MODULE SPECIFICATION TEMPLATE
MODULE DETAILS
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an ‘X’
Topics in Sociolinguistics
LQM25
20
Level 4
Level 5
Level 6
Level 0 (for modules at foundation
level)
Level 7
X Level 8
Entry criteria for registration on this module
Pre-requisites
n/a
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codes or equivalent
Co-requisite modules
n/a
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codes or equivalent
Module delivery
Mode of delivery
Taught
Other
X
Distance
Placement
Pattern of delivery
Weekly
X
Block
Other
When module is delivered
Brief description of
module content and/ or
aims
Overview (max 80 words)
Module team/ author/
coordinator(s)
School
Site/ campus where
delivered
Online
Semester 1
Semester 2 X
Throughout year
Other
This module introduces students to theoretical and analytical
frameworks and asks them to critically evaluate current work in
sociolinguistics. It explores issues of language variation, language
contact, language and identity, and the role of language in social
relationships and practices. It also develops students’ research
skills, including data collection and both quantitative and qualitative
methods of analysis, which will enable them to undertake original
research.
Ulla Spittler, Dr. Vy Rajapillai
Humanities
Falmer
Course(s) for which module is appropriate and status on that course
Course
Module descriptor template: updated Aug 2012
Status (mandatory/ compulsory/
optional)
MA English Language
Compulsory
MA Linguistics
Optional
MA Philosophy of Language
Optional
MODULE AIMS, ASSESSMENT AND SUPPORT
Aims
The aims for this module are set into the context of the QAA
Framework for Higher Education Qualifications and they relate to
the SEEC level descriptors for level M study.
The module aims to:



Learning outcomes
develop students’ knowledge and awareness of the
complex relationship between language and society
enable students to engage critically with current debates
within the area of Sociolinguistics
provide students with theoretical, methodological and
analytical frameworks for the research of sociolinguistic
topics
In relation to the QAA Framework for Higher Education
Qualifications and the SEEC level descriptors for level M study,
by the end of the module students should be able to:
1. demonstrate a critical understanding of the central issues in
the fields of Sociolinguistics
2. critically engage with and evaluate recent research in the
field
3. devise a sociolinguistic research project and conduct it
independently
4. apply sociolinguistic research methods in the collection and
analysis of data
5. demonstrate an awareness of the merits and shortcomings
of different forms of data collection
6. demonstrate an understanding of ethical issues involved in
sociolinguistics research
7. report their findings in a clearly structured and conclusively
argued way
Content
The module starts with an overview of the history of
Sociolinguistics as a subject discipline and its predecessor,
Dialectology, before moving on to the three waves of its most
established branch, Variationist Sociolinguistics. It then moves
on to deal with various aspects of language contact, such as
multilingualism, code-switching, pidgins and creoles,
postcolonialism, globalisation, language rights. Under the
heading of language and identity, the case of gender is
discussed in detail. The issue of identity is taken further in a
section on language and media which focuses on media
representations and the language used in interactive media to
Module descriptor template: updated Aug 2012
construct online identities. Language change, and the factors
contributing to it, is a recurring theme throughout the module.
Learning support
Books:
Clark , U. (2013) Language and Identity in Englishes. Oxon:
Routledge.
Coates, J. (1998) Women, Men and Language. London:
Longman.
Coupland, N. and A. Jaworski (Eds.) (2009) The New
Sociolinguistics Reader. Basingstoke: Palgrave
Macmillan.
Hewings, A .and C. Tagg (Eds) (2012) The Politics of English:
Conflict, Competition and Co- existence. Abingdon:
Routledge.
Hillier, H. (2004) Analysing Real Texts: Research Studies in
Modern English Language. New York: Palgrave.
Holmes, J. and M. Meyerhoff (Eds.) (2003) Handbook of
Language and Gender. Oxford: Blackwell.
Llamas, C., L. Mullany and P. Stockwell (Eds.) (2006) The
Routledge Companion to Sociolinguistics. Oxford:
Routledge.
Mallinson, C., B. Childs and G. van Herk (eds) (2013) Data
Collection in Sociolinguistics. Methods and Applications.
New York and London: Routledge.
Meyerhoff, M. (2011) Introducing Sociolingutics. 2nd Ed. Oxon:
Routledge.
Schneider, E.W (2007) Postcolonial English: Varieties around
the world. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Schneider, E.W (2011) English around the world. Cambridge:
Cambridge University Press.
Stockwell, P. (2007) Sociolinguistics (2nd edition). Oxford:
Routledge
Trudgill, P. (2000) Sociolinguistics: An Introduction to Language
and Society (4th edition). London: Penguin.
Trudgill, P. and J. Cheshire (Eds.) (1998) The Sociolinguistics
Reader. Volume I: Multilingualism and Variation; Volume
II: Gender and Discourse. London: Arnold.
Trudgill, P. and J. Hannah (2002) International English: A guide
to varieties of standard English (4th edition). London:
Module descriptor template: updated Aug 2012
Arnold.
Wardhaugh, R. (2005) An Introduction to Sociolinguistics (5th
edition). Oxford: Blackwell.
Journals:
English Today
Language in Society
Journal of Sociolinguistics
Electronic Sources:
The British Library Sound Archive
BBC Voices
Various e-journals from online library and web-sites
Teaching and learning activities
Details of teaching and
learning activities
Contact Time:
Weekly seminars and workshops based on preparatory reading.
Students will be expected to give mini-presentations in class on
their chosen project topic. The last three weeks of the semester
will be given over to individual tutorials.
Non-contact Time:
Apart from the required preparatory reading for the seminars,
students will devise and conduct their individual research
projects.
Studentcentral
Allocation of study hours (indicative)
Where 10 credits = 100 learning hours
Study
hours
SCHEDULED
24
This is an indication of the number of hours
students can expect to spend in scheduled
teaching activities including lectures, seminars,
tutorials, project supervision, demonstrations,
practical classes and workshops, supervised time
in workshops/ studios, fieldwork, external visits,
and work-based learning.
Module descriptor template: updated Aug 2012
GUIDED INDEPENDENT
STUDY
All students are expected to undertake guided
independent study which includes wider reading/
practice, follow-up work, the completion of
assessment tasks, and revisions.
176
PLACEMENT
The placement is a specific type of learning away
from the University that is not work-based learning
or a year abroad.
0
TOTAL STUDY HOURS 200
Assessment tasks
Details of assessment
for this module
General criteria for assessment are framed by the SEEC
descriptors for level M. Against specific criteria, credit will be
awarded for:

