LN3013: LANGUAGE CHANGE: LINGUISTIC AND SOCIOLINGUISTIC APPROACHES (2020-2021)

Last modified: 05 Aug 2021 13:04

Course Overview

All living languages are in constant flux. Pronunciations alter; word meaning changes; structures evolve. In this course you will learn the various processes which Historical Linguists employ when analysing linguistic change. Proper attention will also be given to the consideration of language descent and relationship. You will also consider change from a sociolinguistic viewpoint, investigating how social background, gender and ethnicity affect and effect change.

Course Details

Study Type	Undergraduate	Level	3
Term	First Term	Credit Points	30 credits (15 ECTS credits)
Campus	Aberdeen	Sustained Study	No
Co-ordinators	Professor Robert M. Millar

What courses & programmes must have been taken before this course?

One of Programme Level 3 or Programme Level 4 or Programme Level 5
One of LN2005 Varieties of English (Passed) or LN2008 Language in Society (Passed) or LN2508 Language in Society (Passed) or LN2510 Varieties of English (Passed)
Language And Linguistics (LN)
Any Undergraduate Programme

What other courses must be taken with this course?

None.

What courses cannot be taken with this course?

None.

Are there a limited number of places available?

Course Description

This course introduces students to the central ideas of Historical Linguistics, developing their awareness of how we can analyse change systematically at all levels. This understanding will be viewed from a sociolinguistic perspective. The comparative method, involving concepts of language relationship and descent, will be given prominence. Wherever possible, linguistic change – both in the present and the past – will be considered in relation to social background, gender and ethnicity, among other variables. Throughout, emphasis will be placed on developing an awareness of how change works practically. This includes an assessed exercise where change is observed and analysed in the members of an invented language family.

Contact Teaching Time

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

Teaching Breakdown

More Information about Week Numbers

Details, including assessments, may be subject to change until 30 August 2024 for 1st term courses and 20 December 2024 for 2nd term courses.

Summative Assessments

3000 word essay (50%)

2000 word exercise (30%)

Seminar Assesment (20%)

Alternative Resit Arrangements for students taking course in Academic Year 2020/21

Resit: 3,000 word essay (100%)

Formative Assessment

There are no assessments for this course.

Course Learning Outcomes

Knowledge Level	Thinking Skill	Outcome
Conceptual	Understand	Students will recognise the central ideas and methodologies of Historical Linguistics.
Factual	Apply	Students will be able to apply the central ideas and methodologies of Historical Linguistics to practical tasks.
Factual	Apply	Students will apply their evaluation of the central ideas and methodologies of Historical Linguistics in relation to Sociolinguistic theory and practice to practical tasks.
Conceptual	Understand	Students will evaluate the central ideas and methodologies of Historical Linguistics in relation to Sociolinguistic theory and practice.