Linguistics in Modern Languages

Linguistics

Linguistics in Modern Languages is a thriving research cluster, with a strong track record in attracting external funding (AHRC, British Academy and Leverhulme). It is made up of modern languages staff, postdoctoral researchers, and postgraduates working on a wide range of projects. Current research foci include language prescriptivism and standardization, contemporary and historical sociolinguistics, discourse analysis, as well as the history of linguistics and of language teaching.

Overview

The School of Cultures, Languages and Area Studies (CLAS) at the University of Nottingham is the ideal place to study any aspect of the linguistics of a modern language.

Expertise in our school covers French, German (and Dutch), Spanish & Portuguese, Russian and Slavonic languages. We also have expertise in Chinese and Italian, and a Centre for Translation and Comparative Cultural Studies.

We have particular expertise in sociolinguistics, language standardization, historical linguistics, history of language education, history of linguistic theory (including history of grammars and dictionaries), intercultural communication, and discourse analysis.

In addition to our funded projects we also collaborate with colleagues across the University through the Languages, Texts and Society Research Priority Area to understand how communication, languages and texts function and change in social, scientific and cultural contexts.

Activities

Our regular linguistics reading group meets every few weeks during semester, in addition to our research symposia, conferences, and public engagement events.

Over the past few years, many of our activities have been linked to our involvement in the AHRC-funded MEITS project (Multilingualism - Empowering Individuals, Transforming Societies, 2016-2020, Nottingham CI Nicola McLelland), and the HoLLT.net research network on the history of language learning and teaching, the result of and AHRC research network (PI Nicola McLelland, 2012-2014).

Most recently (2020-21) our AHRC-funded project Language Teaching: Learning from the Past has been developing teacher-trainer materials to embed the history of language learning and teaching in teacher training. We continue to explore the sociolinguistics of multilingualism and of language standardization, and their real-world implications.

Significant results

Selected publications of the Linguistics in Modern Languages research cluster

Nicola McLelland ed., 2021. Special issue: Multilingual perspectives on language standards, variation and ideologies: Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development 42.2.
O Walsh ed., 2021. In the Shadow of the Standard. Standard Language Ideology and Attitudes towards Non-Standard Varieties and Usages Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development. (In Press.).
Nicola McLelland, 2020. Women in the history of German language studies: “That subtle influence for which women are best suited”. In: AYRES-BENNETT, WENDY and SANSON, HELENA, eds., Women in the History of Linguistics Oxford. 193-217.
Hui Zhao, Nicola McLelland and Leanne Henderson eds., 2020. Language inequality in education, law and citizenship.: Special Issue of Language, Society and Policy, with 5 short policy papers and 2 opinion pieces.
Pierre-Alexis Mevel, 2020. Accessible Paratext: actively engaging (with) D/deaf audiences Punctum. 6(1), 203-219.
Pierre-Alexis Mevel, 2018. Hood films et films de banlieue: étude comparative des dynamiques linguistiques et culturelles du sous-titrage Atelier de Traduction. 29, 115-127.
Pierre-Alexis Mevel and Dawn Cornelio, 2018. Collision and Collusion: Contrasting Representations of the Translator-Author Relationship in Two Contemporary Francophone Novels Traduction Terminologie Rédaction. 29(1), 139-160.
Nicola McLelland and Richard Smith eds., 2018. The History of Language Learning and Teaching. I. 16th-18th Century Europe. II. 19th-20th Century Europe. III. Across Cultures Legenda.
Nicola McLelland, 2018. Mining Foreign Language Teaching Manuals for the History of Pragmatics Journal of Historical Pragmatics. 19(1), 28-54.
Nicola McLelland, 2018. The history of language learning and teaching in Britain The Language Learning Journal. 46(1), 6-16.
Olivia Walsh, 2016. Les Chroniques de Langage and the Development of Linguistic Purism in Quebec, Nottingham French Studies. 55(2), 132-157.
Olivia Walsh, 2016. Linguistic Purism: Language Attitudes in France and Quebec. John Benjamins.
Richard J. Whitt, 2016. Evidentiality in Early Modern German. Journal of Historical Pragmatics. 17(2).
Richard J. Whitt, 2016. Evidentiality in Early Modern English Medical Treatises (1500-1700). Journal of Historical Sociolinguistics. 2(2).