Newcastle University

Pre Requisite Comment

N/A

Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

The module aims to:
- Examine the role of demographics, development, and public policy in driving language variation and change in metropolitan areas
- Introduce advanced terms, concepts and premises underlying sociolinguistic research, with particular respect to the variationist paradigm
- Give a broad understanding of sociolinguistic fieldwork techniques
- Apply the terminological distinctions, principles, methods and concepts used within these sub-disciplines to actual and novel case studies that explore the inter-relationships between language and society.
- Further explore specific topics at the community and national level.

Outline Of Syllabus

This course provides an advanced study of sociolinguistics through a focus on language variation and change in metropolitan areas. Key topics include:
- Theoretical approaches to space and place
- Indexical uses of language
- Relations between urban structure and linguistic variation
- Recent theoretical and methodological developments in metropolitan areas and their linguistic consequences

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

At the end of this module students will:
- Understand relevant tools for sociolinguistic/sociological analyses.
- Have an advanced understanding of the manner in which linguistic variation is structured in society.
- Have an advanced understanding of concepts associated with understanding language and its function in society.
- Have in-depth knowledge of a selection of case studies relevant to this field of study.

Intended Skill Outcomes

At the end of the module students should be able to:

- Understand theoretical and experimental concepts relevant to appropriate paradigms and apply them to actual and hypothetical case studies.
- Read critically and evaluate/apply different quantitative and qualitative sociolinguistic approaches to new data.
- Understand concepts relevant to these sub-disciplines of linguistics/English Language and apply them to actual and hypothetical case studies.
- Present arguments in written form.
- Understand and produce graphs/tables.

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Lecture materials will be used, primarily, to impart information and provide overall coherence for the module.

Small group teaching will be used to develop a deeper examination of lecture materials, as well as to build skills in linguistic analysis, with a focus on problem-solving/numeracy. They also aim to enhance interpretation of sociolinguistic approaches to language and society. Projects utilizing corpora will also be planned and developed in seminars.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The reflective log assignment assesses the student's ability to synthesize information concisely and present it coherently.

The essay tests written communication skills; analytical skills; critical thinking/conceptual understanding/knowledge and ability to construct a logical argument.

The DECTE corpus, which will be used in the essay, requires submission of a form to gain permission to access it.

General Notes

N/A