PLINX202 English Accents 2005-2006
Prof. J.C.Wells
General. This half-c.u. course within the BA Linguistics surveys varieties of English pronunciation and furnishes phonetic and phonological frameworks for the comparison of different accents. In the course of the year we shall
- consider popular attitudes towards differences of accent,
- get some idea of the range of accent differences among native speakers of English in different parts of the world, and
- look in greater detail at certain local/regional/national accents (tentatively: Cockney, Scouse, General American, Australian).
Most people attending this course are not only native speakers of English but also natives of England or the UK, and as such already have an extensive tacit knowledge of the subject. For them, it is important to be able to formalize this knowledge and express it in phonetic terms. Some, though, are of non-English mother tongue or from outside the UK: they will also have to take care to acquire the basic facts about accent variation in British English. It is assumed that all participants are familiar with the elements of phonetic theory, terminology and notation.
Workload. We meet for one hour a week (Mondays at 4; first term, Medawar Bldg, Watson LT; second term, Foster Court 114) during the first two terms. In addition to this you are expected to read on and around the subject and to complete the assignments set.
Lectures start 3 October 2005.
To view the handouts you may need to install the FREE Acrobat Reader, which you can download from here 
- 3 Oct Introduction: English is full of variation (handout) (Powerpoint)
- 10 Oct Cockney (i) (handout) (Powerpoint)
- 17 Oct Cockney (ii) (handout). Assignment set (cartoon, advice) (Powerpoint)
- 24 Oct Cockney (iii) and Estuary English (handout; Przedlacka handout; Powerpoint); an article I wrote for an encyclopedia
- 31 Oct Statistical analysis (handout, Powerpoint)
- No meeting on 7 November (reading week)
- 14 Nov Historical change (i) (handout, Powerpoint)
- 21 Nov Historical change (ii) (handout, Powerpoint)
- 28 Nov Historical change (iii) (handout) (Powerpoint)
- 5 Dec Comparing pronunciation differences (handout) (Powerpoint)
- 12 Dec Liverpool (Scouse) (handout, Knowles article) (Powerpoint)
- 9 Jan 2006 British and American English (handout) (Powerpoint)
- 16 Jan General American (cont.) (handout) (Powerpoint)
- 23 Jan General American (iii) (handout) (Powerpoint)
- 30 Jan Australian (i) (handout) (Powerpoint)
- 6 Feb Australian (ii) (handout) (Powerpoint)
- No meeting on 13 February (reading week)
- 20 Feb Preparing your remaining coursework (handout)
- 27 Feb Scottish (handout)
- 6 Mar Presentations; Northern Ireland (handout)
- 13 Mar Presentations; Caribbean (handout)
- 20 Mar Presentations
- in reserve: South African
Key reading. For a short list of recommended reading, see the handout for the first lecture.
Assessment. (BA/BSc) You are assessed on the basis of two pieces of coursework (1000 words each, one in November, one in February) and one longer essay on a subject of your choice (approx. 1500 words, by 1 May). All submissions must have a signed cover sheet attached.
Contact. You can email Prof. Wells. Emails are read daily (except when I'm away).
The course is also taken by certain MA students.
- (MA Modern English Language) Assessment is by one or two questions in your Options examination paper, taken under invigilation in May.
- (MA Linguistics, MA Phonetics) Assessment is by two essays: one in December (2000 words) and one in May (3000 words).
Course evaluation form
J.C.Wells home page.