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

This module will introduce you to British Sign Language (BSL) at level A2/B1 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. You will use video materials to develop your receptive skills, as you learn to understand signed communication and answer questions. You will learn key BSL grammatical features and practise your ability to sign short BSL narratives, use everyday greetings, respond to invitations and explain your likes and dislikes using BSL.

This module will introduce you to key concepts and events in Deaf History around the world. We will explore the full sweep of Deaf history, from the oldest records of deaf people known globally, through to recent events in the UK, and possible implications for the future. We will take a mixed approach of looking at the systems which have structured deaf lives, and looking in depth at individual experiences through history. This module will equip you with key theoretical concepts to approach your degree, and key research and academic writing skills. 

This module will introduce you to the fundamental components of linguistic study, and place your learning about these concepts within our multilingual world. We will explore the history of English as a global language, and consider how our languages have been shaped by contact with each other. You will consider the current dominance of the colonial languages, and think about the implications of this for smaller and indigenous languages, and for their speakers and natural environments. This will give you the chance to learn to use some critical discourse analysis tools, and to discover some newer areas of linguistics, such as ecolinguistics.

This module continues your learning from your semester 1 British Sign Language module, as you move on to study BSL at level B2 of the Common European Framework for Languages (CEFR). The focus will be on developing your receptive and productive skills. You will build an in-depth understanding of BSL grammatical features and communication on a theme of your choice. You will also:

• Learn to use more sophisticated everyday greetings
• Understand signed communication to respond to and answer simple questions
• Take part in unstructured social conversations
• Understand key BSL grammatical features

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 grammatical variations in English found within the UK and in other parts of the world. By the end of the module you will have a solid understanding of the basic terminology and key concepts. 

This module introduces you to the principles of articulatory and practical phonetics. You will learn how to recognise, describe and produce a subset of the sounds of the world’s languages, using the symbols of the International Phonetic Alphabet. You will also learn basic transcription skills in English. The module provides a foundation for further linguistic study, enabling you to recognise, transcribe and analyse sounds in, for example, children’s language and varieties of English or other languages. If you are studying another language, or are interested in teaching languages including English, this module will help you to understand not only how sounds are produced by the vocal tract, but also how they fit into the context of different language systems. 

On this module we will investigate signed languages in a range of different social contexts. This will include investigating:

• Individual language use
• Learning signed languages as first or second languages
• Language evolution and the development of individual signed languages
• The political context of language use, such as the effect of racial segregation on language development, and language policies.

The module will include a range of in-class activities including experiments, presentations, group discussions and lectures.  

On this module you will learn about the use of British Sign Language (BSL) for educational purposes. This will involve exploring appropriate registers for teaching children, young people and adults, and considering the study vocabulary relevant to primary, secondary, further and higher education, and lifelong learning. You will have the chance to learn and practise teaching skills, applying and demonstrating your knowledge in a 10 minute micro-teaching session as part of your assessment.

On this module you will learn about key areas of feminist and queer linguistics. We will cover different theories and approaches to the study of language, gender and sexuality, and you will learn about how some of these approaches have been applied in domains such as education, the workplace, literature and the media. Through this you will gain confidence in arguing for your own, informed position, and using the grounding you have received as a starting point for your own work and ideas.

On this module you will explore how media uses language and other communication resources to shape ideas and influence power. You will learn to analyse the choices media makes in language (and beyond) and uncover the hidden messages and beliefs woven into the ways those behind it communicate with us.

On this module you will learn how to use British Sign Language (BSL) at work, as well as considering how Deaf people interact with their work environment. You will:

• Explore Deaf people’s rights in the workplace by looking at the Access to Work grant and the Equalities Act
• Study vocabulary relating to different careers and jobs, and practice translation skills
• Consider how communication technology, such as different video platforms can be used effectively with Deaf people

On this module you will focus on your future career, as well as taking part in a 10 day work placement. 5 days will be completed in a graduate level role, while the other 5 can be completed in a role of your choice that will be discussed with your tutor. The module will also involve considering 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 

This module will explore different social theories, as well as how they can be used to understand languages and our use of languages. We will explore how social theory can help us understand how language communities form, how we can define language, and how we can understand practices which challenge language norms. We will work with ideas such as crip linguistics, citizenship, imagined communities, and a wide exploration of what power means in these contexts. 

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

On this module you will learn about the wide variety of ways attitudes to language use and language learning impact on society and individuals. We consider language hierarchies, what is known as the Complaint Tradition, and explore the notion of the Monolingual Habitus. Through these explorations, we consider how language discrimination arises in multiple contexts, and explore the potential role of the applied linguist in creating social change. 

On this module, you will gain an advanced understanding of the role language plays in the construction and expression of a wide range of social and cultural identities. We will introduce you to social philosophy and theory concerning the nature of identity itself, before applying these theoretical ideas to analysis of the relationship between language, identities and cultures. 

This module will introduce you to the field of communication disorders, developing your understanding of clinical applications of linguistics, and how background understanding of linguistics works alongside clinical knowledge.  You will find out about how clinical decisions can be reached using a range of informal and formal assessments, and how communication disorder and difference impacts on people throughout their lives. 

On this module you will further your knowledge of 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 own learning. You will conduct an independent piece of linguistic research on your chosen topic, with the support of an assigned tutor.  You will attend a series of skills sessions that will help you in this task by guiding you through relevant areas of linguistic research, from ethical applications to writing literature reviews. You will also have access to individual supervision meetings where you can ask for support and guidance with the design and conduct of your research and writing.