Research topic Use of English. The end result should be a research report approximately 2,500- 3,000 words in length and structured like the report plan The distribution of maximum marks is as follows: Review of literature 15% Methodology 10% Data presentation and analysis 35% Commentary 20% Overall structure and presentation (including referencing) of the report 20% Note that for the ‘review of literature' you need only to refer to the relevant parts of the course material and readings, although if you have done some further reading, you should of course include it. Please refer to the attached file. As for the topic i've chosen topic number. 4 Use of English. I have also uploaded all the study units for your reference for a better understanding of the assignment.Aim: This TMA assesses your understanding of a range of information and ideas presented in all units of the course LANG A331.
Note: This, your last assignment, gives you an opportunity to carry out some authentic sociolinguistic research, using the approach detailed in Unit 9 of your course material. You can choose one of the five research topics given below. The end result should be a research report approximately 2,500- 3,000 words in length and structured like the report plan shown on pages 18 and 19 of Unit 9.
This TMA is allocated twice the marks awarded for the others because it is a project.
The distribution of maximum marks is as follows:
Review of literature 15%
Methodology 10%
Data presentation and analysis 35%
Commentary 20%
Overall structure and presentation
(including referencing) of the report 20%
Note that for the ‘review of literature' you need only to refer to the relevant parts of the course material and readings, although if you have done some further reading, you should of course include it.
List of research topics:
1 Language history
Do families whose parents came from non-Cantonese speaking areas in China still use the dialect of origin? If they do, when do they use it? Has the third generation shifted entirely to Cantonese or not? What languages does each generation speak, and how well? How did they learn the language? Is it important for young people to master each language? Is it a big loss if they don't know their dialect of origin?
• Conduct a research project on the languages spoken by different generations of a family you know. Ask each member which languages he or she can speak (even if it's just a little bit). Then ask them when they use each language, where, with whom, and
on what subject. Present your data in the form of charts showing the languages/dialects spoken and recorded interviews. Look for
the differences between generations. What conclusions can you draw from your data? 2 LANG A331 Language and Society in Hong Kong
• Alternatively, you can collect data from a cross-section of people in your apartment block, workplace, or any other group you know.
2 Language change Select an interview group that includes three generations if possible, but if not, at least two generations. You can ask family members, old people in the park, work colleagues, etc. Ask them the following questions or make up some of your own.
i What would you say when you are bored to death?
ii What would you say when you ask someone to stop pushing you?
iii How would you say ‘Are you blind?' when someone walks into you?
iv What would you say when you try to ask your friend to not be so stingy and lend you his pen?
v What would you say when you are yelling at someone who is interrupting your conversation?
vi How would you tell your younger brother or sister to behave herself/himself?
vii What would you say when you ask to be excused from supper so that you can do your homework?
viii What would you say to let people in the house know that you have come back from outside?
ix How would you call your best friends?
x What terms would you use for your girlfriend/boyfriend?
xi What term would you use for ‘steady dating' one particular person of the opposite sex?
xii What would you say when you are swearing at someone who makes you mad?
xiii What terms would you use for ‘You must be crazy!'?
xiv What slang terms do you use for ‘money'?
xv How would you refer to a young punk of either sex?
xvi How would you refer to something that someone has done as stupid?
xvii How would you refer to a certain person as stupid or dumb?