MA Sociolinguistics

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  • Objectives
    This graduate programme provides students with the opportunity to: Become familiar with approaches to the study of language use in contemporary work in Sociolinguistics Acquire a critical understanding of the nature and status of linguistic data Acquire the necessary methodological and analytical skills to formulate, test and critically evaluate research Problems in language use; and to collect, transcribe, analyse and present empirical research Achieve both practical and theoretical knowledge of major paradigms and interpretive traditions in sociolinguistics Develop a critical, in-depth comprehension of one or more descriptive and explanatory sociolinguistic approaches (e.g. Conversation Analysis, ethnography of speaking, geolinguistics, correlational sociolinguistic surveys) Develop a critical appreciation of primary literature in the field Undertake an original piece of individual research Acquire a wide range of general research abilities and methods as well as transferable cognitive skills, practical skills and key skills Acquire a foundation for further study, employment and life-long learning
  • Entry requirements
    Entry Qualifications A good BA honours (or equivalent) degree (2:1 or above). For non-native speakers of English, an IELTS score of 6.5, or a TOEFL score of 580 (computer based 230). Some prior knowledge of Linguistics is useful but not essential.
  • Academic title
    MA Sociolinguistics
  • Course description

    Course Description
    The MA in Sociolinguistics provides students with the theoretical and analytical tools to understand and evaluate current work in sociolinguistics, and prepares them to undertake original research, familiarises them with the foundations of contemporary sociolinguistics and offers advanced courses in some of its most prominent sub-disciplines (eg variation theory, conversation analysis etc).

    Modules and Options

    The lists of modules below represent the range of options available for each year of study. This may not be a complete list of the options you will study, and may be subject to change, so please contact the department for further details.

    Stage 1

        ACQUISITION OF SECOND LANGUAGE PHONOLOGY
        APPROACHES TO SECOND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION
        BLACK ENGLISHES
        CHILDREN'S ENGLISH
        COMMUNICATIVE LANGUAGE TESTING
        Compulsory: SOCIOLINGUISTIC METHODS I
        Compulsory: SOCIOLINGUISTIC METHODS II
        Compulsory: SOCIOLINGUISTICS I
        Compulsory: SOCIOLINGUISTICS II
        COMPUTATIONAL LINGUISTICS I
        COMPUTATIONAL LINGUISTICS II
        COMPUTER ASSISTED LANGUAGE LEARNING: THEORY, RESEARCH AND PRACTICE
        CONSTRAINT BASED PHONOLOGY
        CONVERSATION AND SOCIAL INTERACTION
        Core: DISSERTATION: MA
        CORPORA IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHING
        CULTURE IN SECOND LANGUAGE LEARNING AND TEACHING
        DESCRIPTIVE SYNTAX
        DESIGN OF LANGUAGE TEACHING PROGRAMMES AND MATERIALS FOR YOUNG LEARNERS
        DEVELOPMENT OF LANGUAGE PROCESSING
        DEVELOPMENTAL LANGUAGE DISORDERS
        DEVELOPMENTAL SECOND LANGUAGE SYNTAX
        DISCOURSE AND LANGUAGE TEACHING
        ELT PROFESSIONAL CONCERNS
        ENGLISH PHONOLOGY
        ENGLISH SYNTAX
        EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN AND ANALYSIS
        FOUNDATIONS OF COMPUTER ASSISTED LANGUAGE LEARNING
        FOUNDATIONS OF ENGLISH FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSES
        FOUNDATIONS OF INTERCULTURAL AND PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION
        FOUNDATIONS OF LANGUAGE FOR ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHERS
        FOUNDATIONS OF LINGUISTICS
        FURTHER QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS IN LANGUAGE STUDY
        GRADUATE RESEARCH ASSIGNMENT
        GRAMMATICAL DEVELOPMENT IN FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD LANGUAGE LEARNERS
        INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES IN L2 LEARNING
        INPUT IN LANGUAGE LEARNING AND TEACHING
        INTERCULTURAL PRAGMATICS
        INTRODUCTION TO HEAD-DRIVEN PHRASE STRUCTURE GRAMMAR
        INTRODUCTION TO LEXICAL FUNCTIONAL GRAMMAR
        LANGUAGE ACQUISITION AND THE CRITICAL PERIOD
        LANGUAGE AND GENDER
        LANGUAGE DISORDERS IN ADULTS
        LANGUAGE LEARNERS IN CLASSROOMS
        LANGUAGE PROGRAMME EVALUATION
        LANGUAGE TEACHER EDUCATION
        LANGUAGE TEACHERS IN CLASSROOMS
        LANGUAGE TEACHING
        LANGUAGE TESTING
        LEARNER AUTONOMY
        LEARNER PERSPECTIVES ON VOCABULARY
        LEARNER STRATEGIES AND METALINGUISTIC KNOWLEDGE: EXPLICIT ASPECTS OF L2 LEARNING
        LEXICAL CHANGE IN THE HISTORY OF ENGLISH
        LITERACY DEVELOPMENT AND TEACHING OF READING TO YOUNG LEARNERS
        MATERIALS DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT
        MATERIALS EVALUATION
        MINIMALISM SYNTAX II
        MINIMALIST SYNTAX I
        MORPHOLOGY
        MULTILINGUALISM
        NON-EXPERIMENTAL QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS FOR ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHING
        PEDAGOGICAL GRAMMAR
        PHILOSOPHY OF LINGUISTICS
        PHONOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT AND PHONOLOGICAL DISORDERS
        PHONOLOGICAL THEORY AND SECOND LANGUAGE PHONOLOGY
        PIDGIN AND CREOLE LANGUAGES
        PRAGMATICS: DISCOURSE AND RHETORIC
        PROLOG I
        PROLOG II
        QUALITATIVE METHODOLOGY IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHING/APPLIED LINGUISITICS RESEARCH
        RELEVANCE THEORY
        RESEARCH TOPICS IN ENGLISH FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSES
        RESEARCHING WRITING IN EFL/ESL
        SEMANTICS
        SENTENCE PROCESSING
        SOCIOPHONOLOGY
        SOCIOPHONOLOGY RESEARCH
        SYLLABUS DESIGN
        TEACHING PRACTICE I
        TEACHING PRACTICE II
        TEACHING WRITING IN EFL/ESL
        TEACHING, LISTENING AND SPEAKING
        THE MENTAL LEXICON
        THEORETICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE PHONOLOGY
        TOPICS IN HEAD-DRIVEN PHRASE STRUCTURE GRAMMAR
        TOPICS IN LEXICAL FUNCITIONAL GRAMMAR
        TOPICS IN PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION
        VARIATION IN ARABIC 1
        VARIATION IN ARABIC II
        VARIATION IN ENGLISH I
        VARIATION IN ENGLISH II
        VERB MEANING AND SENTENCE STRUCTURE

