World Englishes

Aims

Aims

• The module will give students a broadly-based knowledge of the range of varieties of English spoken around the world, including their linguistic typology (classification).
• The module is mainly sociolinguistic in approach, in that it deals with variation (both diachronic and synchronic) in each variety considered.
• The module emphasises the linguistic systematicity of the cross-variety differences, while seeking common characteristics and trends between the varieties.
• The module complements (and does not overlap with) existing English and Language Variation and Change modules, with its combination of sociolinguistic and historical approaches.

By the end of this module, students will typically:

• be able to display an understanding of the histories of varieties of English throughout the world;
• have a detailed knowledge of some aspects of the phonology and grammar of these varieties;
• have a critical understanding of the widely varying sociolinguistic characteristics of these varieties, including debates about their origins and (changing) political status;
• be able to describe the socially-based variation that exists in the English as spoken in each of the territories considered;
• be able to analyse and discuss data from varieties of English presented to them;
• understand and be able to discuss arguments from different theoretical standpoints relating to the formation, history and current sociolinguistic status of particular varieties, as well as describe some of their linguistic characteristics.

Prerequisites

Prerequisites

Students must have successfully completed the following:

• L09C Introduction to phonetics and phonology
• L10C Introduction to sociolinguistics

Information for visiting students: Please contact the convenor to check whether your studies at your home university provide you with the relevant academic background for this module.

Programme

Programme

Contact hours

Approximately two contact hours a week, spread over the spring/summer teaching period.

Teaching programme

This module introduces students to a range of topics within World Englishes. The module content will vary from year to year, but will typically cover topics selected from the following areas:

• Typologies of English
• Dialect change in Britain since 1800
• Regional variation in British English
• Legacies of settlement colonisation: Ireland, North America, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa
• Legacies of exploitation colonisation: Southeast Asia, India, Africa
• Atlantic creoles
• African American English
• English and globalisation

Teaching materials

• Schneider, E. W. (2010). English around the world. CUP.
• Schneider, E. W. (2007). Postcolonial English. CUP
• Melchers, G. & P. Shaw (2003). World Englishes. Arnold.
• Kachru, B., Y. Kachru & C. Nelson (2009). The handbook of World Englishes. Blackwell.
• Kirkpatrick, A. (2010). Routledge handbook of World Englishes. Routledge.
• Cheshire, J. (ed.) (1989). English around the world. CUP.
• Foulkes, P. & G. Docherty (eds.) (1999). Urban voices. Arnold.
• Britain, D. (ed.) (2007). Language in the British Isles. CUP.
• Plus key publications by Roger Lass, Christian Mair, Benedikt Szmrecanyi, Bernd Kortmann, Clive Upton, Peter Trudgill, Alastair Pennycook, David Crystal. 

Assessment and feedback

Assessment and feedback

Formative work and feedback

• Seminar activities which relate to the assignments for the course; discussion and oral feedback to students individually and in groups.

Summative assessment and feedback

• Essay
  A 1500-word essay due in Week 10 of the Spring Term
  • Weight: 30%
  • Feedback: Written comments on summative work available to view by appointment by the end of Summer Term.
• 2-hour closed exam
  
  • Weeks 5-7, Summer Term
  • Weight: 70%
  • Feedback: Written comments on summative work available to view by appointment by the end of Summer term.