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2006/07 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

ENGL32104 English Dialects in Society

20 creditsClass Size: 31

School of English

Module manager: Professor Clive Upton
Email: c.s.upton@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2006/07

Pre-requisite qualifications

Students wishing to take this module must have passed an introduction to language study in the School of English or another department (such modules include `Language, Text and Context?, `Foundations of Language Study?, `Language Methodologies and Research Methods?, a Level 1 module in Linguistics and Phonetics, or similar modules in other departments in Modern Languages). Other students who have an A in English Language A-level and who wish to do this module should consult the co-ordinator, as should any student who is uncertain whether they meet the pre-requisite requirements.

This module is approved as an Elective

Module summary

The use of spoken language varies socially, just as it does regionally. For a long time linguists have recognized linguistic differences according to speakers' gender and age. Since the pioneering work of William Labov in the 1960s these and other 'social variables' have been systematically studied by dialectologists, with the primary aim of seeking to understand the reasons why language has changed, and why it continues to change all the time. This module examines the evolving techniques and growing body of findings of social dialectology, and invites students' consideration of the sociolinguistic implications of the language varieties they use and hear other people using.

Objectives

To introduce students to the study of social variation in language and the recent work done within the Labovian paradigm of quantitative study of language variation and change.

Skills outcomes
Skills for effective communication, oral and written.
Capacity to analyse and critically examine diverse forms of discourse.
Ability to acquire quantities of complex information of diverse kinds in a structured and systematic way.
Capacity for independent thought and judgement.
Critical reasoning.
Research skills, including information retrieval skills, the organisation of material, and the evaluation of its importance.
IT skills.
Time management and organisational skills.
Independent learning.Skills for effective communication, oral and written.
Capacity to analyse and critically examine diverse forms of discourse.
Ability to acquire quantities of complex information of diverse kinds in a structured and systematic way.
Capacity for independent thought and judgement.
Critical reasoning.
Research skills, including information retrieval skills, the organisation of material, and the evaluation of its importance.
IT skills.
Time management and organisational skills.
Independent learning.

Syllabus

The module begins with a survey of the methodology of quantitative sociolinguistics, followed by a discussion of some of the classic studies in the field. The second half of the module will focus on the implications of language variation to the study of linguistic change.

Teaching methods

Teaching will be through weekly seminars (10 x 1 hour) plus up to 5 additional hours (content to be determined by the module tutor).

Private study

Seminar preparation, reading, essay writing.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Contribution to seminars
1st assessed essay (Week 7)

Methods of assessment

1 x 1700 word essay (1/3) (Week 7)
1 x 2750 word social dialect investigation (2/3) (Week 12)

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 26/02/2007

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