Linguistic Field Methods (LING40006)
HonoursPoints: 25Not available in 2020
For information about the University’s phased return to campus and in-person activity in Winter and Semester 2, please refer to the on-campus subjects page.
About this subject
Please refer to the LMS for up-to-date subject information, including assessment and participation requirements, for subjects being offered in 2020.
Overview
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This subject instructs students on how to analyse an unknown language, working with a native speaker, as a class team. You will learn the main techniques for conducting such an analysis, ranging from phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax and semantics, applying them in consultation sessions with an actual speaker. These skills, taught through detailed work on the language chosen, generalise to those needed to analyse any unknown language on its own terms. Ethical issues, field research techniques, goals of linguistic documentation, and relevant software and Internet support, will also be covered through special workshops held during the semester. A different language is chosen each year: languages studied in the past have included Khmer, Vietnamese, Bugis (Sulawesi, Indonesia), Sasak (Lombok, Indonesia), Lau (Solomon Islands), Bisayan (Philippines), Acehnese (Aceh, Indonesia), Golin (PNG) and Ganalbingu (Australia).
Intended learning outcomes
On successful completion of this subject, students should:
- have learnt the main techniques for analysing an unknown language on its own terms, from primary data;
- be acquainted with relevant software packages to support fieldwork research;
- be familiar with practical, personal and ethical issues of linguistic fieldwork.
Generic skills
At the completion of this subject, students should:
- have developed their research ability by working out the logic and structure of unknown systems;
- have developed an understanding of social, ethical and cultural contexts through working with language speakers from quite different cultural backgrounds;
- have developed their teamwork abilities through working with other researchers.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
| Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| LING20005 | Phonetics | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LING20006 | Syntax | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Assessment
Due to the impact of COVID-19, assessment may differ from that published in the Handbook. Students are reminded to check the subject assessment requirements published in the subject outline on the LMS
| Description | Timing | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
One data-based analytical assignment
| Throughout the teaching period | 20% |
An analysis of a selected area of the language's grammar
| End of the teaching period | 40% |
A presentation on the project topic
| During the teaching period | 20% |
Team contribution to the running of the research project such as maintaining the communal corpus, illustrating key aspects of the research, maintaining the lexical database, or other tasks facilitating the research by the whole group
| Throughout the teaching period | 20% |
| Hurdle requirement: Students must attend a minimum of 75% of tutorials in order to pass this subject. All pieces of written work must be submitted to pass this subject. | Throughout the teaching period | N/A |
Additional details
Note: Assessment submitted late without an approved extension will be penalised at 10% per working day. In-class tasks missed without approval will not be marked.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Dates & times
Not available in 2020
Time commitment details
340 hours
Additional delivery details
If not admitted to Honours, the Graduate Diploma in Arts (Advanced), or the Graduate Certificate in Arts (Advanced) in Linguistics and Applied Linguistics, students must contact the subject coordinator prior to enrolling in this subject.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
A set of readings dealing with specific issues of fieldwork (both linguistic, and anthropological fieldwork more generally) and documentary linguistics will be made available. According to the language selected for study, a series of orienting articles and/or books on related languages will be placed on reserve.
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Specialisation (formal) Linguistics and Applied Linguistics Specialisation (formal) Linguistics and Applied Linguistics Specialisation (formal) Linguistics and Applied Linguistics Specialisation (formal) Linguistics and Applied Linguistics Informal specialisation PD-ARTS Linguistics and Applied Linguistics - Links to additional information
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Please note Single Subject Studies via Community Access Program is not available to student visa holders or applicants
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
Additional information for this subject
Subject coordinator approval required
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
Last updated: 3 November 2022