LANGUAGE DIVERSITY IN CONNECTED WORLD

LIN3DCW

2020

Credit points: 15

Subject outline

The world's extraordinary linguistic diversity is under threat, and the sustainability of the many smaller languages of the world is an urgent issue. Examining the great diversity of human language will make you aware of the extent of global linguistic diversity and the breadth of diversity in syntactic structures. Deeper knowledge of the complex interactions expressed by linguistic diversity will assist you to understand the challenges facing the sustainability of our existing linguistic diversity. You will learn about the relationship between the continuation of linguistic diversity and the sustainability of human cultural diversity, and the responsibility that linguists have to respect and preserve linguistic diversity. You will learn the skills needed to describe the syntactic structures of languages and thus help contribute to sustaining linguistic diversity. This subject addresses La Trobe's Sustainability Thinking Essential. You will gain a deep appreciation of how the choices we make affect natural, economic, social, political and cultural systems-now and in the future.

School: Humanities and Social Sciences (Pre 2022)

Credit points: 15

Subject Co-ordinator: Stephen Morey

Available to Study Abroad/Exchange Students: Yes

Subject year level: Year Level 3 - UG

Available as Elective: No

Learning Activities: N/A

Capstone subject: Yes

Subject particulars

Subject rules

Prerequisites: LIN1IML, LIN2SOL or approval from Subject Coordinator's approval

Co-requisites: N/A

Incompatible subjects: LIN3SYN

Equivalent subjects: N/A

Quota Management Strategy: N/A

Quota-conditions or rules: N/A

Special conditions: Core subject at third-year for linguistics in the Bachelor of Arts

Minimum credit point requirement: N/A

Assumed knowledge: N/A

Learning resources

Understanding Syntax

Resource Type: Book

Resource Requirement: Prescribed

Author: Maggie Tallerman.

Year: 2015

Edition/Volume: N/A

Publisher: Routledge

ISBN: N/A

Chapter/article title: N/A

Chapter/issue: N/A

URL: N/A

Other description: N/A

Source location: N/A

Introduction to the Languages of the World

Resource Type: Book

Resource Requirement: Recommended

Author: Anatole Lyovin, Brett Kessler, and William Leben.

Year: 2017

Edition/Volume: N/A

Publisher: Oxford University Press

ISBN: N/A

Chapter/article title: N/A

Chapter/issue: N/A

URL: N/A

Other description: N/A

Source location: N/A

Career Ready

Career-focused: No

Work-based learning: No

Self sourced or Uni sourced: N/A

Entire subject or partial subject: N/A

Total hours/days required: N/A

Location of WBL activity (region): N/A

WBL addtional requirements: N/A

Graduate capabilities & intended learning outcomes

Graduate Capabilities

COMMUNICATION - Communicating and Influencing
DISCIPLINE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS
INQUIRY AND ANALYSIS - Creativity and Innovation
INQUIRY AND ANALYSIS - Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
INQUIRY AND ANALYSIS - Research and Evidence-Based Inquiry
PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL - Ethical and Social Responsibility

Intended Learning Outcomes

01. Apply relevant metalanguage of morphology and syntax in the analysis of data
02. Recognise and describe in writing the diversity in major and small languages from different families
03. Discuss and demonstrate understanding of how the complex interactions between natural, economic, social, political and cultural systems are evident in language usage and maintenance
04. Analyse the structure of unfamiliar languages and identify elements and their functions in language in short exercises
05. Research and explore a linguistic issue in detail and prepare a written account
06. Understand and explain issues of language maintenance, documentation and revitalization in terms of community needs (current and future generations and how choices affect the public good (diversity in addition to the well being of future generations

Melbourne (Bundoora), 2020, Semester 1, Day

Overview

Online enrolment: Yes

Maximum enrolment size: N/A

Subject Instance Co-ordinator: Stephen Morey

Class requirements

Lecture/SeminarWeek: 10 - 22
One 2.00 hours lecture/seminar per week on weekdays during the day from week 10 to week 22 and delivered via face-to-face.

TutorialWeek: 10 - 22
One 1.00 hour tutorial per week on weekdays during the day from week 10 to week 22 and delivered via face-to-face.

Assessments

Assessment elementCommentsCategoryContributionHurdle%ILO*

Weekly homework (800 words)Weekly exercises testing the student's knowledge of language data

N/AN/AN/ANo15SILO1, SILO2, SILO4

Assignment 1 (800 words)Analysis of one particular linguistic feature with some additional analysis relating to the sustainability of language diversity

N/AN/AN/ANo25SILO1, SILO2, SILO3, SILO5, SILO6

Assignment 2 (800 words)Writing a 'sketch grammar' analysis of some language data provided to the students

N/AN/AN/ANo20SILO1, SILO2, SILO3, SILO4, SILO6

Take home exam (1600 words)A series of questions relating to data analysis, and some questions that will relate to sustainability.

N/AN/AN/ANo40SILO1, SILO2, SILO4