This module follows on from work on Intermediate Language Variation and Change, expanding the theoretical and empirical base. The focus is more firmly on language change, with an emphasis on language contact, dialect contact, demography and social structure. We take a relatively long time-line, so that we can see both the origins and the end-points of change (while recognising that change is continuous). Students will not be required to do independent research, while their critical skills will be honed through guided reading. There is also a strong emphasis on academic writing.
Pre-requisite modules
Co-requisite modules
- None
Prohibited combinations
- None
Occurrence | Teaching period |
---|---|
A | Spring Term 2022-23 to Summer Term 2022-23 |
The module demonstrates how a sociolinguistic approach can benefit our understanding of language change. It emphasises language contact, dialect contact, demography and social structure. The module takes a relatively long time-line, so that we can see both the origins and the end-points of change (while recognising that change is continuous).
By the end of this module, you will be able to:
Coverage of topics will vary from year to year, but will be selected from the following list (and other related topics):
Task | % of module mark |
---|---|
Essay/coursework | 100 |
None
Task | % of module mark |
---|---|
Essay/coursework | 100 |
Feedback on formative work (literature review)
Oral feedback will be provided during the seminars.
Summative assessment and feedback
Written feedback available at the end of the summer term.
Pre-reading for this module:
Kerswill, Paul (2004). Social dialectology/Sozialdialektologie. In Klaus Mattheier, Ulrich Ammon & Peter Trudgill (eds.) Sociolinguistics/Soziolinguistik. An international handbook of the science of language and society, 2nd edn., Vol 1. Berlin: De Gruyter. 22–33. [This is an introduction to variationist sociolinguistics, narrowly defined.]
Background reading:
Tagliamonte, Sali (2011). Variationist sociolinguistics: Change, observation, interpretation. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell. Chapter 2 (= pp. 25–65). [This can be read as an overview of some of the areas we will be covering.] (ebook)
Weekly readings:
These will be posted on the VLE a week before each lecture.