Monash University Handbook 2010 Postgraduate - Unit

Synopsis

Structural properties of varieties of English around the world; descriptive surveys (covering both phonology and grammar) of the main national standard Englishes, as well as a selection of the distinctive regional, ethnic and social varieties and also major contact and ESL varieties; historical and cultural background and current sociolinguistic situation of the respective regions; special focus on the non-standard varieties of Australasia and Pacific; global tendencies in phonological and grammatical variation (i.e. what are the least/most frequent features); notion of Standard English; attitudes to local varieties of English and the problem of standards.

Objectives

On completion of this unit students should know the main distinguishing features, at the key linguistic levels, of the more important varieties of English around the world (native-speaker and 'new'; standard and non-standard) and also the origins and development of these features, and be able to explain the relevant facts using the terminology of linguistics; understand the main facts and issues associated with the statuses and functions of these varieties in the various societies in which they are used, the attitudes which users of English have adopted with respect to these varieties, and the connections between all these issues; be in a position to analyse new situations involving language varieties (English or other) in these terms; be in a position to develop critical and well-informed positions on the practical upshots of these considerations (educational, language planning, etc.)

Assessment

Written Work (9,000 words in total): 100%

Chief examiner(s)

Prof Kate Burridge

Prohibitions

Either ALM4350 or ALM5350, but not both.