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Module

SEL8676 : Metropolitan Sociolinguistics

  • Offered for Year: 2024/25
  • Module Leader(s): Dr Daniel Duncan
  • Owning School: English Lit, Language & Linguistics
  • Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters

Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.

Semester 2 Credit Value: 20
ECTS Credits: 10.0
European Credit Transfer System

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 sociolinguistic theory and practice 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

Teaching Methods

Teaching Activities
Category Activity Number Length Student Hours Comment
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion168:0068:00N/A
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesLecture221:0022:00N/A
Guided Independent StudyDirected research and reading199:0099:00N/A
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesSmall group teaching111:0011:00N/A
Total200:00
Jointly Taught With
Code Title
SEL3056Language in the City
Teaching Rationale And Relationship

N/A

Assessment Methods

The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners

Other Assessment
Description Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Essay2A753500 words
Essay2M25500 word abstract
Formative Assessments

Formative Assessment is an assessment which develops your skills in being assessed, allows for you to receive feedback, and prepares you for being assessed. However, it does not count to your final mark.

Description Semester When Set Comment
Oral Presentation2M*Lead seminar discussion of relevant paper
Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The formative presentation skills assignment assesses the student's ability to synthesize information concisely and present it coherently in oral form. It also assesses the student's scientific literacy skills in reading primary literature.

The abstract skills assignment assesses written communication skills and ability to synthesize information concisely. It develops professional skills necessary for postgraduate students to advance in the field.

The essay tests written communication skills; analytical/problem solving skills (depending on the question the student chooses); critical thinking/conceptual understanding/knowledge and ability to construct a logical argument.

*Oral Presentation 1: Synchronous leading of discussion of selected research paper OR - where appropriate and with prior permission from the module leader - written outline of key points of selected paper

Reading Lists

Timetable