THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2013/2014
Archive for reference only
THIS PAGE IS OUT OF DATE

University Homepage
DRPS Homepage
DRPS Search
DRPS Contact
DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences : Language Sciences

Postgraduate Course: Dialects of English in Britain and Ireland (LASC11117)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences CollegeCollege of Humanities and Social Science
Course typeStandard AvailabilityNot available to visiting students
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) Credits20
Home subject areaLanguage Sciences Other subject areaNone
Course website None Taught in Gaelic?No
Course descriptionThis course provides a detailed account of dialects of English in Britain and Ireland. Beginning with an overview of variation and change in dialects of English, the course proceeds to examine how they differ in terms of their phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax and lexis, and investigates key linguistic features, historical origins, relations to other dialects, and the current forces which are shaping their development.

These are examined from dialectological, sociolinguistic, perceptual and theoretical linguistic perspectives, and issues that are investigated include dialect and language contact, dialect levelling and new dialect formation, and the interaction of language and physical and human geography.

Central concerns throughout the course are: why dialects of English in Britain and Ireland are the way they are; what the linguistic similarities and differences between them are; and what local and general trends are affecting them.

Specific areas covered in detail may vary from year to year, but could include, for example, Northern Ireland (including the importance of the ethno-religious dimension), peripheral areas of Scotland such as the Hebrides, the Northern Isles, and the Scottish-English border (including contact and the sociolinguistics of peripheral varieties), Northern England (including the status of 'Northern English' and the linguistic and perceptual border with the Midlands and South), Liverpool (including changing perceptions of a stigmatised urban variety), Northeast England (including dialect levelling and the transition from traditional dialects to modern accents of English), and Southern British English (including 'Estuary English, koinéization, and London Multicultural English).

Formative feedback available;
- short discussion assignments on Learn, advice on assignment.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Additional Costs None
Course Delivery Information
Delivery period: 2013/14 Semester 2, Not available to visiting students (SS1) Learn enabled:  Yes Quota:  None
Web Timetable Web Timetable
Course Start Date 13/01/2014
Breakdown of Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 200 ( Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 196 )
Additional Notes
Breakdown of Assessment Methods (Further Info) Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %
No Exam Information
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
An overview of dialects of English in Britain and Ireland.

An understanding of why dialects of English are the way they are, of the historical, geographical and social forces that have shaped their development, and of current trends in their development.

An ability to describe the main phonetic, phonological, morphological, syntactic and lexical features of a range of dialects of English in Britain and Ireland, and to explain in detail particular linguistic features which are found in them.

An appreciation of previous and on-going research into dialects of English in Britain and Ireland from dialectological, sociolinguistic, perceptual and theoretical linguistic perspectives, including issues such as dialect and language contact, dialect levelling and new dialect formation, and the interaction of language and political, cultural and physical borders.
Assessment Information
One 4,000 word essay-style assignment (100%)

Assignment deadline: Monday 21st April 2014, 12 noon
Word limit: 4000 maximum
Return deadline: Tuesday 13th May 2014
Special Arrangements
None
Additional Information
Academic description Not entered
Syllabus Weeks 1-3: introduction and general issues and features
Weeks 4-5, 7-10: varieties of English
Transferable skills Students will understand how and why varieties of English in Britain and Ireland vary as they do. This is fundamental for anyone working in these islands, within education, the media etc. The students will also be given the opportunity to hone their writing and argument skills.
Reading list Beal, J. 2010. An Introduction to Regional Englishes. Edinburgh: EUP.
Beal, J., L. Burbano-Elizondo and C. Llamas. 2012. Urban North-Eastern English. Edinburgh: EUP.
Britain, D. (ed.) 2007. Language in the British Isles. Cambridge: C.U.P.
Chambers, J.K. and P. Trudgill. 1998. Dialectology. 2nd edition. Cambridge: C.U.P.
Corrigan, K.P. 2010. Irish English, Volume 1: Northern Ireland. Edinburgh: EUP.
Foulkes, P. and G. Docherty (eds.) 1999. Urban Voices. London: Arnold.
Hughes, A., P. Trudgill and D. Watt. 2005. English Accents and Dialects. 4th edition. London: Arnold.
Kortmann, B. and E. Schneider in collab. with K. Burridge/R. Mesthrie/C. Upton (eds.) 2004. A Handbook of Varieties of English. Vol. 1: Phonology; Vol. 2: Morphology and Syntax. Berlin/New York: Mouton de Gruyter.
Millar, R. 2007. Northern and Insular Scots. Edinburgh: EUP.
Milroy, J. and L. Milroy. 1993. Real English: The Grammar of English Dialects in the British Isles. London: Longman.
Orton, H. et al., eds. 1962-71. Survey of English Dialects. Leeds: Arnold.
Trudgill, P. 1984. Language in the British Isles. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Trudgill, P. 1999. The Dialects of England. Oxford: Blackwell.
Wakelin, M.F. 1972. English Dialects: An Introduction. London: Athlone.
Wells, J.C. 1982. Accents of English. 3 volumes. Cambridge: C.U.P.
Study Abroad Not entered
Study Pattern Not entered
KeywordsNot entered
Contacts
Course organiserDr Warren Maguire
Tel:
Email: W.Maguire@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMiss Toni Noble
Tel: (0131 6)51 3188
Email: Toni.noble@ed.ac.uk
Navigation
Help & Information
Home
Introduction
Glossary
Search DPTs and Courses
Regulations
Regulations
Degree Programmes
Introduction
Browse DPTs
Courses
Introduction
Humanities and Social Science
Science and Engineering
Medicine and Veterinary Medicine
Other Information
Combined Course Timetable
Prospectuses
Important Information
 
© Copyright 2013 The University of Edinburgh - 13 January 2014 4:31 am