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LING 3020 - Perspectives on Language Variation & Change

North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2024

This is the capstone course for the Linguistics Major. All languages vary internally in accordance with a range of parameters including the gender, age, social class, occupation, origins etc. of their speakers. Most languages have distinct regional and social varieties. They also vary according to the contexts in which they are used and the purposes for which they are employed. All living languages constantly change over time in response to innovations introduced by younger generations, technological change or contact with other languages or with other varieties of the same language. Drawing on descriptive and analytic skills developed during their undergraduate study of linguistics, students will undertake independent study of language variation and change, assembling their own body of data either through archival, library, internet research or field research.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code LING 3020
    Course Perspectives on Language Variation & Change
    Coordinating Unit European Languages, and Linguistics
    Term Semester 2
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 6
    Contact Up to 3 hours per week face-to-face + up to 6 on-line activity (MOOCS)
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange N
    Prerequisites At least 15 units of Linguistics Major courses
    Assumed Knowledge LING 1101, LING 1102
    Restrictions Available to students undertaking a Linguistics Major only
    Assessment Linguistic practical (eg comparative method or text analysis) 20%, Oral presentation 20%, Research report 60%
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Ian Green

    This course will be taught by Dr Ian Green
    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from .

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    1 Understand the need for research ethics and the social and community impact of research activity and research output.
    2 Collect and assemble a body of linguistic data for analysis
    3 Understand the principles of sociolinguistic variation within a speech community
    4 Understand how and why languages change over time
    5 Apply the comparative method to a body of data drawn from a group of related languages
    6 Apply a variety of analytic methods and approaches to a body of language data
    7 Choose an appropriate method to analyse the body of data at hand
    8 Communicate findings orally and in written form
    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)

    Attribute 1: Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth

    Graduates have comprehensive knowledge and understanding of their subject area, the ability to engage with different traditions of thought, and the ability to apply their knowledge in practice including in multi-disciplinary or multi-professional contexts.

    3, 4

    Attribute 2: Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving

    Graduates are effective problems-solvers, able to apply critical, creative and evidence-based thinking to conceive innovative responses to future challenges.

    5, 6, 7

    Attribute 3: Teamwork and communication skills

    Graduates convey ideas and information effectively to a range of audiences for a variety of purposes and contribute in a positive and collaborative manner to achieving common goals.

    8

    Attribute 4: Professionalism and leadership readiness

    Graduates engage in professional behaviour and have the potential to be entrepreneurial and take leadership roles in their chosen occupations or careers and communities.

    1, 2

    Attribute 5: Intercultural and ethical competency

    Graduates are responsible and effective global citizens whose personal values and practices are consistent with their roles as responsible members of society.

    1, 2

    Attribute 6: Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural competency

    Graduates have an understanding of, and respect for, Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander values, culture and knowledge.

    .

    Attribute 7: Digital capabilities

    Graduates are well prepared for living, learning and working in a digital society.

    .

    Attribute 8: Self-awareness and emotional intelligence

    Graduates are self-aware and reflective; they are flexible and resilient and have the capacity to accept and give constructive feedback; they act with integrity and take responsibility for their actions.

    1, 2, 8
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources

    Course Textbooks
    There is no required course textbook. 
    Recommended Resources

    Language Variation & Change:

    Crowley, Terry & Claire Bowern (2010) An Introduction to Historical Linguistics. 4th edition. Oxford University Press.

    Campbell, Lyle (1998) Historical Linguistics: an introduction. MIT Press.

    Foley, WA 1997, Anthropological linguistics: an introduction, Blackwell Publishers, Cambridge, MA.

    Jourdan, C & Tuite, K 2009, Language, culture, and society, vol. 23, Cambridge University Press.

    Kiesling, SF 2011, Linguistic Variation and Change, 1st edn, Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh.

    Millar, Robert Mccoll; Trask, Larry (2015) Trask’s Historical Linguistics.3rd Edition. Routledge, London.

    Romaine, S 2023, Language in society: an introduction to sociolinguistics, 2nd ed., Oxford University Press, Oxford.

    Saville-Troike, M 2003, The ethnography of communication: an introduction, 3rd ed., Blackwell, Oxford.

