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 |
Taught in Gaelic? | No |
| 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 two 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: a take-home exam and a 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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| Displayed in Visiting Students Prospectus? | Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Delivery period: 2012/13 Semester 1, Available to all students (SV1)
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WebCT enabled: Yes |
Quota: 26 |
| Location |
Activity |
Description |
Weeks |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
| Central | Lecture | | 1-11 | 14:00 - 17:00 | | | | |
| First Class |
First class information not currently available |
| Additional information |
Class Location:
Room 3.02, Appleton Tower
Teaching Contact Time: 9 weeks out of 11 at 3 hours/week = 27 hours |
| No Exam 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 SPSS! survey design
! fieldwork in the wider community |
Assessment Information
| Assessment is by: take-home exam (50%) and final project(50%). |
Special Arrangements
In order for a student to be enrolled, you must contact the course secretary as places are limited to 26.
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Additional Information
| Academic description |
Not entered |
| Syllabus |
Not entered |
| Transferable skills |
Not entered |
| Reading list |
Not entered |
| Study Abroad |
Not entered |
| Study Pattern |
Teaching Contact Time: 9 weeks out of 11 at 3 hours/week = 27 hours |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Lauren Hall-Lew
Tel: (0131 6)51 1836
Email: |
Course secretary | Ms Stephanie Fong
Tel:
Email: |
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