- Department: Language and Linguistic Science
- Module co-ordinator: Prof. Dominic Watt
- Credit value: 20 credits
- Credit level: H
- Academic year of delivery: 2021-22
This module looks in detail at the diversity of accents of English in the United Kingdom and the British Isles more generally, and explores the historical development of selected varieties of the language. The phonetic and phonological properties of UK Englishes are examined in terms of the interplay of language-internal structural forces (mergers, splits, chain shifts, etc.), and external factors such as social identity, migration patterns, economic developments, (counter)urbanisation, and the role of the media. The module also touches upon how the study of accent informs work in the clinical, technological, forensic, and entertainment spheres.
Pre-requisite modules
Co-requisite modules
- None
Prohibited combinations
- None
It may also be an advantage to have taken Intermediate Language Variation & Change.
Occurrence | Teaching period |
---|---|
A | Spring Term 2021-22 to Summer Term 2021-22 |
The aims of this module are:
On completion of this module students should:
This module is likely to be of particular interest to students with an interest in sociolinguistics and English language, and to those who are considering careers in areas such as speech and language therapy, English teaching, speech and language technology, forensic speech science, or the media and communications sector.
Task | Length | % of module mark |
---|---|---|
Essay/coursework Essay (1000 words) |
N/A | 20 |
Essay/coursework Essay (3000 words) |
N/A | 80 |
None
Task | Length | % of module mark |
---|---|---|
Essay/coursework Essay (3000 words) |
N/A | 100 |
Students will receive continuous verbal feedback during class time. Written feedback on summative work will be provided within 20 working days.
Beal, J.C. (2010). An Introduction to Regional Englishes: Dialect Variation in England. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.
Britain, D. (2007, ed.). Language in the British Isles. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Foulkes, P. & Docherty, G.J. (1999). Urban Voices: Accent Studies in the British Isles. London: Arnold.
Hughes, A., Trudgill, P. & Watt, D. (2012). English Accents and Dialects: An Introduction to Social and Regional Varieties of English in the British Isles, 5th edn. London: Hodder Education.
Kortmann, B. & Upton, C. (2008, eds.). Varieties of English, vol. I: The British Isles. Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter.
Milroy, J. & Milroy, L. (2013). Real English: The Grammar of English Dialects in the British Isles. London: Routledge.
Munro, M.J. (2021). Applying Phonetics: Speech Science in Everyday Life. Oxford: Wiley Blackwell.
Wells, J.C. (1982). Accents of English, vol. I: The British Isles. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.