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 | |
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
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
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
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- SEL8676's Timetable