British Sign Language, Deaf Studies and Linguistics BA (Hons)

Which of these two levels you study will depend on your previous experience of British Sign Language (BSL).

If you are placed in Accelerated British Sign Language you will study at either level A1/A2 of the Common European Framework for Languages (CEFR). The topics you will cover include simple description of people, living or working conditions, daily routines and more. By the end of the module you will be able to use everyday greetings, respond to invitations and learn to explain your likes and dislikes using BSL.

If you are placed on Enhanced British Sign Language you will study at level A2/B1 of the CEFR, and will use video materials to develop your receptive skills, learning to understand signed communication and answer questions. You will learn key BSL grammatical features and practise your ability to sign short BSL narratives.

On this module you will study the history of Deaf people and Deaf communities. It introduces key terms and concepts such as postcolonialism, the Milan Congress of 1880 and the Deaf resurgence. You will be able to apply what you learn on this module to all areas of your degree. You will also consider what the future may hold for Deaf people and communities, debating it with your peers and tutors in seminars.

On this module we will introduce you to the linguistic areas of study that you will build on throughout your degree. This includes the basics of phonetics and grammar. You will study:

• Contemporary issues and debates about language use
• The historical development of language and of English
• Academic reading, writing and referencing techniques.

This module continues your learning from your semester 1 British Sign Language module.

If you are placed in Accelerated British Sign Language you will study BSL at level B1 of the Common European Framework for Languages (CEFR). Learn to use more sophisticated everyday greetings and understand signed communication to respond to and answer simple questions. By the end of the module you will be able to take part in unstructured social conversations in BSL and understand key BLS grammatical features.

If you are placed in Enhanced British Sign language you will study BSL at level B1 of the Common European Framework for Languages (CEFR). This will focus on developing your receptive and productive skills. By the end of the module you will have an in depth understanding of BSL grammatical features and be able to communicate on a theme of your choice.

This module is your introduction to the traditional foundations of Deaf communities and the key contemporary debates in Deaf studies. You will learn essential information such as when to capitalise the word deaf and the roots of Deaf culture in the UK and the USA. The topics you study on this module will be the foundation of your knowledge in Deaf studies.

This module is your introduction to the descriptions of grammatical structures. This means looking at word classes, sentence types, morphology and more. You will study the grammatical variation found within the UK and in other parts of the world. By the end of the module you will have an understanding of the basic terminology and key concepts.

On this module you will address the world’s linguistic diversity and consider the place of the English language in our multilingual world. You will consider language variation and multilingualism from linguistic, psychological, sociocultural and educational perspectives by studying topics including:

• The multilingual mind and how multilingualism affects identity
• The commodification of language
• Bilingual education
• Language policy and planning
• Multilingualism and the arts

This module is your introduction to the principles of articulatory and practical phonetics. You will learn how to recognise, describe and produce some of the sounds and symbols of the International Phonetic Alphabet. This means you will be able to recognise, transcribe and analyse sounds in varieties of English, other languages and children's language.

Study the use of British Sign Language (BSL) for educational purposes. Address appropriate registers for teaching children, young people and adults. Study vocabulary relevant to primary, secondary, further and higher education, as well as life long learning. You will have the chance to learn and practise teaching skills, applying your knowledge in a 10 minute micro-teaching session as part of your assessment. By the end of the module you will be communicating at level B2 on the Common European Framework for Languages (CEFR).

On this module you will focus on the sociolinguistic elements of British Sign Language (BSL). The module provides a link between your practical and theoretical modules and gives you the change to undertake small research tasks. You will study:

• The history of BSL
• The visual-spatial nature of the language
• The Deaf community
• Culture and language learning
• Interpreting

On this module you will develop advanced skills in reading and analysing texts across different genres and sensory perceptions. You will study different theories and methods of analysis to understand issues of representation and power in contemporary debates. The knowledge you gain in this module will help you to apply these theories more widely in later modules.

This module is your introduction to the core principles of phonology. We will introduce you to aspects of phonetics and phonology that will help you analyse variations in language, like child phonology and languages other than English. Topics you will cover on this module include:

• The concept of the phoneme
• Narrow allophonic transcription
• Phonotactics and syllable structure
• Transcription skills
• Phonological features.

Apply your linguistic knowledge you have gained so far and explore linguistic diversity in schools and classrooms. Drawing on your knowledge of language acquisition, learning, and language diversity, you will explore the concept of language inclusion in schools and how this might work in practice. You will also explore the practice of working with multilingual children who have Special Educational Needs.

Learn how to use British Sign Language (BSL) for work and consider how Deaf people interact with their work environment. Address Deaf people’s rights in the workplace by looking at the Access to Work and the Equalities act. Study vocabulary relating to different careers and jobs and practise translation skills. You will also consider how communication technology, such as Skype, can be used effectively by and for Deaf people.

On this module you will learn about different social theories used to analyse the experiences of Deaf people and communities. You will start by discussing the importance of social theory and why it is so important. This module will deepen your understanding of Deaf history and Deaf culture, focusing especially on colonialism and postcolonialism.

On this module you will focus on your career. You will embark on a work placement for 10 days. 5 days will be completed in a graduate level role, the other 5 can be completed in a role of your choice that will be discussed with your tutor. Consider the role of language in different workplace contexts. This might include looking at advertising, language and power and clinical communication. We will also help you to enhance your employability by providing training in:

• Personal branding
• Presentation skills
• Interview and application writing skills

On this module you will study how to use British Sign Language (BSL) in the context of recreational activities and consider Deaf people’s access to mainstream activities. You will learn how to use filming technology in informal environments and develop your vocabulary relating to social interactions and leisure activities.

On this module you will study how the public views language and consider the social and political issues surrounding these views. Explore Standard English and ideas about correctness and consider public attitudes towards bilingualism and new language. You will also discuss taboo language and how attitudes can change because of technological developments.

On this module you will explore how language can be an indicator of different social and cultural identities, as well as contributing to the construction of these identities. Develop the skills you have learnt in previous modules in analysing spoken and written texts. You will take an interdisciplinary approach to exploring the relationship between language, identity and culture. This means you might draw on other academic subject areas, such as sociology while studying.

In this module we will introduce you to speech and language disorders. Learn about typical speech and language development. You will then think about communication difficulties, developmental disorders and acquired disorders in both children and adults. You will also consider the clinical applications of linguistics and consider how clinical decisions can be made using different assessment types.

On this module you will study how to use British Sign Language (BSL) to communicate on topics relating to mental and physical health. You will develop your vocabulary to include words and phrases about mental health and common physical diseases. By learning to describe body parts, you will be able to communicate ailments in more detail. You will also enhance your translation skills and apply these in a translation task as part of your assessment.

Your dissertation is your chance to take responsibility for your learning and conduct a piece of linguistic research on a topic you are passionate about. Your tutors will support you to refine your idea and encourage you to choose a topic that you enjoy and excel in. You will also attend 1 to 1 tutorials which will help you design and conduct your research and write up your findings.