This plan is only available to students commencing from 2009

Linguistics is the study of human language. The major in Linguistics addresses questions such as: How do people use language in various situations? What is the biological basis for language? Is language unique to the human species? How and why do languages change? How do children learn language? What is the meaning of ‘meaning’? Can machines talk? How does language relate to other modes of communication? Linguistics also provides the basis for a variety of practical applications including, at UNSW, the teaching and learning of foreign languages, translating and interpreting, facilitating cross-cultural communication, developing language curricula in schools, and improving literacy skills.

A student who wishes to gain a major sequence in Linguistics must complete 54 units of credit including 12 uoc at level 1, at least 18 uoc at level 2 and at least 18 uoc at level 3 including the capstone course.

Level 2 offers electives covering a number of domains in contemporary Linguistics: semantics and pragmatics, phonological theory and description, the social contexts of language learning and teaching, contemporary English grammar, psycholinguistics, and the history of the English language

Level 3 courses cover key issues and debates in contemporary Linguistics in the following areas: language universals and linguistic typology, generative grammar, sociolinguistics, and English grammar