Postgraduate Course: Special Topics in Sociolinguistics (LASC11001)
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 covers topics and methods for the advanced study of sociolinguistics. Through advanced readings and an independent research project proposal, students examine the theories and practices used in contemporary sociolinguistic research. This option complements and develops ideas and materials that were introduced in the core course, Sociolinguistic Research Design. Each year the focus will be on a different special topic that is highly relevant to the on-going research of the course organisers and likely participants. |
| Course description |
This course covers topics and methods for the advanced study of sociolinguistics. Each week students read and discuss two journal articles or book chapters, and students will sometimes be asked to volunteer to lead the discussion of these readings. Both assessments (a literature review and an independent research project) engage students directly with the most cutting-edge studies in the field, relative to the semester's Special Topic. Each year the focus will be on a different topic that is highly relevant to the on-going research of the course organisers and likely participants. Previous topics include Language and Gender, Social Meaning and Indexicality, Sociophonetics, and Language Commodification. In cases where the methodologies are relatively more demanding (e.g., Sociophonetics), a project proposal will be required for assessment rather than a completed research project.
The exact topic in any given year will be proposed by the Course Organiser but ultimately decided based on consultation with the students intending to enrol on the course.
Any student who has not completed Introduction to Sociolinguistics (LASC11095) should contact the Course Organiser to ensure they are suitable for the course.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
Students MUST have passed:
Sociolinguistic Research Design (LASC11152)
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
| Additional Costs | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
| Not being delivered |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- name some of the key research questions in sociolinguistics
- name some of the main methodologies used in sociolinguistics
- name the benefits and costs to different methodologies
- design a compelling research question in the particular area of sociolinguistics discussed in the course
- conduct a small study to answer a research question in the particular area of sociolinguistics discussed in the course
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Reading List
| Talis Aspire Reading List |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Ability to analyse text critically, ability to present complex ideas in writing, ability to persuade through writing, ability to organise time and work independently. Depending on the Special Topic, skills might also include use of specialised computer programs and analysis of quantitative data. |
| Additional Class Delivery Information |
Attend all lectures as scheduled |
| Keywords | sociolinguistics,applied linguistics,social theory,cultural studies |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Lauren Hall-Lew
Tel: (0131 6)51 1836
Email: Lauren.Hall-Lew@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Miss Toni Noble
Tel: (0131 6)51 3188
Email: Toni.noble@ed.ac.uk |
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