A2 Language Investigation Coursework Ideas

I did the following, it does not sound very interesting, but I found it really intersting by the end and got an A in it hehe.

"Compare the language used in children's scientific textbooks to that of A level."

Children's = horrible science
A level = anything from the science dept.

You can get loads from it!

Reply 2

OP

Sounds quite interesting actually, what frameworks did you use?

Reply 3

eksman

9

i got an A in mine this year, i did the language and phonological features of MCs :biggrin:

just do something you're interested in, computer games, football, iron maiden whatever

Reply 4

OP

That's the problem though, I wouldn't have a clue on what to actually study within that field.

Reply 5

grammar_king

2

Mine was quality and very interesting (at least for me, and my 2 teachers, even if I say so myself). I got 49/50, the highest mark anyone's got at my school for years.

"How has the Spanish language influenced American English in comparison to British English?" basically I looked at the differences between British and American English, and thought about how those changes could have come about by the influence of foreign languages, particularly Spanish. It was tough.

I have a few other ideas though.

"a comparison of protest songs from the 1960's and today"
basically compare devices from the lyrics of Bob Dylan to System of a Down or Rage Against the Machine.

"a comparison of newspaper adverts throughout the 20th century"
comparing newspaper adverts from the past to those of today.

"a comparison of political speeches"
compare, say, Martin Luthur King's 'I have a dream' to something by Tony Blair or something, or to be more relevant, Tony Blair to Margaret Thatcher. Then you can get the gender issue into it.

In general the comparison studies work well.

Reply 6

cuzza

Sounds quite interesting actually, what frameworks did you use?

The normal: Lexis, Grammar, Semantics and Phonology. I also had an extra framework on humour as there was significant use of humour within the texts.

Reply 7

vaughn_

eksman

i got an A in mine this year, i did the language and phonological features of MCs :biggrin:

just do something you're interested in, computer games, football, iron maiden whatever

I am considering doing "The language and phonological features of hardcore singers"

Any ideas if this is a suitable topic??

Reply 8

Yeh of course!!!!!!!!!! It would make an interesting one. In my year, someone else done the language of birthday cards, and another the language of grave stones.

Reply 9

Becca88

u cud still do ur original idea of language used in msn chat logs, and compare them to an older fashioned style of communication such as letters, you can always get letters from war, that would be a really good one in my opinion lol

I did the difference in the language used in football spoken and written commentaries lol, i dont no wot grade i got cos my teacher still wont tell me until the results r out!!! Grrrrrr!!

Becca xx

Reply 10

Wildebeest

13

This is a helpful thread. :smile:

I'm still trying to decide what to do for mine.

The textbooks comparison idea is very good, but I also have a perfect opportunity over the summer (my grandparents' fiftieth wedding anniversary) where I could manipulate a group of about forty northeners. If only I could think of a good dialect study!

Reply 11

What are the common features of '???' dialect and how do they interact with one another?

Or compare that with a newsreader or something. Get a transcript of the news reader, and get the relative to translate into how they'd say it.

Reply 12

TheeHelenine

I did toponomny (place names). I investigated 20 place names in 5 different counties to trace back the settlers of that area through religious connotation.
Such as: Allerston means 'Aelfhere's stone' Aelfhere being an old english name which means supernatural elf warrior and so i linked it to paganism. And more so I could identify it as norse paganism because it was in Yorkshire surrounded by places with 'Thor' in the name etc.
I really enjoyed doing it actually as you can probably tell lol.

Reply 13

vaughn_

vaughn_

I am considering doing "The language and phonological features of hardcore singers"

Any ideas if this is a suitable topic??

So if i wanted to do the language and phonological features of hardcore singers, what would i discuss? Would i need to compare this type of music to another??

Help please

Reply 14

OP

I think you'd need to come up with a bit of a definition of what you mean by 'hardcore' singers. Sounds a bit unclear.

I've decided on my original idea, few people have sorta 'sold' the idea to me. I think I could do well on it, plus I've got a bit more of an insight as to what I would put, thanks a lot people.

Reply 15

Becca88

are you going to compare msn convos to something?
Becca

Reply 16

OP

Ha sorry thought I'd already said. I'm gonna compare how genders use language on it... so normal gender frameworks, then bit of internet stuff, should work.

Reply 17

vaughn_