SEL8676 : Metropolitan Sociolinguistics
SEL8676 : Metropolitan Sociolinguistics
- Offered for Year: 2024/25
- Module Leader(s): Dr Daniel Duncan
- Owning School: English Lit, Language & Linguistics
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
Semester 2 Credit Value: | 20 |
ECTS Credits: | 10.0 |
European Credit Transfer System | |
Pre-requisite
Modules you must have done previously to study this module
Code | Title |
---|---|
SEL8163 | Language and Society |
Pre Requisite Comment
N/A
Co-Requisite
Modules you need to take at the same time
Co Requisite Comment
N/A
Aims
The module aims to:
- Examine the role of demographics, development, and public policy in driving language variation and change in metropolitan areas
- Introduce advanced terms, concepts and premises underlying sociolinguistic research, with particular respect to the variationist paradigm
- Give a broad understanding of sociolinguistic fieldwork techniques
- Apply the terminological distinctions, principles, methods and concepts used within these sub-disciplines to actual and novel case studies that explore the inter-relationships between language and society.
- Further explore specific topics at the community and national level.
Outline Of Syllabus
This course provides an advanced study of sociolinguistic theory and practice through a focus on language variation and change in metropolitan areas. Key topics include:
- Theoretical approaches to space and place
- Indexical uses of language
- Relations between urban structure and linguistic variation
- Recent theoretical and methodological developments in metropolitan areas and their linguistic consequences
Learning Outcomes
Intended Knowledge Outcomes
At the end of this module students will:
- Understand relevant tools for sociolinguistic/sociological analyses.
- Have an advanced understanding of the manner in which linguistic variation is structured in society.
- Have an advanced understanding of concepts associated with understanding language and its function in society.
- Have in-depth knowledge of a selection of case studies relevant to this field of study.
Intended Skill Outcomes
At the end of the module students should be able to:
- Understand theoretical and experimental concepts relevant to appropriate paradigms and apply them to actual and hypothetical case studies.
- Read critically and evaluate/apply different quantitative and qualitative sociolinguistic approaches to new data.
- Understand concepts relevant to these sub-disciplines of linguistics/English Language and apply them to actual and hypothetical case studies.
- Present arguments orally and in written form.
- Understand and reproduce graphs/tables.
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 68:00 | 68:00 | N/A |
Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 22 | 1:00 | 22:00 | N/A |
Guided Independent Study | Directed research and reading | 1 | 99:00 | 99:00 | N/A |
Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 11 | 1:00 | 11:00 | N/A |
Total | 200:00 |
Jointly Taught With
Code | Title |
---|---|
SEL3056 | Language in the City |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
N/A
Reading Lists
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Other Assessment
Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
---|---|---|---|---|
Essay | 2 | A | 75 | 3500 words |
Essay | 2 | M | 25 | 500 word abstract |
Formative Assessments
Formative Assessment is an assessment which develops your skills in being assessed, allows for you to receive feedback, and prepares you for being assessed. However, it does not count to your final mark.
Description | Semester | When Set | Comment |
---|---|---|---|
Oral Presentation | 2 | M | *Lead seminar discussion of relevant paper |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
The formative presentation skills assignment assesses the student's ability to synthesize information concisely and present it coherently in oral form. It also assesses the student's scientific literacy skills in reading primary literature.
The abstract skills assignment assesses written communication skills and ability to synthesize information concisely. It develops professional skills necessary for postgraduate students to advance in the field.
The essay tests written communication skills; analytical/problem solving skills (depending on the question the student chooses); critical thinking/conceptual understanding/knowledge and ability to construct a logical argument.
*Oral Presentation 1: Synchronous leading of discussion of selected research paper OR - where appropriate and with prior permission from the module leader - written outline of key points of selected paper
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- SEL8676's Timetable
Past Exam Papers
- Exam Papers Online : www.ncl.ac.uk/exam.papers/
- SEL8676's past Exam Papers
General Notes
N/A
Welcome to Newcastle University Module Catalogue
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Disclaimer
The information contained within the Module Catalogue relates to the 2024 academic year.
In accordance with University Terms and Conditions, the University makes all reasonable efforts to deliver the modules as described.
Modules may be amended on an annual basis to take account of changing staff expertise, developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback. Module information for the 2025/26 entry will be published here in early-April 2025. Queries about information in the Module Catalogue should in the first instance be addressed to your School Office.