This course gives an introduction to human language, its structure and how it can be described and analysed, as well as what all human languages have in common and how they differ. The methodology of linguistics (the scientific study of language) is introduced, focusing on the formulation of generalisations that say what all human languages share. The aim of the course is to give a conceptual framework for (1) critically thinking about and discussing language and language-related topics, and (2) aiding the acquisition of a second language. Students will engage with diverse languages, including Indigenous Australian languages and other languages of the Asia-Pacific and from around the globe. The course will be of interest to any student who wishes to learn more about language and is an essential foundation for further studies in linguistics.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. demonstrate their ability to accurately describe basic aspects of language structure like speech sounds, words and sentences;
2. apply key linguistic analytical techniques to diverse languages that are unfamiliar to them, including Australian Indigenous languages and other languages of our region; and
3. demonstrate their critical understanding of how the systems of a language interact with each other to connect meaning to form.

Research-Led Teaching

The data discussed in the lectures and the tutorials will include primary data collected as part of lecturers' own fieldwork or that of other colleagues. The students will therefore have the opportunity to attempt original analysis of real research data.

Additional Course Costs

Students will be expected to obtain access to the assigned textbook, which can be purchased new from Harry Hartog (Kambri, ANU) or other booksellers or accessed via the ANU library catalogue as an ebook.

Required Resources

The textbook for the course is: Genetti, Carol (editor). 2019. How languages work. Second edition. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Recommended Resources

Refer to Wattle for recommended resources.

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:

• Verbal feedback will be provided during weekly tutorials. Solutions to weekly quizzes and analysis tasks will be posted on Wattle once assessment results have been released.
• The opportunity for further individual verbal feedback will be available by appointment on any piece of assessment.

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). Feedback can also be provided to Course Conveners and teachers via the Student Experience of Learning & Teaching (SELT) feedback program. SELT surveys are confidential and also provide the Colleges and ANU Executive with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	Introduction to the course; What is linguistics? What is language?	Quiz 1; Practice Analysis Task 1
2	Producing and representing speech sounds; Consonants and vowels	Quiz 2; Practice Analysis Task 2
3	Syllables and suprasegmentals; Phonemes and phonemic analysis	Quiz 3; Analysis Task Wk3
4	Phonological processes and natural classes; Morphophonology	Quiz 4; Analysis Task Wk4
5	Phonological typology and sound change; Sign language phonology	Quiz 5; Analysis Task Wk5
6	Introduction to morphology, words and morphemes; Morphological analysis	Quiz 6; Analysis Task Wk6
7	Morphological processes and allomorphy; Introduction to syntax and word classes	Quiz 7; Analysis Task Wk7
8	Constituent structure; The clause (basic word order, core arguments, transitivity)	Quiz 8; Analysis Task Wk8
9	Grammatical relations and semantic vs syntactic roles; Morphosyntactic typology	Quiz 9; Analysis Task Wk9
10	Meaning in language; Semantic relations	Quiz 10; Analysis Task Wk10
11	Language ecologies and Indigenous languages of Australia and the Pacific	Quiz 11; Analysis Task Wk11
12	Revision: ‘Pulling it all together’; What linguistics teaches us	Quiz 12; Analysis Task Wk12(The final examination will be held during the examination period.)

Tutorial Registration

Use MyTimetable to enrol in a tutorial for this course.

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Learning Outcomes
Weekly online quiz	15 %	1, 3
Weekly analysis task	35 %	1, 2, 3
Final examination	50 %	1, 2, 3

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines , which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Integrity Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Extenuating Circumstances Application
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure
• Code of practice for teaching and learning

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using 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. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the Academic Skills website. In rare cases where online submission using Turnitin software is not technically possible; or where not using Turnitin software has been justified by the Course Convener and approved by the Associate Dean (Education) on the basis of the teaching model being employed; students shall submit assessment online via ‘Wattle’ outside of Turnitin, or failing that in hard copy, or through a combination of submission methods as approved by the Associate Dean (Education). The submission method is detailed below.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Participation

Attendance at lectures and tutorials is expected. While lecture materials and recordings will be made available electronically, there is no guarantee against technical issues that occasionally cause recordings to fail, audio to be inaudible, or other issues. Comments or questions by students may also not be audible on the recording.