    Trudgill, Peter & Jack Chambers (2001) The Handbook of Language Variation and Change. Wiley Blackwell.

    Wardhaugh, R & Fuller, JM 2015, An introduction to sociolinguistics, Seventh edition., John Wiley & Sons, West Sussex, England.

     
    Linguistic Field Work & Documentation

    Bird, S and G Simons (2003) “Seven dimensions of portability for language documentation and description.” Language 79:557-582. 

    Bowern, Claire. (2015) Linguistic Fieldwork: A Practical Guide. 2nd Edition. Palgrave MacMillan, Basingstoke, UK. 

    Gippert, Jost & Nikolaus P. Himmelmann & Ulrike Mosel (eds). 2006.
     Essentials of language documentation.
    Trends in Linguistics, Studies and Monographs 178, Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter.

    Healy, Alan (ed.) (1975) Language Learner’s Field Guide. Summer Institute of Linguistics, Ukarumpa, Papua & New Guinea.

    Himmelmann, Nikolaus P. (1998) “Documentary and descriptive linguistics." Linguistics 36:161-195.

    Seifart, Frank, Geoffrey Haig, Nikolaus P. Himmelmann, Dagmar Jung, Anna Margetts and Paul Trilsbeek (eds) (2012) Potentials of Language Documentation Methods, Analyses and Utilization, Language Documentation & Conversation Special Publication No. 3. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press

    Journal: Language Documentation and Conservation 


    Some Introductory Linguistics Books:


    Burridge Kate & Tonya N. Stebbins (2016) For the Love of Language: An Introduction to Linguistics. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

    Clark, John, Yallop, Colin and Janet Fletcher (2007) An Introduction to Phonetics and Phonology 3rd edition Blackwell Publishing, Malden, Oxford and Carlton, Victoria.


    Crowley, T., Lynch, J., Siegel, J. & Piau, J. (1995) The design of language: an introduction to descriptive linguistics. Longman Paul: Auckland. [BSL 410 C953d]

    Crystal, D. (2010) The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Language 3rd Edition. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge. [BSL 403 C957c.2]

    Finegan, E., Besnier, N., Blair, D., & Collins, P. (1992) Language: Its Structure and Use. (Australian Edition). Harcourt Brace Jovanovich: Sydney.

    Fromkin, Victoria, Robert Rodman, Nina Hyams, Mengistu Amberber, Felicity Cox & Rosalind Thornton (2018) An Introduction to Language. Australia and New Zealand 9th Edition. Cengage Learning, South Melbourne.

    McGregor, W. B. (2009) Linguistics: An Introduction. Continuum: London.

    Payne, Thomas E. (2006) Exploring Language Structure: A Student’s Guide. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.



  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes

    There is a one-hour online lecture & a two-hour face-to-face seminar in each teaching week of the semester.

    Seminars are highly interactive, pivoting around student-led discussion of readings, in addition to small group problem-solving and linguistic research exercises. Students need to come to these classes having worked through any required preparatory material, and prepared to engage with the ideas and analyses being presented.

    Seminar attendance is mandatory. 


    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.
    1hr lecture  12 hours
    2hr seminar/workshop 24 hours
    5hrs directed reading 60 hours
    6hrs data collection, organisation & analysis 72 hours
    6hrs assignment preparation 72 hours
    6hrs project reading & research 72 hours
    TOTAL 312 hours
    Learning Activities Summary

    Lecture

    Seminar Part 1

    Seminar Part 2

    Week 1

    Perspectives, parameters, principles

    Describing language variation #1

    How to do this course - approaches & assessment

    Week 2

    Overview: sociolinguistics

    Key readings in sociolinguistics

    The research project

    Week 3

    Overview: anthropological linguistics

    Key readings in anthropological linguistics

    Reviewing literature

    Week 4

    Overview: language contact

    Key readings in contact linguistics

    Research questions and research topics

    Week 5

    Overview: historical linguistics

    The comparative method - examples & exercises

    Research planning and research proposals

    Week 6

    Methods & case studies: sociolinguistics

    Readings in contemporary sociolinguistic research

    Ethical and responsible research

    Week 7

    Methods & case studies: anthropological linguistics

    Key ethnographic readings in Australian Indigenous Culture and Language

    Methods and methodologies 

    Week 8

    Methods & case studies: historical & contact linguistics

    Adventures in proto-Australian (readings): 

