Linguistics

The Department of Linguistics offers courses in the core areas of phonology, morphology and syntax and semantics to develop the skills needed for language documentation and analysis. These are complemented by sociolinguistic courses which examine language in society, communication and miscommunication.  We have a particular focus on Indigenous languages and language revival.

Our department is involved with the Kaurna Warra Pintyanthi (KWP) and Mobile Language Team (MLT).

 Study Linguistics

Teaching staff

Tutors/Visiting Lecturers

Affiliates/research associates

Kaurna Warra Pintyanthi staff

Mobile Language Team 

From a language survey of Pulau Simeulue and Pulau Banyak, to other projects looking at remaining knowledge of German language and culture in the Barossa Valley, our research is varied and much of it based in the field.

HIGHER DEGREES BY RESEARCH

Chief Investigators: Associate Prof. Rob Amery and Dr Zulfadli Aziz (Syiah Kuala University)
SSP project, July to December 2016
Funded by the ARC Centre of Excellence for the Dynamics of Language (CoEDL)

Aceh Islands Language Survey

Promote the active speaking of Adnyamathanha (contemporary Indigenous Australian people from the Flinders Ranges, South Australia)

Chief Investigators: Clayton Cruise with assistance from Prof. Peter Mühlhäusler
Commenced Jan. 2016
Funding: Indigenous Languages and the Arts (ILA) and First Languages Australia

Chief Investigator: Dr Peter Mickan
Research Assistant/PhD Candidate: Kateryna Katsmann
(2011-present)

This project looks at remaining knowledge of German language and culture in the Barossa Valley and ways to promote and support the use of the language. See Monatsblatt produced by the German Language Association Inc. (Deutscher Sprachverein). Read more.

Driving health care efficiencies and patient care outcomes by improving communication across acute and primary transitions of care. The focus in South Australia is on communication in transition of mental health patients from acute to primary settings.

ARC Linkage Project” LP140100563
Investigators: Dr John Walsh and Prof. Jon Jureidini
Research Officer: Dr Nayia Cominos

Partner Organisations: Medicare Local, Central and Hills & Central Adelaide Local Health Network (CALHN)

This project examined grammatical borrowing and replication between English and Czech in two communities: the Czech South Australian community and L1 English L2/Ln Czech speakers living in the Czech Republic.

Chief Investigators: Assoc. Professor Rob Amery & Dr Ian Green

PhD Candidate: Chloe Castle

An AIATSIS Dictionaries Project for the Kaurna Language with additional ILA funding.

• Chief Investigator: Associate Prof. Rob Amery
• Research Assistant: Susie Greenwood

'Kaurna Warrapiipa - Kaurna Dictionary' published by Wakefield Press

Associate Prof. Rob Amery has been working in collaboration with members of the Kaurna community to reclaim and re-introduce the Kaurna language since 1989. Amery’s PhD (1995-1998) is published.

Research is currently focussed on lexicography and toponyms and production of Kaurna language resources (see Kaurna Warra Pintyanthi).

An analysis of the linguistic trajectory of the development of writing in one child based on the complete portfolio of writing of a child from her 12 years of schooling.

Chief Investigators: Dr John Walsh and Dr Bill Winser
MPhil Candidate: Ms Evita Ratcliffe

An SFL analysis of the range of communications common in the contexts of elite professional sport. The specific focus in on the language of evaluation as expressed in the SFL system of Appraisal.

Published by Routledge in 2024 as ‘Evaluative Language in Sports: Crowds, Coaches and Commentators’ - Dr John Walsh, Dr David Caldwell & Prof Jon Jureidini

Analysis of Ngarrindjeri texts of the Lower Murray, lakes & Coorong region, as recorded in the book 'A World That Was' by Ronald & Catherine Berndt.

ARC Project: DP150103287

• Chief Investigators: Associate Prof. Rob Amery & Prof. Jane Simpson (ANU)
• Research Associate: Dr Mary-Anne Gale

Long-term ongoing project commenced in 1989
The Nolfolk Island language is a unique case of language genesis and language development leading to a sustained language revival movement. The project has worked towards the recognition of the Norf’k language and development of ongoing support systems.

• Chief Investigator: Emeritus Prof. Peter Mühlhäusler
• The project has been supported by several ARC grants over the years.

This is a long-term ongoing project based on unique recordings made in PNG in 1974.
Commenced working with international partners: 2004
Chief Investigator: Emeritus Prof. Peter Mühlhäusler

Supported by the Institut für Deutsche Sprache and the University of Augsburg.

Psychiatrists are faced with the challenge of articulating ‘Why this patient presents in this way at this time’. This is a key skill for psychiatrists. The project aimed to articulate how formulation is achieved linguistically.
Investigators: Dr John Walsh and Prof. Jon Jureidini
- Book chapter in 'Effective Communication in Clinical Handover: from Research to Practice' published by de Gruyter in 2016

Towards Sustainable Language Revival: A critical analysis of Kaurna (2019-2021)

ARC Project: DP190102413
Chief Investigators: Associate Prof. Rob Amery
Research Associate: Dr Mary-Anne Gale
Research Assistant: Ms Susie Greenwood