There is no formal mark for “participation”, however the weekly analysis tasks will take place in person during tutorials.

Assessment Task 1

Weekly online quiz

The weekly online quizzes are designed to regularly consolidate your knowledge of key terms, concepts, definitions and notation introduced in the course, so that you are ready to proceed with the next topic. They will draw on content from the lectures, tutorials and readings associated with the week in which the quiz opens.The quizzes will be approximately 20 minutes each and are to be completed outside of class. Quizzes will open to all students after the last tutorial of the week, and must be completed before the next lecture of the following week. No late submissions will be accepted.

Assessment Task 2

Weekly analysis task

The weekly analysis tasks are designed to test the application of key problem-solving and critical thinking skills introduced in the course, with questions based on a provided dataset. They will draw on content from the lectures, tutorials and readings associated with the week(s) preceding the week in which the analysis task is given. The analysis tasks will be approximately 15 minutes each, and will be completed during your tutorial time. You will be required to bring your device to your tutorial each week, as well as a pen and paper. No late submissions will be

accepted.

Assessment Task 3

Final examination

The final examination is designed to test the knowledge you have acquired across the course, and your ability to apply problem-solving skills to more complex datasets. The examination will draw on content from the lectures, tutorials and readings from Weeks 1–12. You will be permitted to bring a ‘cheat sheet’ into the exam (2 pages A4 double-sided, handwritten). See

Wattle for more details. The exam will be a 3-hour in-person invigilated exam. Exams are scheduled centrally, not by the course convenor, and dates are not announced until later in the semester. Students are responsible for ensuring that they are available at the scheduled examination time and should therefore not plan any travel for the examination period until after the examination timetable has been finalised.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of the ANU culture as a community of scholars. The University’s students are an integral part of that community. The academic integrity principle commits all students to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support, academic integrity, and to uphold this commitment by behaving honestly, responsibly and ethically, and with respect and fairness, in scholarly practice.

The University expects all staff and students to be familiar with the academic integrity principle, the Academic Integrity Rule 2021, the Policy: Student Academic Integrity and Procedure: Student Academic Integrity, and to uphold high standards of academic integrity to ensure the quality and value of our qualifications.

The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 is a legal document that the University uses to promote academic integrity, and manage breaches of the academic integrity principle. The Policy and Procedure support the Rule by outlining overarching principles, responsibilities and processes. The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 commences on 1 December 2021 and applies to courses commencing on or after that date, as well as to research conduct occurring on or after that date. Prior to this, the Academic Misconduct Rule 2015 applies.

 

The University commits to assisting all students to understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. All coursework students must complete the online Academic Integrity Module (Epigeum), and Higher Degree Research (HDR) students are required to complete research integrity training. The Academic Integrity website provides information about services available to assist students with their assignments, examinations and other learning activities, as well as understanding and upholding academic integrity.

Online Submission

You will be required to electronically sign a declaration as part of the submission of your assignment. Please keep a copy of the assignment for your records. Unless an exemption has been approved by the Associate Dean (Education), submission of your assignments must be through Turnitin.

Hardcopy Submission

For some forms of assessment (hand written assignments, art works, laboratory notes, etc.) hard copy submission is appropriate when approved by the Associate Dean (Education). Hard copy submissions must utilise the Assignment Cover Sheet. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.

Late Submission

There is no late submission of assessment tasks unless an approved extension is in place.

Referencing Requirements

The Academic Skills website has information to assist you with your writing and assessments. The website includes information about Academic Integrity including referencing requirements for different disciplines. There is also information on Plagiarism and different ways to use source material. Any use of artificial intelligence must be properly referenced. Failure to properly cite use of Generative AI will be considered a breach of academic integrity.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure. Extensions may be granted for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information.
In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service – including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy.
If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes.

Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Accessibility for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents all ANU students