    Teaching and Assessment Methods
      
    A: Knowledge and Understanding
        Learning Outcomes
        A1 : familiarity with approaches to the study of language use in contemporary work in Sociolinguistics
        A2 : Understanding of the nature and status of linguistic data
        A3 : practical and theoretical knowledge of major paradigms and interpretive traditions in sociolinguistics
        A4 : knowledge of key concepts, issues, ideas, theories, styles of argumentation and evaluation criteria used in contemporary sociolinguistic research
        A5 : knowledge of methods and tools employed in contemporary sociolinguistic work to collect, transcribe, analyse and present data
        A6 : critical, in-depth comprehension of one or more descriptive and explanatory sociolinguistic approaches

        Teaching Methods
        A1-6 are addressed in lectures, as well as seminar, class and tutorial discussion. Web and instructional course materials, including library and internet materials are used to achieve A1, A2, A3, A4 and A6. There is also office and email consultation with staff as well as written and oral feedback on work.

        Assessment Methods
        A1-6 are assessed by written coursework in the form of essays (usually a 3000 word essay per course) and exercises. The dissertation is instrumental in the achievement of A5 and A6, being the most significant form of assessment with respect to knowledge and understanding acquired in the taught part of the course.

    B: Intellectual/Cognitive Skills
        Learning Outcomes
        B1 : Critically evaluate contrasting linguistic theories/ accounts/explanations/approaches, demonstrating an understanding of the relationship between theory and data or practice
        B2 : Abstract and synthesise information from a range of sources (lectures/seminars/classes, journals, books, internet, etc.) identifying central concepts and findings
        B3 : Make observations and generalisations about behaviour (or data, or other materials) and analyse relevant types of behaviour, data, or materials using relevant methodologies

        Teaching Methods
        B1 - B3 are developed in seminars, classes and tutorials. B2 is developed in directed reading of library and internet materials, as well as printed instructional course materials. There is also office and email consultation with staff, as well as written and oral feedback on work.

        Assessment Methods
        B1-3 are assessed by written coursework in the form of essays (usually a 3000 word essay per course) and exercises. In its development of advanced intellectual and cognititve skills, the dissertation is central in assessing B3.

    C: Practical Skills
        Learning Outcomes
        C1 : retrieve information from a variety of sources (e.g. Library, WWW, CD-Rom)
        C2 : Utilise techniques and tools relevant to the collection, analysis and presentation of sociolinguistic data
        C3 : propose, plan, undertake, write up and present an independent survey or report (e.g. on research undertaken individually or in collaboration with others, or on a case study), with a minimum of guidance

        Teaching Methods
        Throughout the scheme practical skills C1-3 are developed through independent learning in preparation for classes, seminars, essays and presentations. In particular, these skills are mobilised in preparation for tutorials for the dissertation. Office and email consultation with staff, as well as written/oral feedback on work is provided through both the coursework and dissertation phases of the degree.

        Assessment Methods
        Coursework and essays play an important part in the assessment of all skills C1-3. It is in marking of the dissertation, however, that these skills - particular C2 and C3 - become particularly salient.

    D: Key Skills
        Learning Outcomes
        D1 : Communicating complex ideas effectively in writing, writing essays, reports and reviews using the appropriate register and style.
        D2 : Using advanced computational tools and software packages to obtain, store and process information stored in electronic form (e.g. from the Library, WWW or CD-rom), and (where appropriate) to analyse data and results
        D3 : Under guidance, interpreting relevant statistical information and, where required, showing familiarity with complex procedures of symbol manipulation
        D4 : Analysing complex data-sets or behaviour, abstracting insightful generalisations and testing abstract hypotheses
        D6 : Under guidance, working independently, demonstrating initiative, self-organisation and time-management in tackling and solving complex problems

        Teaching Methods
        The key skills, D1, D2, D4 and D6 are taught throughout the scheme in preparation for lectures, seminars, tutorials and coursework assignments. Oral presentations in class may be used to develop skills of oral communication in parallel with D1; students are also encouraged to collaborate with others to achieve common goals e.g. in project planning, management and presentation. Seminars and tutorials are used to develop D3 and D4. There is also office and email consultation with staff, as well as written/oral feedback on work.

        Assessment Methods
        Coursework essays are used in the development of all key skills D1 to D4 and D6. Coursework exercises specifically develop D3 and D4. The dissertation constitutes an overall assessment of these skills in judging communication, problem solving and independent learning.

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