LING6005 Language Change
| Offered By | School of Language Studies |
|---|---|
| Academic Career | Graduate Coursework |
| Course Subject | Linguistics |
| Offered in | First Semester, 2009 |
| Unit Value | 6 units |
| Course Description |
An examination of the ways in which, and the reasons why, languages change. Types of sound change; morphological and syntactic change. Semantic shift. Methods of linguistic reconstruction. Cultural inferences from linguistic reconstruction. |
| Learning Outcomes |
(a) Understanding how and why languages change. (b) Mastering the methods of describing linguistic (especially phonological) changes and of reconstructing earlier stages and developments of languages. (c) Understanding the basis for recognising genetic relationships between languages. |
| Indicative Assessment |
5 analytical assignments (35%), 2500-3000 word essay (30%), Critical summaries (c 750 words each) of two significant articles (10%), and 2.5-hour examination (25%). Graduate students attend joint classes with undergraduates but have a different assessment pattern from undergraduates. |
| Workload | 2 hours of lectures and 1 hour of tutorial per week. Expect to spend 2 out-of-class hours for each class hour. |
| Course Classification(s) | TransitionalTransitional courses are designed for students from a broad range of backgrounds and learning achievements, which provide for the acquisition of generic skills; or an informed understanding of contemporary issues; or fundamental knowledge for transition to Advanced or Specialist courses. |
| Areas of Interest | Linguistics and Applied Linguistics |
|
Assumed Knowledge and Required Skills |
Basic knowledge of language structure, in particular phonetics. |
| Consent Required | Permission of the lecturer |
| Prescribed Texts | Robert McColl Millar. 2007. Trask's Historical Linguistics. 2nd edition. Paperback. Hodder Arnold. |
| Indicative Reading List | Janda, Richard D. and Joseph, Brian D. (eds). 2003. The handbook of historical linguistics. Blackwell. |
| Programs | Graduate Certificate in Applied Japanese Linguistics and Master of Linguistics |
| Academic Contact | Dr Harold Koch |
The information published on the Study at ANU 2009 website applies to the 2009 academic year only. All information provided on this website replaces the information contained in the Study at ANU 2008 website.
