This is a course on the Indonesian language that deals with a wide range of features in Indonesian from an interdisciplinary perspective in linguistics. The course considers the relationship between the Indonesian language, culture, and communication in dynamic contexts. Essential aspects of Indonesian (socio)phonetics, phonology, morphology and syntax are introduced, including a description of its lexical, phonetic, and structural variation across registers (standard vs. colloquial) and geographical dialects in the Indonesian archipelago (including regional Malay varieties, such as Kupang and Papuan Malay). The course also covers the historical-cultural-political dimensions that have shaped Indonesian, including language policy and language contact. All classes are taught in a mixture of lecture, student presentation and workshop formats.
Upon completing this course successfully, students will have the knowledge and skills to analyse Indonesian linguistics topics from an interdisciplinary perspective.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- Transcribe a voice recording of natural language use in Indonesian using the IPA phonetic notation.
- Analyse Indonesian (socio)phonetic and phonological features.
- Analyse a wide variety of Indonesian syntactic and morphological structures.
- Evaluate the effects of socio-cultural-political-historical and geographical dimensions responsible for the emergence and/or selection of Indonesian linguistic features, including loan words.
- Undertake guided research on a given topic, and then present and justify the analysis.
Indicative Assessment
- One problem set (1,300 words, excluding data/examples) (15) [LO 1,2,3,4]
- Written Critical Report 1 (800 words) (10) [LO 2,3,4,5]
- Written Critical Report 2 (800 words) (10) [LO 2,3,4,5]
- Research essay (2,500 words, excluding references) (40) [LO 2,3,4,5]
- Oral presentation (15) [LO 2,3,4,5]
- Participation and performance in discussion (10) [LO 1,2,3,4]
The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.
Workload
This course requires a total of 130 hours of commitment, including independent study:
a) 36 hours of lectures and tutorials: 24 hours lecture, 12 hours small tutorials
b) 94 hours of independent student research, reading and writing
Requisite and Incompatibility
Prescribed Texts
Course materials will be available on wattle.
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
Commonwealth Support (CSP) Students
If you have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). More information about your student contribution amount for each course at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 1
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are a domestic graduate coursework student with a Domestic Tuition Fee (DTF) place or international student you will be required to pay course tuition fees (see below). Course tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Course fees
- Domestic fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2025 | $4320 |
- International fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2025 | $5580 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.
Class summaries, if available, can be accessed by clicking on the View link for the relevant class number.
Second Semester
| Class number | Class start date | Last day to enrol | Census date | Class end date | Mode Of Delivery | Class Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8190 | 27 Jul 2026 | 03 Aug 2026 | 31 Aug 2026 | 30 Oct 2026 | In Person | N/A |