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| Semester | spring semester 2021 |
| Course frequency | Every spring sem. |
| Lecturers | Daria Dayter (daria.dayter@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 | By the end of the term, students... - know some of the ways in which language varies in social contexts, and how language shapes and in turn is itself shaped by interactions. - will have learned about and practiced the planning of a basic research project and meaningful empirical data collection - will have written up a fieldwork project and reflected on their work. - will have sharpened their analytical skills in critical reading - will have improved their understanding of research methodology |
| Bibliography | Students should buy the following course book: Van Herk, Gerard. (2018). "What Is Sociolinguistics?", 2nd ed. Hoboken, USA: Wiley-Blackwell. ISBN: 978-1-118-96074-5. The book will be available at the Labyrinth bookshop (http://www.buchhandlung-labyrinth.ch/), Nadelberg 17 (opposite the English Seminar), as of mid-January. In preparation for the first meeting of the course, students are required to have read the first two chapters of Van Herk (2018). Additional texts will be made available on ADAM. |
| Comments | If the course will be moved to face-to-face mode later in the semester, it will still be possible to attend remotely if you belong to a risk group or in other applicable cases. |
| Weblink | ADAM |
| Admission requirements | For BA students of English |
| Course application | In order to ensure a good learning environment, we aim at no more than 25 students per class (4 sections). Please sign up via the following doodle link: https://doodle.com/poll/i2t39vynyy5ke66z?utm_source=poll&utm_medium=link You may only register TWICE: once for a class section and once for a waiting list. Multiple voting (more than twice) will be removed and you will be assigned a place in a class with free seats after registration has closed. Should you have not made it into one of the courses and you are only able to register for the waiting lists, we guarantee that we will take you in the course with the least student numbers. This doodle will open on January 11, 2021, 10am (CET), and close on February 22, 2021, 6pm (CET) in order to finalise student distribution in the week before term starts. |
| Language of instruction | English |
| Use of digital media | Online, mandatory |
| Interval | Weekday | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|---|
| wöchentlich | Monday | 12.15-14.00 | Nadelberg 6, Grosser Hörsaal |
| Date | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|
| Monday 01.03.2021 | 12.15-14.00 | - Online Präsenz -, -- |
| Monday 08.03.2021 | 12.15-14.00 | - Online Präsenz -, -- |
| Monday 15.03.2021 | 12.15-14.00 | - Online Präsenz -, -- |
| Monday 22.03.2021 | 12.15-14.00 | - Online Präsenz -, -- |
| Monday 29.03.2021 | 12.15-14.00 | - Online Präsenz -, -- |
| Monday 05.04.2021 | 12.15-14.00 | Ostern |
| Monday 12.04.2021 | 12.15-14.00 | - Online Präsenz -, -- |
| Monday 19.04.2021 | 12.15-14.00 | - Online Präsenz -, -- |
| Monday 26.04.2021 | 12.15-14.00 | - Online Präsenz -, -- |
| Monday 03.05.2021 | 12.15-14.00 | - Online Präsenz -, -- |
| Monday 10.05.2021 | 12.15-14.00 | - Online Präsenz -, -- |
| Monday 17.05.2021 | 12.15-14.00 | Nadelberg 6, Grosser Hörsaal |
| Monday 24.05.2021 | 12.15-14.00 | Pfingstmontag |
| Monday 31.05.2021 | 12.15-14.00 | Nadelberg 6, Grosser Hörsaal |
| Modules |
Modul: Introduction to English Linguistics (Bachelor's degree subject: English) |
| Assessment format | continuous assessment |
| Assessment details | The course assessment takes into account competences as well as knowledge that have been gained in the course. In order to obtain the credit points for this course, the following criteria have to be met: - attendance (no more than two misses) - active participation in class and project work/presentation - reach 60% as combined mark of: 1. English in Action group research paper (50%) 2. Two quizzes (50%) |
| 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 |