LING20005 Phonetics
University of Melbourne · Level 2 · 12.5 points · Runs in 2026: Semester 1.
- Final exam 40%: mostly coursework
- About 3 class hours a week
Is LING20005 hard?
LING20005: About average.
What you learn
The sounds of the world's languages: how they are made, heard and transcribed, and how to read sound spectrograms.
After it you can
- Identify speech sounds of the world's languages
- Transcribe speech with phonetic symbols
- Read basic sound spectrograms
What you need first
None
What it leads to
How it’s assessed
Assignments 45%, Tests 15%, Final exam 40%
Student reviews and ratings
Summarised from 9 students on StudentVIP (2017–2022)
- Phonetics is largely learning the IPA and training your ear. Assessments are transcription exercises, which several found very hard if you struggle to hear sound differences.
- The written exam was generally called straightforward. The common advice is to keep up and use the many practice resources provided, as topics build on each other.
- Opinions split: some called it the hardest linguistics subject, others found it manageable and satisfying. A 2021 review complained the tone assignment went beyond what was taught.
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 LING20005
Quick answers
- When is LING20005 offered?
- Runs in 2026: Semester 1.
- What do I need before taking LING20005?
- No prerequisites.
- Does LING20005 have a final exam?
- Yes, the final exam is 40% of the mark. Assessment: Assignments 45%, Tests 15%, Final exam 40%.
- Is LING20005 hard?
- From 9 student reviews on StudentVIP: Phonetics is largely learning the IPA and training your ear. Assessments are transcription exercises, which several found very hard if you struggle to hear sound differences.
- What do students say about LING20005?
- Phonetics is largely learning the IPA and training your ear. Assessments are transcription exercises, which several found very hard if you struggle to hear sound differences. The written exam was generally called straightforward. The common advice is to keep up and use the many practice resources provided, as topics build on each other. Opinions split: some called it the hardest linguistics subject, others found it manageable and satisfying. A 2021 review complained the tone assignment went beyond what was taught.
- How many class hours a week does LING20005 have?
- 3 h a week in class
- Can I take LING20005 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 LING20005?
- 2 subjects need it first, for example LING30002, LING30013.
- Can I rate LING20005?
- 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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