Studying online
There are now 2 possible online modes for units:
Units with modes Online timetabled and Online flexible are available for any student to self-enrol and study online.
Click on an offering mode for more details.
Unit Overview
- Description
The Indigenous languages of Australia form a unique part both of the story of human language and of Australian Indigenous heritage. The unit examines broad practical and social issues in linguistic research on Australian languages and introduces the range of applied linguistic work that linguists are often involved in, for instance language maintenance activities and education. The linguistic fabric that forms the background of these issues will also be examined, in particular the diversity of Australian languages and the typological parameters by which they can usefully be compared and classified.
- Credit
- 6 points
- Offering
Availability Location Mode Not available in 2025 UWA (Perth) Face to face - Details for undergraduate courses
- Level 3 option in the Linguistics major sequence
- Level 3 elective
- Outcomes
Students are able to (1) describe important research issues in the contemporary study of Australian languages and critically assess papers addressing these issues; (2) demonstrate a knowledge of the broad ethical and political issues involved in the contemporary study of Australian languages; (3) recognise areas of applied linguistic work involving Australian languages, especially language maintenance activities; (4) describe common structural features of Australian languages; (5) describe the main typological parameters (in phonology, morphology and syntax) by which Australian languages can be most usefully compared and classified; and (6) describe the issues involved in the genetic classification of Australian languages.
- Assessment
Indicative assessments in this unit are as follows: (1) tutorial preparation; (2) assignments; and (3) essay. Further information is available in the unit outline.
Student may be offered supplementary assessment in this unit if they meet the eligibility criteria.
- Unit Coordinator(s)
- Dr Luisa Miceli
- Unit rules
- Prerequisites
- Successful completion ofLING2001 Morphosyntax of the World's Languages
- Incompatibility
- LING3307 Australian Aboriginal Languages
- Contact hours
- Up to 3 hours per week over 12 weeks.
- The availability of units in Semester 1, 2, etc. was correct at the time of publication but may be subject to change.
- All students are responsible for identifying when they need assistance to improve their academic learning, research, English language and numeracy skills; seeking out the services and resources available to help them; and applying what they learn. Students are encouraged to register for free online support through GETSmart; to help themselves to the extensive range of resources on UWA's STUDYSmarter website; and to participate in WRITESmart and (ma+hs)Smart drop-ins and workshops.
- Visit the Essential Textbooks website to see if any textbooks are required for this Unit. The website is updated regularly so content may change. Students are recommended to purchase Essential Textbooks, but a limited number of copies of all Essential Textbooks are held in the Library in print, and as an ebook where possible. Recommended readings for the unit can be accessed in Unit Readings directly through the Learning Management System (LMS).
- Contact hours provide an indication of the type and extent of in-class activities this unit may contain. The total amount of student work (including contact hours, assessment time, and self-study) will approximate 150 hours per 6 credit points.
Face to face
Predominantly face-to-face. On campus attendance required to complete this unit. May have accompanying resources online.
Online flexible
100% Online Unit. NO campus face-to-face attendance is required to complete this unit. All study requirements are online only. Unit is asynchronous delivery, with NO requirement for students to participate online at specific times.
Online timetabled
100% Online Unit. NO campus face-to-face attendance is required to complete this unit. All study requirements are online only. Unit includes some synchronous components, with a requirement for students to participate online at specific times.
Online Restricted
Not available for self-enrolment. Students access this mode by contacting their student office through AskUWA. 100% Online Unit.
NO campus face-to-face attendance. All study and assessment requirements are online only. Unit includes some timetabled activities, with a requirement for students to participate online at specific times. In exceptional cases (noted in the Handbook) students may be required to participate in face-to-face laboratory classes when a return to UWA’s Crawley campus becomes possible in order to be awarded a final grade.
External
No attendance or regular contact is required, and all study requirements are completed either via correspondence and/or online submission.
Off-campus
Regular attendance is not required, but student attends the institution face to face on an agreed schedule for purposes of supervision and/or instruction.
Multi-mode
Multiple modes of delivery. Unit includes a mix of online and on-campus study requirements. On campus attendance for some activities is required to complete this unit.