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LING2016 Language in Indigenous Australia

Later Year Course

Offered By School of Language Studies
Academic Career Undergraduate
Course Subject Linguistics
Offered in Second Semester, 2011 and Second Semester, 2012
Unit Value 6 units
Course Description

Around 300 languages have been used in traditional and modern Australian Indigenous societies.  This unit introduces their sounds, words, grammars and use.  You'll learn about speech etiquette, specialised codes and respect language, how languages reflect social, cultural and physical environments, along with learning something of a traditional language and a creole. Language-land relations, land rights, and placenames are a focus. We discuss the effect of English on traditional languages: borrowing, language reduction, loss, shift, and the creation of new varieties (e.g. Aboriginal English). We consider policies on language rights, reversing language shift through language revitalisation and bilingual education.

Indicative Assessment

Three exercises (30%), oral presentation (20%),  3,500 word essay (50%)

Workload

26 hours of lectures and 7 tutorials.

Areas of Interest Linguistics and Applied Linguistics
Requisite Statement

12 units of Anthropology, Archaeology, History, Linguistics or Sociology.

Incompatibility

LING2016 Language in Aboriginal Australia

Prescribed Texts

Michael Walsh and Colin Yallop (eds), 2005. Language and Culture in Aboriginal Australia. Aboriginal Studies Press.

Majors/Specialisations Applied Linguistics, Australian Studies, Indigenous Australian Studies, and Linguistics
Academic Contact Professor Jane Simpson

The information published on the Study at ANU 2011 website applies to the 2011 academic year only. All information provided on this website replaces the information contained in the Study at ANU 2010 website.

Updated:   13 Nov 2015 / Responsible Officer:   The Registrar / Page Contact:   Student Business Solutions