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• Offered for Year: 2020/21

• Module Leader(s): Dr Hannah Leach
• Lecturer: Dr Lauren Ackerman, Dr Adam Mearns, Dr William van der Wurff

• Owning School: English Lit, Language & Linguistics
• Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus

Semesters

Aims

The module aims to:
o Introduce the basic terms, concepts and premises underlying the study of language variation and change.
o Provide an understanding of key techniques used in sociolinguistic fieldwork and in collecting and examining data from synchronic and diachronic linguistic corpora / databases.
o Introduce and develop the skills required for the analysis, visualization and interpretation of language variation and change data.
o Apply and extend syntactic and phonological theory from SEL1027 in examining language variation and change data.

Outline Of Syllabus

This module will cover the following:
1. The key terms and concepts in language variation and change research
2. The practical techniques involved in conducting empirical research in language variation and change (sociolinguistic fieldwork and the interrogation of linguistic corpora and databases)
3. The implications for syntactic and phonological theory of language variation and change research, and the societal applications of such research.
4. The nature of linguistic data itself, with particular reference to the material studied in SEL1027.

Teaching Methods

Please note that module leaders are reviewing the module teaching and assessment methods for Semester 2 modules, in light of the Covid-19 restrictions. There may also be a few further changes to Semester 1 modules. Final information will be available by the end of August 2020 in for Semester 1 modules and the end of October 2020 for Semester 2 modules.

Teaching Activities

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

LECTURES: Will be used, primarily, to introduce the key concepts and terms associated with research in language variation and change, and to provide overall coherence for the module.

SEMINARS: Will be used, primarily, to introduce and build skills related to research in language variation and change, focusing in particular on (a) research methods and techniques, (b) the analysis and interpretation of linguistic data, and (c) the theoretical implications and societal applications of research in language variation and change. They also aim to enhance general presentation skills and build team-work.

WORKSHOPS: Will be used, primarily, to build skills related to the collection and manipulation of data, corpus linguistic analysis, and the analysis and visualization of quantitative linguistic data; these will be practical sessions taking place in computer clusters. Students will also be given materials and advice to enable them to practise these skills further as part of their guided independent study.

NB. Small group teaching in 2020/21 academic year will include both seminars and workshops.

Assessment Methods

Please note that module leaders are reviewing the module teaching and assessment methods for Semester 2 modules, in light of the Covid-19 restrictions. There may also be a few further changes to Semester 1 modules. Final information will be available by the end of August 2020 in for Semester 1 modules and the end of October 2020 for Semester 2 modules.

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

Other Assessment

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The mid-module essay assesses the students' practical abilities to present and interpret data, as well as giving them the opportunity to practise and get feedback on their academic writing. The end-of-semester essay focuses on the students' discursive writing skills and their ability to integrate data into an analytical framework and to discuss its implications.

Reading Lists

• SEL1032's Reading List

Timetable

• Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
• SEL1032's Timetable