English Linguistics: Varieties of English [ LGERM2821 ]

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This course provides students with a solid background in the study of regional and diatypic varieties of English.

The first part of the course covers regional varieties of English. We will use Kachru's model which represents the use of English around the world as three concentric circles: inner circle (e.g. British or American English), outer circle (e.g. Indian or South African English) and expanding circle (English as a Foreign Language). The issues surrounding the emergence of a new standard for English (International English; English as a Lingua Franca) are also discussed.

The second part of the course deals with diatypic varieties of English (i.e. registers defined in terms of field, mode and tenor). The following varieties are analysed: general English vs English for Specific Purposes; written vs spoken English; formal vs informal English. A wide range of written texts and transcriptions of speech are provided for commentary and analysis. The salient stylistic features are described in linguistic terms (grammatical, lexical and discourse features typical of the genre).

By the end of the course, students will be familiar with the key terms and concepts for studying variation related to both users and uses, and be able to identify and discuss the linguistic features that characterize several regional and diatypic varieties of English.

The contribution of this Teaching Unit to the development and command of the skills and learning outcomes of the programme(s) can be accessed at the end of this sheet, in the section entitled “Programmes/courses offering this Teaching Unit”.

During the term: oral and critical presentation of a scientific article. Students who have not made an oral presentation will not be allowed to register for the exam.

In June: extended term paper on a variety of English. The paper will have to be submitted by the last day of the term.

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This course introduces the key terms and concepts for studying variation related to both users and uses and describes several regional and diatypic varieties of English.

Svartvik, J. & G. Leech (2006) English. One Tongue, Many Voices. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.

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