Issues in Linguistic Research

Subject LING40002 (2010)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2010.

Credit Points:

Level:

4 (Undergraduate)

Dates & Locations:

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2010:

Semester 1, Parkville - Taught on campus.

Pre-teaching Period Start	not applicable
Teaching Period	not applicable
Assessment Period End	not applicable
Last date to Self-Enrol	not applicable
Census Date	not applicable
Last date to Withdraw without fail	not applicable

Timetable can be viewed here. For information about these dates, click here.

Time Commitment:

Contact Hours: One 3-hour seminar per week.
Total Time Commitment:
3 contact hours/week, 17 additional hours/week. Total of 20 hours per week.

Prerequisites:

None

Corequisites:

None

Recommended Background Knowledge:

None

Non Allowed Subjects:

None

Core Participation Requirements:

For the purposes of considering requests for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements for this entry.

The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

Coordinator

Ms Jennifer Green

Contact

b.kelly@unimelb.edu.au

Subject Overview:	This subject takes a broad and historically based view of some of the great topics that have preoccupied thinkers in linguistics, and how they interrelate, by juxtaposing the history of ideas on each of a dozen topics with relevant contemporary debates. Topics to be covered include defining properties of language. sign and system. arbitrariness versus constraints on the system. the role of typology. the role of formal modelling of language systems. linguistic relativity. synchrony versus diachrony. linguistics as a science. the linguistic system and the community of users. the boundaries of the language system. functionalism, adaptation and evolution of language systems. categories, classical and otherwise. and language, mind and brain.
Objectives:	see how the great questions and puzzles of the present are shaped by the historical concerns of the past. understand how developments in one field are built on those of another. read and understand ideas as formulated by their original discoverers sympathetically, but critically. have a broad overview of, and be able to articulate, the great questions in the field of linguistics.
Assessment:	1 x oral presentation written up as a 2,000 word report (30%) Class discussion for three other topics throughout the semester (30%) Essay of 4,000 words due at the end of semester (40%)
Prescribed Texts:	A subject reader will be available
Breadth Options:	This subject is not available as a breadth subject.
Fees Information:	Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Generic Skills:	develop their skills in research. develop their skills in critical thinking and analysis.
Related Majors/Minors/Specialisations:	English Language Studies Linguistics && Applied Linguistics Linguistics and Applied Linguistics

Download PDF version.