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| Semester | spring semester 2015 |
| Course frequency | Every spring sem. |
| Lecturers | Thomas Messerli (thomas.messerli@unibas.ch) |
| Content | This course is an introduction to sociolinguistic principles and methodologies, and provides exemplary case studies. The course involves the reading and understanding of key texts; practical work on samples of language data; devising a project proposal; collecting and analysing data; writing up a report. With the integration of these components we model a way to approach investigations into language that are founded on theoretical principles, conducted through specific methodologies. Thus we can arrive at insights into the role that language plays in the social and vice versa, the influence of the social on language. The sociolinguistics that we cover in the course can be broken down into three broad areas: variationist linguistics; interactional linguistics; varieties of English. |
| Learning objectives | Students will learn about the ways in which language varies in social contexts, and moreover how language shapes and in turn is itself shaped by interactions. Students will learn how to think out a basic research project and conduct meaningful empirical data collection. Students will learn how to write up a fieldwork project. |
| Bibliography | Students should buy the course book: Van Herk, Gerard (2012) What Is Sociolinguistics? New York: Wiley-Blackwell. ISBN: 978-1-4051-9318-4. The book will be available from the Labyrinth bookshop, Nadelberg 17 (opposite the Seminar) from the second week of January 2015. Labyrinth offer a 10% reduction on production of your “legi.” Please support this local shop! In preparation for the first meeting of the course, you are required to have read the first two chapters of Van Herk (2012). Additional texts will be made available on ADAM. |
| Weblink | ADAM |
| Admission requirements | For BA students of English |
| Course application | Sign up sheets for the five sections will be posted on the notice board on the 2nd floor, rear building, of the English Seminar from February 2nd. The number of participants in each section is strictly limited to 22. If a section is full, you must sign up for one of the alternative sections. You may not register for more than one of the parallel courses. |
| Language of instruction | English |
| Use of digital media | Online, mandatory |
| Interval | Weekday | Time | Room |
|---|
No dates available. Please contact the lecturer.
| Modules |
Modul Introduction to English Linguistics (Bachelor's degree subject: English) Modul Learning about Linguistics (Bachelor's degree subject: English (Start of studies before 01.08.2013)) |
| Assessment format | continuous assessment |
| Assessment details | Quizzes and a fieldwork project conducted during the course is the basis of the evaluation. Students must satisfactorily complete a proposal, a write-up, and a summary presentation of their fieldwork project. |
| Assessment registration/deregistration | Reg.: course registration; dereg.: not required |
| Repeat examination | no repeat examination |
| Scale | Pass / Fail |
| Repeated registration | as often as necessary |
| Responsible faculty | Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, studadmin-philhist@unibas.ch |
| Offered by | Fachbereich Englische Sprach- und Literaturwissenschaft |