Course overview
In this course, students will learn about linguistics; that is, the scientific study of language and its structures. Focusing mainly on words and sub-word parts, students will learn principles to analyse word structure and the role of words in language. Within words, phonetic properties are explored, as is the notion of decomposing a word into minimally meaningful elements. Students will critically consider how words, and more broadly language, function within the context of the individuals and communities who use and produce language. Theories of sociolinguistics and psycholinguistics will be explored to develop competence and confidence when conducting linguistic analysis with individuals and communities different to their own, including individuals from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds (CALD). The impacts of language loss, as well as language revival for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people will be examined, with a focus on the relationship between language, health and wellbeing.
Course learning outcomes
- Compare and explain the subsystems of language.
- Apply the international IPA to transcribe and describe the articulatory features of any word of English.
- Analyse the morphology of English words.
- Categorise the word class of any word of English in a language sample.
- Critically analyse theories of psycholinguistics and sociolinguistics, and apply these to explore how language is learned, evolves, and is shaped by cultural, historical, social factors.
- Contrast key linguistics features of Standard Australian English, Aboriginal Englishes, and Indigenous Australian languages.