In this course we will focus on variation and change in various languages (with a specific focus on the English language), both historical and in the present day. We will work with data gathered from written as well as spoken material, partly in the form of electronic corpora. The data will be investigated with respect to different types of linguistic structure such as grammar, lexis, discourse structure, and so forth. Moreover, social factors for language variation such as stylistic variation, gender variation, child and teenage language variation as well as social class and ethnicity (the language of Hip-Hop) will be looked at. Basic reading for this course consists of a range of articles on sociolinguistic topics, which are contained in Chambers et al. (2002). The information gained from the reading will then be applied to historical and present-day data. On the whole, the three main fields covered in the module will be (a) field methodologies and evaluation of linguistic data, (b) investigation of linguistic structure, and © social factors, i.e. social differentiation and social domains. Extension is possible to 15 ECTS.
Rooster
Onderwijsvorm
Two-hour tutorial per week.
A la carte- en contractonderwijs
Not available as modular course or a la carte
Leerdoelen
This course builds on experience acquired as part of a BA curriculum in English historical linguistics and Old and Middle English language and culture. The students will extend their skills and insights in philology and learn to apply them to the course subject. At the end of the course, the students will be able to carry out empirical work by means of electronic corpora, read and interpret relevant literature independently, and present their research results both orally and in written form. Following the completion of the course, students will be well equipped to write their MA thesis on a topic in English philology.
Literatuur
*Chambers, J.K. & Peter Trudgill & Natalie Schilling-Estes (eds.) (2002) The Handbook of Language Variation and Change. Malden, MA: Blackwell.
Toetsing
Presentation and participation (20%), final essay (80%).
The extension will be assessed by an “open question” written examination.
Informatie
English Department, P.N. van Eyckhof 4, room 102c, tel: 071 5272144. English@hum.leidenuniv.nl
Blackboard/webpagina
This course will be taught via Blackboard.