MONASH UNIVERSITY FACULTY HANDBOOKS

Arts Graduate Handbook 1996

Published by Monash University
Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia

Caution Copyright © Monash University 1996
ISBN 1320-6222

Authorised by Academic Registrar, April 1996

Language and Society Centre

The Language and Society Centre (LASC) is one of the research and development centres within the National Languages and Literacy Institute of Australia (NLLIA). The centre's major objective is to conduct and disseminate the results of sociolinguistic research, particularly in the areas of language policy in Australia; arresting and reversing language shift; intercultural communication; models and sociolinguistic variables in second language and bilingual programs, especially in primary schools; and bilingualism, metalinguistic awareness, and early reading.

This research builds on ongoing research at Monash involving the departments of Linguistics, Japanese Studies, Psychology, and a specialist unit of the centre, viz. the Community Languages in the Professions unit (CLIP). The results of research are presented in publications of the centre, the NLLIA and in specially targeted workshops and in-service seminars for parents, community groups, teachers, and others.

The CLIP unit has been integrated into LASC as a specialist unit since January 1991. Its major aims are to promote the learning of languages other than English (LOTE) in professional contexts and to sensitise professionals to the issue of crosscultural communication. The unit advises on the design of specialist language courses in LOTE and develops materials on crosscultural communication for the professions.

Consultancies and commissioned research are accepted in areas such as language policy and language services, bilingualism and multilingualism, language attitudes, intercultural communication, and discrimination in language (eg sexism and racism). Prominent overseas scholars are invited to the centre periodically to work within the centre.

The head office of the NLLIA is in Canberra. Its director is Mr Joe lo Bianco. The executive director of LASC is Dr Heather Bowe, its research director is Professor Michael Clyne. The LASC office is maintained by senior secretary Josephine Wee.

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