How
the Unit works
Stages of development of
the unit
The introductory lecture
introduces the key ideas that all living languages vary because the social setting of
their users vary. A particular theme running
through the linguistics element of this unit is that English and BSL will show different
social differences because the two languages operate in very different social contexts.
Before it is possible to describe specific differences arising from social contexts, the
students need to understand the variables within a language. Ideas of pronunciation,
lexicon, grammar and discourse elements are described in session 2, in order to develop
the working vocabulary for the rest of the unit. The
rest of the unit is essentially divided into three parts.
We first describe language according to the situation in which it is used
(i.e. register differences). Then,
recognising that where a language is used is related to who uses it, we move on to
consider language variation according to the user (i.e. dialects). Regional and social dialects are described. The dialects of older people are partly the result
of social identity and partly the effect of language change over time. This social dialect leads into the final section
of the unit, which deals with language change.
Teaching and learning
strategy
The students are expected
to be pragmatic learners. Most of the
students are engaged in the process of learning new language, so the linguistics element
of the unit is deliberately designed to aid the learning of the language. Those students who are already fluent signers will
not be expected to have an explicit knowledge or awareness of the wide range of social
variation within the language, nor of the relationship between society and language forms.
The theoretical element is complemented by a strongly practical approach to the language. The language classes for this unit provide
detailed examples of features of the specific register or dialects under discussion. At
all times students are encouraged to apply their linguistic knowledge to the language they
are learning. The teaching format in the
linguistics lectures reflects this strategy, with the constant provision of examples from
BSL that illustrate the points made. The
students are required to find their own examples from sign language texts, in order to
further develop their language and linguistic skills and improve their analytical skills
of the language.
Formats to be used
Each linguistics topic is
covered by one 50 minutes lecture. This
lecture is backed by a further one hour language class, providing tuition in the specific
dialect or register forms. There will also be
2 hours practical work, usually of video analysis. The
practical session is followed by 30 minutes discussion in smaller groups of issues raised
by the lecture and the practical work. A
report is written on the basis of these three sessions.
This report is submitted within one week of the discussion session and
returned with comments within a two-week period.
Timetabling
Block 1 (of Year Two for
Deaf Studies students). Each week there is
one lecture (50 minutes), one class of 50 minutes, one practical (2 hours) and one
discussion session (30 minutes).