ATS1338 Cracking the language code: English and beyond
Faculty of Arts
ATS1338 Cracking the language code: English and beyond is a level 1, 6-credit-point, undergraduate unit from the Faculty of Arts, offered in 2026 in Semester 1 at Clayton. It has no prerequisites.
- Credit points
- 6
- Offered in 2026
- Semester 1
- Clayton
- Assessment
- No exam
- 4 tasks
- Workload
- 144 hours
- per semester
This is the 2026 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.
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Overview
Immerse yourself in the world of words! Every day, we're surrounded by an astonishing 100,000 of them. It's no wonder that linguistics—the scientific investigation of language—is an ever-growing field of study. In this unit, we'll focus on English as a window into the languages of the world. We'll dive into the sounds (phonology) and structure of words (morphology), and their meanings (semantics). Plus, we'll investigate how different groups of people use these language features, and how they have shaped language over time. As part of this unit, students will have the opportunity to specialise in Language and Technology, Language Learning, Education and Literacy Development, or Language and the Law.
Join us to unravel the mysteries of human language and see how it impacts real life.
Offerings in 2026
| Teaching period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| First semester | Clayton | On campus |
Assessment
- In-class participation activityExercise10%
- Exercise/sExercise35%
- EssayWritten25%
- Online testQuiz / Test30%
Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.
Learning outcomes
When you finish this unit, you should be able to:
- 1
outline the speech sounds of English and other languages, and how they are produced;
- 2
identify the components of words and how they interact;
- 3
use a range of conventions for writing down sounds and words;
- 4
discuss some key elements of linguistic, social and cultural diversity;
- 5
engage in informed debates on the use of English as an international language, and on linguistic variation in a global context;
- 6
discuss how the knowledge gained in the unit to can be applied to various professional contexts.
Workload and teaching
- Tutorials24 hours
- Workshops4 hours
- Lectures12 hours
- Teaching approachActive learning
Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning and online engagement.
Learning resources
Required resources
There are required texts for this unit. Required texts are usually available for purchase through the University Bookstore (https://www.monash.edu/retail/books-and-merchandise-store/Textbooks) and are sometimes available for short-term loan or as eBooks through the library (https://www.monash.edu/library).
Where it fits
ATS1338 is part of 2 areas of study in the 2026 handbook.
Contacts
- Chief Examiners
- Dr Jill Vaughan
- Unit Coordinators
- Dr Jill Vaughan
Common questions
What are the prerequisites for ATS1338?
ATS1338 has no prerequisites.
When is ATS1338 offered?
In 2026, ATS1338 runs in Semester 1 at Clayton.
How much work is ATS1338?
The handbook expects about 144 hours of study across the semester. No students have rated its difficulty yet.
Does ATS1338 have an exam?
No. ATS1338 has 4 assessment tasks and no exam.
Which majors and minors include ATS1338?
ATS1338 is part of Linguistics and English Language.