Undergraduate Course: Sociolinguistics (LASC10002)
Course Outline
School |
School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences |
College |
College of Humanities and Social Science |
Course type |
Standard |
Availability |
Available to all students |
Credit level (Normal year taken) |
SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) |
Credits |
20 |
Home subject area |
Language Sciences |
Other subject area |
None |
Course website |
None |
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Course description |
This course builds on the introductory work students have undertaken in sociolinguistics in pre-Honours courses. We focus on develop practical experience in deploying the skills and background knowledge needed for studying variation in language use and language attitudes that were laid down in Years 1 and 2. The empirical foundation laid down in Linguistics 2B is essential preparation for this course (see Course Prerequisites). Participants in this course will deepen their own experience as researchers and fieldworkers through the development of a corpus-based analysis of variation (on a variable of their choosing) that they will complete for their final project.
Alongside the development of practical experience in studying variation, the course explores major aspects of the theory of language variation and change in more detail, such as:
the importance of change over time in a community,
the potential for change across an individual's lifespan,
the relationship between social identities like gender or social class and variation in language use,
how sociolinguistic methods inform the study of language contact and dialect levelling.
There is an emphasis on collaborative learning strategies in this course. Students are expected to participate fully in discussions in the class, and present new material. Lectures are supplemented with in-class exercises and discussions, and course participants are encouraged to work on their final project in a small group. Readings, lectures and in-class exercises are supported by three writing exercises in which students are encouraged to relate academic work to their direct observations and experiences in the world.
Assessment is by combination of: three short writing exercises during semester; take-home exam; final project analysing a variable. |
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisites |
Visiting students should have at least 3 Linguistics/Language Sciences courses at grade B or above (or be predicted to obtain this). We will only consider University/College level courses.
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Prospectus website |
http://www.ed.ac.uk/studying/visiting-exchange/courses |
Course Delivery Information
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
At the end of the course, all participants will be able to:
analyse and interpret primary data
critically evaluate the reasoning behind data interpretation
critically evaluate the rationale for using qualitative or quantitative methods in analysing data
identify the major sociolinguistic issues addressed in a given study of language attitudes or language use
report on their own research showing a synthesis of the above
relate academic sociolinguistic research to their own experiences
provide and ask for peer-support, e.g. in data collection, tutoring.
In addition, students may have developed skills in:
face-to-face interviewing
quantitative analysis of data using Excel and/or Goldvarb
survey design
fieldwork in the wider community |
Assessment Information
Assessment is by: research project (40%), take-home or in-class exercise (30%) and reader responses (30%). |
Please see Visiting Student Prospectus website for Visiting Student Assessment information |
Special Arrangements
In order for a student to be enrolled, you must contact the course secretary as places are limited to 30.
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Contacts
Course organiser |
Dr Miriam Meyerhoff
Tel: (0131 6)51 1836
Email: Miriam.Meyerhoff@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary |
Ms Stephanie Fong
Tel:
Email: S.Fong@ed.ac.uk |
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copyright 2010 The University of Edinburgh -
1 September 2010 6:12 am
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