Language variation in the East Midlands: Investigating specific language used by workers in important East Midlands industries, including coal mining, farming and in the textile industry

Language variation, in particular accents and dialects, remain a topic of great public interest. Until recently, language variation in the East Midlands was mainly neglected and very little known about the varieties used within this region.

We welcome applications from prospective students wishing to work on language variation in the East Midlands in the UK. This is an area which has traditionally been neglected in sociolinguistics studies and research is needed to compare language here with other non-standard varieties. The project topics can include but should not necessarily be limited to (i) specific language used by workers in important East Midlands industries, including coal mining, farming and in the textile industry which are in danger of dying out, (ii) language use of ethnic minority speakers, (iii) focus on a particular geographical area of the East Midlands, (iv) perceptual studies in the region. For enquiries, please contact Dr Natalie Braber ([Email Address Removed]).

As a PhD student in Linguistics at NTU, you will join the Communication, Cultural and Media Studies (CCM) Unit of Assessment. REF2014 classed 65% of research in this unit as world-leading or internationally excellent in terms of originality, significance and rigour; 70% of research in this unit was assessed as world-leading or internationally excellent in terms of impact. You will be joining a team of MA and PhD students working on different Linguistics topics within a vibrant research community.

Specific qualifications/subject areas required of the applicants for this project
Entrants must have a first/undergraduate Honours degree, with an Upper Second Class or a First Class grade, in Linguistics. Entrants with a Lower Second Class grade at first degree must also have a postgraduate Masters Degree at Merit.


Panel members who will perform shortlisting

Chair: Professor Nahem Yousaf, [Email Address Removed]
Panel member 1: Professor Gill Allwood, [Email Address Removed]
Panel member 2: Dr Natalie Braber, [Email Address Removed]
Panel member 3: Professor Martin O’Shaughnessy, [Email Address Removed]

Interviews are likely to take place on the following dates: 11/01/2018, 12/01/2018, 18/01/2918 or 19/01/2018.

This studentship competition is open to applicants who wish to study for a PhD on a full-time basis only. The studentship will pay UK/EU fees (currently set at £4,195 for 2017/18 and are revised annually) and provide a maintenance stipend linked to the RCUK rate (this is revised annually and is currently set at £14,553 for the academic year 2017/18) for up to three years. Applications from non-EU students are welcome, but a successful non-EU candidate would be responsible for paying the difference between non-EU and UK/EU fees. (Fees for 2017/18 are £12,900 for non-EU students and £4,195 for UK/EU students). The studentships will be expected to commence in October 2018.