This module is for Norwegian Study Centre Postgraduate Students only.
This postgraduate module in modern sociolinguistics, which looks at linguistic variability and the social use of language, as well as the relationship between these and language change. The module will enable you to perform original research in the field of sociolinguistics by giving you a practical training in techniques and methodologies used in sociolinguistic analysis. We will use the books, films and audiobooks of the Harry Potter series as our primary data-set during contact hours.
Occurrence | Teaching period |
---|---|
A | Semester 1 2024-25 |
At the end of this course you will be able to:
Task | Length | % of module mark |
---|---|---|
Essay/coursework 5,000 word essay |
N/A | 100 |
None
Task | Length | % of module mark |
---|---|---|
Essay/coursework 5,000 word essay |
N/A | 100 |
Formative: During the teaching period, you will be required to submit detailed essay plan, two part drafts and a full draft of your essay to the module convenor for feedback. You will receive written comments on each of these within 2 weeks of submission. Further feedback will be provided during five one-to-one tutorials which will be evenly spaced throughout the semester. These are designed to help you with the skills needed to successfully conduct individual and original MA-level work/research.
Summative: You will receive written feedback on your summative assessment within 20 working days of submission. This is normally sent via email. You are welcome to discuss this written feedback with the module convenor, your pastoral supervisor, the YorkCourse Co-ordinator and/or the NSC Director.
There is not a compulsory textbook for this course, although you should buy and read a British English copy of the first Harry Potter novel 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone'. There will also be a 'coursepack' of assigned readings which you must purchase from the NSC on arrival in York.
If you would like to buy a book, or do further preliminary reading in the meantime, you might like to consider textbooks on sociolinguistics, such as:
Chambers, J.K. (2003). Sociolinguistic Theory [2nd Edition]. Oxford: Blackwell.
Mesthrie, R., Swann, J., Deumert, A., & Leap, W. (2009) Introducing sociolinguistics [2nd edition]. Edinburgh University Press.
Meyerhoff, M. (2007). Introducing sociolinguistics. Abingdon: Routledge
Wardhaugh, R. (2006). An Introduction to Sociolinguistics [5th Edition]. Oxford: Blackwell.
more specialised works include:
Milroy, L. & Gordon, M. (2003). Sociolinguistics. Method and Interpretation. Oxford: Blackwell.
Tagliamonte, S. (2011). Variationist sociolinguistics: Change, observation, interpretation. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell