skills presented in the unit to analyse sentence structure and sentence constituents, speech sounds, sound patterns, lexical meaning, and historical approaches to language change from a range of language data sets; methodically collect and analyse linguistic data; presenting findings with coherent argument that reflects the appropriate and conventional formalism utilised in the linguistic analysis of language and communication; display insights both into the language(s) they speak and into languages not previously encountered; demonstrate an understanding of what linguistics is and what linguists do

Assessment

Written work: 60% (2000 words)
Tutorial exercise/participation: 10%
2 hours Exam: 30%

Chief examiner(s)

Dr Simon Musgrave

Contact hours

3 hours (2 x 1 hour lectures and 1 x 1 hour tutorial) per week

This unit applies to the following area(s) of study

Linguistics