MONASH UNIVERSITY FACULTY HANDBOOKS

Arts Undergraduate Handbook 1996

Published by Monash University
Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia

Caution Copyright © Monash University 1996
ISBN 1320-6222

Authorised by Academic Registrar, April 1996

Linguistics

Language is an integral part of our daily lives, our culture, and indeed of being human. Linguistics is the study of the structure and function of language, of how languages differ, of what they all share, and of the techniques and principles used when investigating any given language. Knowledge of linguistics is central to the study of languages (eg English, Australian Aboriginal languages, Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Russian, Thai, Vietnamese etc.). Linguistics also offers students of anthropology, mathematics, philosophy, sociology, engineering, psychology and computer science useful insights into the nature of language in their particular area of interest. Examples of the practical applications of linguistics include the preparation of materials for language teaching, the development of language policies in government and in education, and in the areas of business, professional and technical 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 grammatical forms of words (morphology), the organisation of words in sentences (syntax), the analysis of meaning (semantics), 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, phonetics, phonology, pragmatics and sociolinguistics are developed on a general and comparative basis and there are also subjects exploring varieties of English, historical and comparative linguistics, Aboriginal languages, discourse analysis, applied linguistics, psycholinguistics, first and second language acquisition, language and the sexes, linguistics for business, language in education and the structure of English.

Objectives

Through the in-depth study of language, the Department of Linguistics aims to produce students who have acquired a range of cognitive, practical and interpersonal skills and abilities including:

+ the ability to read critically and analyse texts on and about language;

+ the ability to gather and assess evidence used in and for the study of language;

+ the ability to think logically;

+ the ability to communicate clearly and fluently in speech and writing appropriate to context and culture;

+ the ability to develop and present logical, persuasive and well-evidenced arguments in relation to language issues;

+ the ability to make use of computing and other technological know-how relevant to the study of linguistics.

These are achieved by (1) imparting and developing knowledge of the structural properties, the functions and uses of language; (2) providing students with the basic concepts and tools for exploring any language or language situation; and (3) familiarising students with a range of applications of linguistics in other areas of knowledge as well as in the solving of practical language problems. All courses in linguistics ranging from the study of sound systems, grammar and meaning to the study of language use in society contribute in more than one way towards achieving these aims.

Furthermore, the study of linguistics should provide students with analytical and problem-solving skills that can be transferred to other areas of study and knowledge. These include categorisation, problem identification, the ability to relate theory to practice, making judgement on accuracy, developing arguments to their conclusion, evaluating arguments and knowledge.

Since linguistics is linked closely to several other disciplines (eg sociology, anthropology, philosophy and psychology) students' acquisition of the linguistics knowledge base and methodology is beneficial to an understanding of these disciplines and makes it possible for students to engage in cooperative work with people from those disciplines.

Language being closely linked to culture, the study of linguistics enables students to develop not only knowledge of but also a critical perspective on a range of cultures, including Australian cultures.

Course structure objectives

At first-year undergraduate level (LIN1010 and LIN1020), students are expected to acquire an appreciation of the key areas of linguistics: phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, pragmatics/communication, sociolinguistics, historical linguistics, psycholinguistics and applied linguistics, and to the methods of analysis relevant to each.

At second/third-year level, students will build on this foundation by specialising in particular areas of linguistics. Students majoring in linguistics are explicitly guided when selecting units. At least one designated core unit from each of three different areas must be included in a major, thus ensuring students acquire breadth as well as depth. In other second/third-year subjects, students can explore a particular theme or set of applications. These subjects serve to (1) consolidate the students' understanding of several different areas within linguistics, (2) help them see unifying threads, and (3) reinforce the relevance of the discipline to their current and future activities.

At fourth-year level, students (1) are responsible for the development and presentation of a research project (thesis) in a particular area of linguistics, (2) explicitly discuss theorising in linguistics, and (3) acquire specialist knowledge and skills to support or complement the above.

Courses

A major sequence normally consists of not less than LIN1010 and LIN1020 (first-year linguistics), sixteen points of linguistics at second-year level and sixteen points of linguistics at third-year level plus eight further points chosen from either second or third-year subjects. A minor sequence consists of LIN1010 and LIN1020 and sixteen points of linguistics at second-year level. It is expected that students who major in linguistics will have the experience of learning or acquiring a language other than their first language. This can be achieved by taking LIN2370/3370 (Aboriginal languages of Australia) as part of their major sequence.