Formulation of a research question and ability to locate it
within the current research in the field Sociolinguistics
(LO1)

Critical evaluation and examination of relevant research
literature (LO2)

The ability to devise and conduct a sociolinguistic
research project independently (LO3)

The ability to choose an appropriate research
methodology and apply it in the collection and analysis of
data (LO4, LO5)

The ability to reflect on ethical issues and build them into
the project design (LO6)

The ability to present a clearly structured and conclusively
argued research report (LO7)
All learning outcomes must be achieved in order to pass the
module at the threshold level.
Task: 4000 word Project, investigating an aspect of language use
or variation using appropriate sociolinguistic research methods
(100%)
The task will be marked on a percentage basis. Module pass
mark is 50%.
Referral task:
Reworking of original task
Types of assessment task1
Indicative list of summative assessment tasks which lead to the award of credit
or which are required for progression.
%
weighting
(or indicate
1 Set exercises, which assess the application of knowledge or analytical, problem-solving or evaluative skills, are included
under the type of assessment most appropriate to the particular task.
Module descriptor template: updated Aug 2012
if
component
is pass/fail)
WRITTEN
Written exam
COURSEWORK
Written assignment/ essay, report, dissertation,
portfolio, project output, set exercise
PRACTICAL
Oral assessment and presentation, practical skills
assessment, set exercise
100%
EXAMINATION INFORMATION
Area examination board
PG Programme in Linguistics and English language
Refer to Faculty Office for guidance in completing the following sections
External examiners
Name
Position and institution
Date appointed
Date
tenure
ends
Prof. Daniel Kadar
Professor of Linguistics
and English language, Uni.
of Huddersfield
1st Jan. 2015
31st Dec.
2019
QUALITY ASSURANCE
Date of first approval
Only complete where this
is not the first version
2009
Date of last revision
Only complete where this
is not the first version
2009
Date of approval for this
version
Version number
2
Modules replaced
n/a
Specify codes of modules
for which this is a
replacement
Available as free-standing module?
Module descriptor template: updated Aug 2012
Yes
X
No