Language (LANG10001)

Language is arguably the quintessential human ability. In this subject, you will meet experts from different disciplines who will provide a tour-de-force introduction to language. You will learn how language can be conceptualised and analysed as a linguistic system, how languages are acquired, how language use and policy features centrally in a range of political and historical contexts, and in the formation of social and cultural identities.

Over the course of the semester, you will explore the role of language in contemporary issues such as the processing of the claims of asylum seekers, in forensic speech science, in developing views of ethnicity, race and nation, in colonialism and de-colonisation in Australia, and in the construction of gendered identities. The subject also explores similarities and differences between first and second language acquisition across the lifespan, how languages evolve and change over time, and how to think about linguistic diversity in multicultural Australia and beyond. 

By introducing a range of approaches to language, this subject will teach you more about how humans connect through language. Through classroom activities and engagement with your peers, you will build the collaborative and academic skills needed for your studies, while enriching your own real-world understanding and experiences.

Language is available as a Bachelor of Arts Discovery subject, supporting your introduction to university and fostering connections within your course. If you are taking this as your Discovery subject, you will need to concurrently complete the three compulsory Joining Melbourne modules. 

Intended learning outcomes

On completion of this subject, students should be able to:

• Critically engage with the central questions and theories in linguistics and language studies
• Evaluate research and methods from linguistics and language disciplines
• Reflect on the importance of ethical practices in academia and in student's own work
• Critically evaluate arguments relating to linguistic theory, history, culture and gender studies, as well as translation, and the role of language in legal frameworks
• Communicate language and linguistics knowledge intelligibly and economically through assignment writing and tutorial discussion
• Discuss the interplay between language and real-world issues

Generic skills

Upon completion of this subject, students should be able to:

• Communicate effectively in oral and written form
• Understand the principles of ethical scholarship
• Exercise critical thinking and analysis in evaluating scholarly arguments and approaches
• Demonstrate intellectual integrity and personal accountability
• Develop critical self-awareness and build positive relationships with peers
• Develop formal and informal collaborative work skills
• Plan and manage time effectively.