It will normally be expected that students majoring in linguistics will have passed at least one of the subjects from each of the following groups:

Group 1

+ LIN2090/LIN3090 Syntax or

+ LIN2510/LIN3510 Structure of English

Group 2

+ LIN2110/LIN3110 Phonetics and phonology or

+ LIN2310/LIN3310 Semantics or

+ LIN2330/LIN3330 Pragmatics

Group 3

+ LIN2350/LIN3350 Sociolinguistics or

+ LIN2150/LIN3150 English around the world or

+ LIN3530/LIN4540 Languages in contact

Year coordinators

Students are encouraged to discuss their course structure or any other matter related to their linguistics study with the relevant year coordinator. In 1996 the coordinators will be:

+ First year: Ms Joanne Winter

+ Second and third year: Dr Edina Eisikovits

+ Fourth year: Dr Peter Paul

Graduate studies

The Linguistics department offers a postgraduate diploma program, an MA in Applied Linguistics, an MA in Linguistics and a PhD program. The department can supervise students in the areas of descriptive linguistics, applied linguistics, Australian Aboriginal languages, bilingualism, first and second language acquisition, discourse analysis, computational linguistics, dialectology, sociolinguistics, pragmatics, forensic linguistics, language and gender, language and race, and educational linguistics. For details of postgraduate courses offered by the department, please refer to the Arts graduate handbook for 1996.

First-year level

Offered every year.

Coordinator: J Winter

First year normally comprises LIN1010 followed by LIN1020. However a student may start linguistics in second semester by taking LIN1020 followed by LIN1010 the next year.

+ LIN1010 Linguistics: language and communication A

+ LIN1020 Linguistics: language and communication B

Second-year level

Coordinator: E Eisikovits

Subjects offered

+ LIN2090 Syntax (proposed to be offered next in 1997)

+ LIN2110 Phonetics and phonology

+ LIN2150 English around the world (proposed to be offered next in 1997)

+ LIN2170 Linguistics for language learning (proposed to be offered next in 1997)

+ LIN2190 Historical and comparative linguistics

+ LIN2310 Semantics (proposed to be offered next in 1997)

+ LIN2330 Pragmatics: strategies for communication

+ LIN2350 Sociolinguistics

+ LIN2370 Aboriginal languages of Australia

+ LIN2390 Language, communication and the sexes

+ LIN2430 Psycholinguistics and child language acquisition (proposed to be offered next in 1997)

+ LIN2470 Linguistics for business (proposed to be offered next in 1997)

+ LIN2490 Language, reading and writing

+ LIN2510 Structure of English

+ LIN2520 Current syntactic theory (proposed to be offered next in 1997)

+ LIN2530 Languages in contact (proposed to be offered next in 1997)

+ LIN2550 Second language acquisition and attrition

+ LIN2570 Discourse analysis

+ LIN2590 History and philosophy of linguistics

+ LIN2690 Issues in computational linguistics (proposed to be offered next in 1997)

Third-year level

Coordinator: E Eisikovits

Subjects offered

+ LIN3090 Syntax (proposed to be offered next in 1997)

+ LIN3110 Phonetics and phonology

+ LIN3150 English around the world (proposed to be offered next in 1997)

+ LIN3170 Linguistics for language learners (proposed to be offered next in 1997)

+ LIN3190 Historical and comparative linguistics

+ LIN3310 Semantics (proposed to be offered next in 1997)

+ LIN3330 Pragmatics: strategies for communication

+ LIN3350 Sociolinguistics

+ LIN3370 Aboriginal languages of Australia

+ LIN3390 Language, communication and the sexes

+ LIN3430 Psycholinguistics and child language acquisition (proposed to be offered next in 1997)

+ LIN3470 Linguistics for business (proposed to be offered next in 1997)

+ LIN3490 Language, reading and writing

+ LIN3510 Structure of English

+ LIN3520 Current syntactic theory (proposed to be offered next in 1997)

+ LIN3530 Languages in contact (proposed to be offered next in 1997)

+ LIN3550 Second language acquisition and attrition

+ LIN3570 Discourse analysis

+ LIN3590 History and philosophy of linguistics

+ LIN3690 Issues in computational linguistics (proposed to be offered next in 1997)

Fourth-year level

Coordinator: P Paul

There are four components in the fourth-year-level honours course

Students will take LIN4660, LIN4680, LIN4720 and LIN4740.

+ LIN4660 Minor thesis

+ LIN4680 Linguistic research methodology

+ LIN4720 Special topics in linguistics

+ LIN4740 Linguistic theory

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