Postgraduate Course: Language Variation and Change MSc (LASC11141)
Course Outline
| School | School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This course will approach the topic of language variation and change. The topics studied on the course will vary based on the on-going research of the course organisers. |
| Course description |
Students taking this course will be exposed to contemporary research on variation in a diverse range of languages, and will be expected to engage with research covering some of the following topics:
- complex linguistic data from a range of languages (not solely English).
- diachronic processes of change and the social factors involved in them.
- patterns of synchronic, inter-dialectal variation in specific present-day languages.
- language-internal and language-external factors affecting variation.
- sound change and phonetic variation.
- patterns of variation and change affecting morphosyntax.
- empirical methodologies including experimental research and statistical analysis techniques.
At the end of the course, you will have gained an overview of some main areas of research around the area of focus chosen for the course, and you will be well-placed to carry out further work on topics related to those covered in the course.
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Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
|
| Academic year 2021/22, Available to all students (SV1)
|
Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Semester 2 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 27,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
169 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
|
| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Assignment 1: 40%
Assignment 2: 60% |
| Feedback |
Formative feedback in the form of briefing sessions for the two assessment components will be provided. |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- recognise and describe the relationship between diachronic changes, structural properties of present-day languages, and patterns of variation observed in the present
- demonstrate an understanding of patterns of linguistic diversity within and across languages
- recognise and have a critical understanding of methods in the documentation and study of patterns of social variation in areas such as phonetics and morphosyntax
- demonstrate the ability to understand and critically evaluate primary literature on language variation and change, and a knowledge of current issues within the discipline
- demonstrate an understanding of how techniques of linguistic analysis at the forefront of the main theoretical subdisciplines can be applied to variation data
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Reading List
| Kiesling, Scott F. (2011). Linguistic Variation and Change. Edinburgh: EUP |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Students will use their personal and intellectual autonomy to critically evaluate ideas, evidence and experiences from an open-minded and reasoned perspective.
Students will develop use of skilled communication to enhance their understanding of a topic or context and to engage effectively with others.
Students will develop their skills in research and enquiry to identify and creatively tackle problems, and to seek out opportunities for learning. |
| Keywords | language variation and change,contemporary research,languages |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Michael Ramsammy
Tel: (0131 6)50 3959
Email: M.Ramsammy@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mrs Elinor Lange
Tel: (0131 6)51 3188
Email: elange@exseed.ed.ac.uk |
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