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| Semester | spring semester 2016 |
| Course frequency | Every spring sem. |
| Lecturers | Aline Bieri (aline.bieri@unibas.ch) |
| Content | This course is an introduction to sociolinguistic principles and methodologies. The course involves the reading and understanding of key texts and case studies, practical work on samples of language data, devising a project proposal, collecting and analysing data and writing up a research report. With the integration of these components we model a way to approach sociolinguistic investigations into language that is founded on theoretical principles and conducted through specific methodologies. Thus we can arrive at insights into the role that language plays in the social and the influence of the social on language. The areas in sociolinguistics that we introduce in the course include: variation, interaction, and varieties of English. |
| Learning objectives | 1. 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. 2. Students will learn how to plan a basic research project, conduct meaningful empirical data collection and write up a research paper. |
| 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), as of mid December. Students should have their own copy of the book before the first week of classes. In preparation for the first meeting of the course, students 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 25th January 2016. The number of participants in each section is strictly limited to 18. 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 |
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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 are the bases of the evaluation. Students must 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 |