Studying online (if an online offering is shown below)
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
What underlying principles govern the structure of linguistic expressions across languages, and how can we systematically describe this knowledge? This unit develops students' theoretical grounding and analytical expertise in grammatical description, with a focus on cross-linguistic morphological and syntactic structures.
Students will engage critically with key typological and formal approaches to grammar and will be introduced to frameworks for analysing and representing linguistic data in a principled and replicable manner. Through detailed investigation of data from a diverse range of the world's languages, students will learn to identify morphosyntactic patterns, formulate generalisations, and evaluate competing analyses. Emphasis is placed on linguistic argumentation, hypothesis testing, and the interface between descriptive and theoretical concerns in grammar. By the end of the unit, students will be able to construct informed grammatical analyses and contribute meaningfully to contemporary debates in linguistic typology and theory.
- Credit
- 6 points
- Offering
Availability Location Mode First year of offer Not available in 2025 UWA (Perth) On-campus - Details for undergraduate courses
- Level 3 elective
- Outcomes
Students are able to (1) apply advanced concepts in morphological and syntactic analysis to cross-linguistic data; (2) demonstrate an understanding of the structural diversity of morphosyntactic systems across the world's languages; (3) critically evaluate competing grammatical analyses using established theoretical and typological criteria; (4) accurately identify, describe, and represent morphosyntactic patterns using appropriate linguistic terminology and formal notation; and (5) construct well-reasoned grammatical arguments that contribute to debates in linguistic typology and grammatical theory.
- Assessment
Indicative assessments in this unit are as follows: (1) tutorial preparation; (2) written assignments; and (3) examination. 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)
- Associate Professor Celeste Rodriguez Louro
- Unit rules
- Prerequisites
- Successful completion of
- Incompatibility
- LING2001 Morphosyntax of the World's Languages
- Contact hours
- Up to 3 hours per week over 12 weeks.
- Note
- Please note that from 2027, LING3001 Morphosyntax of the World's Languages will only be available in Semester 1.
- 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.