LING10001 The Secret Life of Language
University of Melbourne · Level 1 · 12.5 points · Runs in 2026: Semester 1, Semester 2.
- Final exam 50%
- About 3 class hours a week
Is LING10001 hard?
LING10001: About average. Makes it easier: First-year subject. No student reviews yet — based on the Handbook only.
What you learn
A hands-on intro to linguistics: sounds, words, sentences, meaning and language change, using data from world languages.
After it you can
- Describe the general nature of human language
- Analyse language data with basic linguistic tools
- Outline the main areas of linguistics
What you need first
None
What it leads to
How it’s assessed
Assignments 30%, Tests 20%, Final exam 50%
Student reviews and ratings
Summarised from 10 students on StudentVIP (2020–2026)
- A survey of the main areas of linguistics (phonetics, syntax, semantics and more), good for testing interest in the major and popular as a breadth. Most found some areas they loved and some they struggled with.
- Assessments are puzzle-like problem solving on language data. Since 2024 reviewers found the exam fair, with a double-sided cheat sheet allowed, and high marks reachable with steady effort.
- 2021 reviewers found the lectures dry and hard to follow, but reviews from 2023-2026 describe clear teaching and comprehensive lecture notes.
A summary of public reviews, not scored here.
Taken this subject? Rate it anonymously (difficulty, workload, marking, would you recommend it) and leave a tip for next year's students. Rate LING10001
Quick answers
- When is LING10001 offered?
- Runs in 2026: Semester 1, Semester 2.
- What do I need before taking LING10001?
- No prerequisites.
- Does LING10001 have a final exam?
- Yes, the final exam is 50% of the mark. Assessment: Assignments 30%, Tests 20%, Final exam 50%.
- Is LING10001 hard?
- From 10 student reviews on StudentVIP: A survey of the main areas of linguistics (phonetics, syntax, semantics and more), good for testing interest in the major and popular as a breadth. Most found some areas they loved and some they struggled with.
- What do students say about LING10001?
- A survey of the main areas of linguistics (phonetics, syntax, semantics and more), good for testing interest in the major and popular as a breadth. Most found some areas they loved and some they struggled with. Assessments are puzzle-like problem solving on language data. Since 2024 reviewers found the exam fair, with a double-sided cheat sheet allowed, and high marks reachable with steady effort. 2021 reviewers found the lectures dry and hard to follow, but reviews from 2023-2026 describe clear teaching and comprehensive lecture notes.
- How many class hours a week does LING10001 have?
- 3 h a week in class
- Can I take LING10001 as breadth?
- Yes, for: Bachelor of Biomedicine, Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Design, Bachelor of Fine Arts (Acting), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Animation), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Film and Television), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Music Theatre), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Production), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Screenwriting), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Theatre), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Visual Art), Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Science.
- What can I take after LING10001?
- 2 subjects need it first, for example LING30001, LING30015.
- Can I rate LING10001?
- Yes. If you've taken it, rate it anonymously on this page (difficulty, workload, marking, would you recommend it) and leave a tip for next year's students. Averages show once 3 students have rated it; tips are checked before they appear.
Source: University of Melbourne Handbook 2026
Always confirm in the official Handbook.
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