English Literature Study Programme Invites Linguistics Expert from Australian National University to Give Public Lecturers

The Department of English Literature, Faculty of Humanities, University of Jember (FIB UNEJ) held a public lecture with the topic “Contemporary Syntactic Theories & Lexical-Functional Grammar: an Overview of Current Trends in Typological Context” on Tuesday, 6 September 2022. Present as a speaker Prof. I. Wayan Arka, M.A., M.Phil., Ph.D. linguistics expert from Australian National University (ANU) QS 100 (Word Class University) with moderator Dr. Dina Dyah Kusumayanti, M.A. The public lecture (guest lecturer) was held in the Sutan Takdir Alisjahbana Hall, FIB UNEJ and took place in a hybrid manner. The event started at 10.00 am and ended at 12.00 pm.

This public lecture by presenting a linguistic expert from the Australian National University (ANU) QS 100 (Word Class University) was adapted because in July 2022 it won the League 1 Independent Campus Competition Program (PKKM) grant. This grant is a government programme that aims to accelerate study programmes to achieve performance that can be recognised at the international level. One of the activities proposed through this grant funding is a public lecture (guest lecture) by inviting linguistic experts.

Prof. I Wayan Arka M.A., M.Phil., Ph.D. who explained that language is a very interesting thing and can be studied from various different theories according to the objectives to be achieved. Language studies can be internal (examining the elements and structures contained in the language) or external (not only the elements contained in the language but also the elements that influence the use of language).

Furthermore, Prof Arka narrowed down his presentation to explain the analysis of the internal structure of language using the Lexical Functional Grammar (LFG) theoretical framework. He gave many examples of LFG applications to analyse the internal structure of languages in the world so that language typology and language origin studies can be carried out. This study is very important for the purpose of documenting the various languages that have been successfully researched.

Prof Arka’s presentation was very interesting, so that linguistics, which for some people is considered less interesting, became a lecture that could be interesting, and sparked the enthusiasm and enthusiasm of the participants to pay attention throughout the lecture. The participants eagerly followed this event to the end. The public lecture activity was attended by 80 participants with 35 participants participating online through the zoom meeting platform. The participants were students and lecturers of the Department of English Literature, Faculty of Humanities. University of Jember. At the end of the event, the moderator concluded that language studies continue to develop with various interests, and can be studied from various perspectives, one of which is Lexical Functional Grammar Theory. Finally, the public lecture was closed with warm greetings and gratitude by Prof. Dr Sukarno M.Litt. as the Dean of Faculty of Arts UNEJ.