Undergraduate Course: Global Englishes (LASC10056)
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 provides a description of varieties of English which emerge from multilingual settings. In these contexts English has become a second or additional language, either through histories of colonisation, or slavery/indentured labour. We look at how processes of mass acquisition can produce identifiable non-native or "World" Englishes such as East African English, Indian English, and Singaporean English in the territories of the former British empire, and pidgin and creole Englishes in the former plantation economies or slave-trading bases of the Caribbean or Pacific. In addition to modelling the evolution of these varieties, we learn to describe their phonology and syntax, and explore the cultural role that English plays in the respective countries today. Finally we turn to contexts in which English is learnt as a foreign language, such as China, Japan, Russia. For learners of English in these countries or anyone who must use English in international exchanges, the form, level of proficiency and teaching of "English as a lingua franca" are all key questions in an increasingly heated global debate. |
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. |
| Displayed in Visiting Students Prospectus? | No |
Course Delivery Information
| Not being delivered |
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Describe the histories and social contexts that have given rise to World Englishes
- Describe and analyse the linguistic features of World Englishes
- Identify key debates in the emergence of extraterritorial Englishes
- Discriminate between and define key terms in the field The skills acquired will include:
- Ability to analyse texts and recordings of different varieties of English
- Ability to organise data using appropriate methods
- Ability to apply data to questions surrounding the emergence and structure of varieties of English
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Assessment Information
A short essay of 1500 words chosen from a list of topics covered in the first half of the semester (30%). This first assessment allows the student to review literature in preparation for the second assessment.
An in-depth essay of no more than 2500 words which should contain data analysis (70%). |
Special Arrangements
| None |
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 | world Englishes, multilingualism, pidgins, creoles, contact linguistics |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Claire Cowie
Tel: (0131 6)50 8392
Email: |
Course secretary | Ms Stephanie Fong
Tel:
Email: |
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