    Data & theory

    Week 9

    Methods & case studies: sociophonetics

    Describing language variation #2

    Project Repair Cafe

    Week 10

    Methods & case studies: language and gender

    Describing language variation #3

    Writing up (argument structure, exemplification, theorisation)

    Week 11

    Seminar Presentations

    Seminar Presentations

    Seminar Presentations

    Week 12

    Seminar Presentations

    Seminar Presentations

    Seminar Presentations

    Week 13

    Seminar Presentations

    Seminar Presentations

    Seminar Presentations

    Specific Course Requirements
    Seminar attendance is mandatory.
  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary
    Assessment Task Task Type Weighting Due Date Course Learning Outcome(s)
    Literature Review
    1,250 words
    Formative 12.5% TBA 1, 2

    Seminar Readings
    1,000 words

    Formative 10% TBA 3, 4. 6, 8
    Research Proposal
    750 words
    Formative 7.5% TBA 3, 4, 5, 6
    Oral Presentation and write-up           
    2,000 words equivalent
    Formative & Summative   20% TBA 8
    Research Report
    5,000 words
    Summative 50% week 14 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
    Assessment Detail
    1. Literature Review
    Length: 1,250 words

    Briefly identify a topic, area, issue, question etc. that you wish to explore and say why it is of interest to you, and locate at least three relevant pieces of good quality research (ie. journal articles, book chapters, academic studies, but not text books). On the basis of this literature - plus any other sources that you want to bring into consideration, and drawing on your own experience as/if relevant - prepare an account of the topic/issue you have chosen to explore, providing a critical explanation of the key issues, insights, theoretical models, research methodologies, problems and challenges etc. as appropriate.


    2. Seminar Readings
    Length: 1,000 words equivalent

    Prepare a summary of, and a critical reflection on, a particular reading, or set of readings, and lead the class in seminar discussion of, debate about and/or exercises relevant to the reading(s)


    3. Research Proposal
    Length: 750 words

    Having identified the area of interest for your major research project, prepare a research proposal that will: formulate your research questions; identify the relevant theoretical issues; identify key relevant literature, including at least one empirical study; outline & justify the research methodology; address ethical requirements & principles; identify, & justify the research in terms of, the contribution it might make.

    4. Oral Presentation and Write-up
    Length: 2,000 words equivalent

    Students will prepare a seminar presentation, to be done live or by prerecorded video, in which they present their data set(s) to the class, discuss their research question(s), explain their chosen approach to research and analysis of the data, and discuss any preliminary results, issues etc. In putting together this presentation students are not expected to have completed their analysis of the data and are not expected to have definitive answers to their research questions. These seminars are rather works-in-progress, in which students can reflect on the research process, invite class discussion, commentary and assistance on issues they might be experiencing etc etc. Presentations should be of seminar standard, with key points & illustrative data displayed via the data projector (eg using Powerpoint or other presentation applications), and handouts (or, as appropriate, links to the presentation or dataset) provided; students may also, if they wish, submit a 'script' of their presentation. The files are to be submitted by the due date, with the class presentations to be undertaken in weeks 11, 12 and 13. 


    5. Research Report
    Length: 5,000 words

    On the basis of data obtained, students will analyse and describe in detail the aspects of language variation and change under consideration. They will prepare a comprehensive research report which addresses their chosen research question(s). The report will be informed not only by their chosen body of data, but also by the literature relating to the aspect(s) of language under investigation.

    Submission

    The Department of European Languages, and Linguistics operates within the School of Humanities policy in regard to student assignments.

    Assignments are to be submitted online via MyUni.

    D
    eadlines for assignment submission are set out in MyUni. 

    Extensions must whenever possible be organised prior to the due date; applications for extensions must be lodged according to School guidelines - see MyUni for full details. 

    The penalty for assignments with no extension that are submitted late is 2% per day for up to 7 days (including weekends and public holidays).  Assignments which are more than 7 days overdue without an approved extension will not be accepted.

    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through .

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
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