2020-2021 / GERM0062-1

Varieties of English in the Commonwealth

Duration

30h Th

Number of credits

 Master in multilingual communication (120 ECTS)5 crédits 
 Master in modern languages and literatures : German, Dutch and English (120 ECTS)5 crédits 
 Master in modern languages and literatures : general (120 ECTS)5 crédits 

Lecturer

Daria Tunca

Language(s) of instruction

English language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the second semester

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

The course is divided into three parts. The first, given in lecture form, is a historical and theoretical introduction to the use and study of English in the former British Empire, as well as to pidgins and creoles. The second part, taught in seminar format, consists in a critical discussion of texts (on different aspects of varieties of English) that students are requested to read before each session. Finally, the third part covers some of the main lexical, grammatical and pragmatic features of the Nigerian, Australian and Jamaican varieties of English, in addition to concentrating on the historical, social and cultural contexts of these varieties.

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

Upon completion of the course, students will have acquired the theoretical bases needed to understand linguistic variation, especially in relation to the Anglophone world. They will also have been provided with an overview of the linguistic situation of the territories that make up the Commonwealth, and they will be able to engage in critical discussions of relevant linguistic and socio-cultural issues.

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

Very good knowledge of English

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

The class will include both theoretical lectures and interactive sessions. The final session will be devoted to short presentations made by students on the topic of their written essay (see below).

Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)

Face-to-face in code yellow, online (via Collaborate) in code orange or code red.

Organisational adjustments related to the current health context

En code orange ou en code rouge, l'examen oral aura lieu en ligne.

Recommended or required readings

Powerpoint presentations used in class, as well as texts to be prepared at home, will be made available on the e-campus platform during the year. A list of recommended reading material will also be made available to the students.

Assessment methods and criteria

Below you will find information on the evaluation methods planned for in-person and remote exams as well as those planned for hybrid sessions. Depending on how the health crisis evolves, the chosen method will be communicated to you no later than one month before the start of the exam session.

Written essay and oral exam. The final mark will take into account the students' level of English, their ability to develop a scholarly argument, and their mastery of the theoretical material studied in class.
The brief oral presentation that the students are requested to make during the final session of the course will not count towards their final mark. However, this presentation is compulsory for all those who wish to take the exam in May-June.

Work placement(s)

Organizational remarks

The course is taught in English.

Contacts

Daria Tunca, Département de langues modernes : linguistique, littérature, traduction, Université de Liège, Place Cockerill, 3-5 (A2), B-4000 Liège, Belgium. Email: dtunca@uliege.be. Phone: + 32 (0) 4 366 53 44.