PASI6020 An introduction to Languages of the Pacific
| Offered By | School of Culture, History and Language |
|---|---|
| Academic Career | Graduate Coursework |
| Course Subject | Pasifika |
| Offered in | Second Semester, 2011 |
| Unit Value | 6 units |
| Course Description |
This course provides an introductory overview to the languages of the Pacific, extending from Timor in the west through the island of New Guinea out through Melanesia into Pacific Polynesia. It deals equally with the Austronesian languages which have arrived in the region some three millennia ago and the many Papuan languages whose presence in the region goes back much further in time and which are geographically centred on the island of New Guinea with outliers in Timor, the Moluccas, and the Solomon Islands. The emphasis is on giving an understanding of these very diverse language structures, an appreciation of the astounding linguistic diversity of the region (containing around a fifth of the world's languages), the way linguistic evidence can help us understand te deep history of the region, the cultural context of language function and structure, and the continuities between traditional languages and the emergent pidgins and creoles of the region (e.g. Tok Pisin, Bislama, Solomons Pijin and Melayu Papua). No previous exposure to linguistics or to Pacific languages is assumed. |
| Learning Outcomes |
Students completing this course will have: a)Gained an appreciation of the indigenous languages of the Pacific, their diversity, significance, and cultural embedding, with exposure to both Austronesian and Papuan languages. b)Have acquired a suitably flexible conceptual framework for the analysis of languages of a very different type to their own, and a basic understanding of the methods linguists use to analyse them c)The ability to communicate clearly and concisely about linguistic structures and conceptual systems different from those found in English
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| Indicative Assessment |
Specific language profile for one “adopted” language (30%) [2000 words] Two transcription and analysis problems (30%) [1500 words equiv.] Final Essay [individual or group options] (30%) [2000 words] Final Quiz (10%) |
| Workload |
One three hour meeting per week, taught in mixed lecture/ tutorial mode (with a coffee break in the middle) |
| 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 | Anthropology, Asian Languages, Linguistics and Applied Linguistics, and Pacific Studies |
| Recommended Courses |
PASI 1010 or 6010 if you are doing the Pacific Languages Major |
| Preliminary Reading |
Evans, Nicholas. 2010 Dying Words. Endangered Languages and What They Have to Tell Us. Wiley Blackwell. Lynch, John. 1998. Pacific Languages: an Introduction. University of Hawaii Press is recommended. |
| Programs | Master of Linguistics and Graduate Certificate in Linguistics |
| Other Information |
The course is offered in semi-itensive mode and runs over 9 weeks, from week 5 of second semester. |
| Academic Contact | Professor Alan Rumsey and Professor Nick Evans |
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.
