linguistics/ug-arts-linguistics

aos

Monash University

Undergraduate - Area of study

Students who commenced study in 2014 should refer to this area of study entry for direction on the requirments; to check which units are currently available for enrolment, refer to the unit indexes in the the current edition of the Handbook. If you have any queries contact the managing faculty for your area of study.

print version

This area of study entry applies to students commencing this course in 2014 and should be read in conjunction with the relevant course entry in the Handbook. Any units listed for this area of study relate only to the 'Requirements' outlined in the Faculty of Arts component of any bachelors double degrees.

Managing facultyFaculty of Arts
Offered bySchool of Languages, Literatures, Cultures and Linguistics
Campus(es)Clayton

Notes

  • Unit codes that are not linked to their entry in the Handbook are not available for study in the current year.
  • Some units are also available via off-campus learning.

Description

Linguistics is the study of language, its structure and use. It provides the techniques and principles for the analysis and description of any given language, and examines how languages differ and what they have in common. Through linguistic analysis we explore identity construction, social and cultural organisation, variation and change, multilingualism, institutions and power, as well as language patterns in texts and discourses. Knowledge of linguistics is central to the study of languages and is a valuable adjunct to studies in anthropology, education, philosophy, sociology, psychology, law, translation studies and computer science.

The first-year gateway units provide an introduction to the nature of language, including phonetics (the production and representation of speech sounds), phonology (the organisation of sounds in a language), morphology (the structures of words), syntax (the organisation of words in sentences), semantics and pragmatics (the analysis of meaning), historical linguistics (language change) and sociolinguistics (language variation and use).

At second and third-year levels, the areas are developed further, there are also units investigating Aboriginal languages, Austronesian languages, discourse analysis, language and identity, language change, psycholinguistics, first and second language acquisition, intercultural communication, endangered languages, literacies 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.

Some units can be taken through flexible mode using online resources. Students may also apply to study linguistics abroad.

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

Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the major, students will be able to:

  • use the key tools of linguistics analysis to explore the phonological, morphological, syntactic, semantic, pragmatic and discourse structures of spoken and written texts
  • transcribe and analyse language data
  • analyse data from unfamiliar languages
  • describe the key processes of language contact and change, including language endangerment, and the historical development of modern languages
  • analyse the role of language in social interaction, and the relationship between language, society, identity and culture
  • communicate more effectively across cultures
  • critically evaluate public discourse on language, using linguistic skills and knowledge
  • bring a strong foundation in linguistic knowledge and analytic skills (phonetic, phonological, morphological, syntactic, lexical, semantic, pragmatic and discourse) to further training in language-related professions
  • apply linguistic knowledge and analytic skills to understanding literature and the acquisition of a first or second language
  • work in teams or individually to conduct independent research using discipline-specific skills and knowledge
  • write academically informed and evidence-based responses to theoretical and practical problems.

Units

Minor in linguistics

Students completing a minorminor (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2014handbooks/undergrad/arts-07.html) in linguistics must complete four units (24 points), including:

(a.) two first-year gateway unitsgateway units (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2014handbooks/undergrad/arts-08.html) (12 points):

  • ATS1338 The language game: Why do we talk the way we do?
  • ATS1339 Describing and analysing language and communication

(b.) additional elective units from the list below (12 points)

Note: Students can take the second-year cornerstone units from the major as electives.

Major in linguistics

Students completing a majormajor (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2014handbooks/undergrad/arts-07.html) in linguistics must complete eight units (48 points), including:

(a.) two first-year gateway unitsgateway units (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2014handbooks/undergrad/arts-08.html) (12 points):

  • ATS1338 The language game: Why do we talk the way we do?
  • ATS1339 Describing and analysing language and communication

(b.) at least one second-year cornerstone unitcornerstone unit (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2014handbooks/undergrad/arts-08.html) (6 points), chosen from:

(c.) at least one third-year capstone unitcapstone unit (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2014handbooks/undergrad/arts-08.html) (6 points), chosen from:

  • ATS3666 Eastern Austronesian languages of Indonesia, East Timor and Oceania
  • ATS3677 Aboriginal languages of Australia
  • ATS3816 The social context of language learning

(d.) additional elective units from the list below (24 points)

A minimum of three units (18 points) at third-year level must be completed .

Note: Students can take additional cornerstone and/or capstone units as electives.

Elective units

Relevant courses

Diplomas

  • 2327 Diploma in Liberal Arts

Bachelors

Single degrees

  • 0002 Bachelor of Arts
  • 3907 Bachelor of Arts (English Language)
  • 3910 Bachelor of Arts (Global)
  • 4077 Bachelor of Arts (International)
  • 1366 Bachelor of Arts (Languages)
  • 1638 Bachelor of Arts Scholars Program
  • 4042 Bachelor of Journalism
  • 0202 Bachelor of Letters
  • 1275 Bachelor of Professional Communication

Double degrees

  • 4640 Bachelor of Aerospace Engineering (Honours) and Bachelor of Arts
  • 4098 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Business
  • 0550 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Business (Accounting)
  • 0553 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Business (Banking and Finance)
  • 0555 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Business (Management)
  • 0556 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Business (Marketing)
  • 0542 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Commerce
  • 0170 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Economics
  • 1541 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education (Primary)
  • 1641 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education (Secondary)
  • 0080 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws
  • 3054 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Music
  • 0530 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science
  • 3426 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Social Work
  • 0002 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Theology
  • 3779 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Visual Arts
  • 4097 Bachelor of Arts Scholars Program and Bachelor of Commerce Scholars Program
  • 4403 Bachelor of Arts (Global) and Bachelor of Commerce
  • 3537 Bachelor of Arts (Global) and Bachelor of Science
  • 4634 Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) and Bachelor of Arts
  • 4644 Bachelor of Environmental Engineering (Honours) and Bachelor of Arts
  • 4426 Bachelor of Journalism and Bachelor of Business
  • 4425 Bachelor of Journalism and Bachelor of Commerce
  • 4069 Bachelor of Journalism and Bachelor of Science
  • 4648 Bachelor of Mechatronics Engineering (Honours) and Bachelor of Arts