Offered By	ANU College of Arts and Social Sciences
Academic Contact	Dr Jennifer Hendriks (Sem 1) and Dr Avery Andrews (Sem 2)

Linguistics is the study of human language. Linguistics is concerned with analysing and describing the features that are common to all languages as well as determining to what extent languages can differ from one another. Linguists study languages from various points of view: their structure, acquisition, historical evolution, function in society. The different components of language are each the subject of special branches of linguistics: the study of the sounds of language is phonetics and phonology; the study of word structure is morphology; the study of sentence structure is syntax; the study of conversation and texts is discourse analysis; and the study of meaning is semantics.

Of the courses taught by the Program, some are devoted to the theory and methods of describing the components of language. Others deal with applied issues such as cross-cultural communication, language teaching methods, language planning, dictionary-making. Still others are concerned with particular languages or language families.

In all courses taught in the Program, emphasis is placed on teaching students how to think and reason, and on sharpening their linguistic intuitions, rather than on the learning of facts. Students are exposed to data from a wide variety of languages and may do detailed work on a number of different languages and language families. Thorough training is given in linguistic theory and its application to a variety of empirical problems. Attention is also directed to research methods, the application of linguistics to language teaching, language planning and socio-linguistic issues.

Requirements

A major in Linguistics consists of a minimum of 42 units of linguistics (i.e. courses with a LING prefix or courses from outside the School given in List B) including a maximum of 12 units at first year level.

The major must include the core course Introduction to the Study of Language LING1001/LING2001, unless it has been completed as part of another major, and at least 6 units (one course) from List A. The major may also include a maximum of 12 units (two courses) from List B.

Other courses taught in the Linguistics and Applied Linguistics Program, or particularly relevant courses from other programs may be included with permission of the convenor.

Further Information

Although it is a core course for Linguistics and Applied Linguistics majors and a List A course for the International Communication major, students may not count Introduction to the Study of Language to more than one major. Such students should consult the Convener as to which further course they should take to complete both majors.

  

Warning: Students should note that although courses from other Faculties are included in this major, they are not classified as 'Arts‘ courses and you may not be able to include them in your degree. 

For students enrolled in a single BA the Program Rules allow for a maximum of 48 units (8 courses) out-of-faculty. 

For BA students enrolled in a combined degree, enrolment is restricted to Arts courses only, therefore you may not include out-of-faculty courses. 

For a list of courses that are approved to count as "Arts" courses in the BA please see the Bachelor of Arts Course Listing at the end of the College of Arts & Social Sciences entry in the Undergraduate Handbook. 

Assessment

All courses involve a substantial amount of continuous assessment, in the form of problems, essays, quizzes, reports, and practical assignments, according to the nature of the subject matter. The assessment of some courses includes a take-home exam. Some courses have a final formal exam.

For information on Honours in Linguistics click here.

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.