Language variation and change in Northern Ireland

Summary

This project will contribute to an evidence-base for supporting an understanding and appreciation of linguistic diversity by exploring variation in children’s language acquisition both currently and over time.

Using a combination of secondary data collected in the early 1990s by Alison Henry from children acquiring English in Belfast and a new dataset collected from children acquiring English in NI in present times, the project will involve in-depth linguistic analyses to identify common trends, both across and within the various sub-populations of NI.

Such analyses may include any of the following:

- a comparison of syntactic variation over time and across varieties of English in NI, focusing on Henry’s (1995) analysis of children’s acquisition of Belfast English

- An acoustic analysis of variation in Belfast English from the 1990s and NI English in the 2020s, to understand the extent of variation in vowel distributions throughout regional varieties and if/how these have changed over time and/or by location.

- An investigation of children’s acquisition of English in bilingual households in NI in the 2020s, and how this compares with monolingual acquisition in the 2020s and the 1990s.

Key outputs from the project will include the openly available data collected from the project, consisting of naturalistic conversations between children and their caregivers. Interested candidates should have a background in children’s first language acquisition and text analysis using quantitative approaches, and ideally experience with the CHILDES database.

AccessNI clearance required

Please note, the successful candidate will be required to obtain AccessNI clearance prior to registration due to the nature of the project.

Essential criteria

Applicants should hold, or expect to obtain, a First or Upper Second Class Honours Degree in a subject relevant to the proposed area of study.

We may also consider applications from those who hold equivalent qualifications, for example, a Lower Second Class Honours Degree plus a Master’s Degree with Distinction.

In exceptional circumstances, the University may consider a portfolio of evidence from applicants who have appropriate professional experience which is equivalent to the learning outcomes of an Honours degree in lieu of academic qualifications.

• Sound understanding of subject area as evidenced by a comprehensive research proposal detailing background, research questions, aims and methodology
• Research proposal of 1500 words detailing aims, objectives, milestones and methodology of the project
• Experience using research methods or other approaches relevant to the subject domain

Desirable Criteria

If the University receives a large number of applicants for the project, the following desirable criteria may be applied to shortlist applicants for interview.

• Applicants should hold, or expect to hold a First Class Honours Degree in a relevant subject area

Equal Opportunities

The University is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applicants from all sections of the community, particularly from those with disabilities.

Appointment will be made on merit.

Funding and eligibility

This project is funded by:

• Department for the Economy (DfE)
• Vice Chancellor's Research Scholarship (VCRS)

PhD scholarships are available for this project to all applicants worldwide, regardless of residency or domicile, and will cover:

• Tuition fees.
• A maintenance allowance of approximately £22,000 (exact rate is to be confirmed) per annum for three years, subject to satisfactory academic performance.
• A Research Training Support Grant (RTSG) of approximately £900 per annum.

Applicants who already hold a doctoral degree or who have been registered on a programme of research leading to the award of a doctoral degree on a full-time basis for more than one year, or part-time equivalent, funded from any source, including self-financing students, are NOT eligible to apply for an award.

Students in full-time employment are not eligible for an award.

Part-time PhD scholarships may be available at a 0.5 pro rata rate of the full-time scholarship, which would require a six-year registration period.

Due consideration should be given to financing your studies.

The University will award a successful candidate one of the following scholarships for the project, depending on the funding available at the time an admissions offer is made:

1. Department for the Economy (DfE) PhD Scholarships
2. Vice Chancellor’s Research Scholarships (VCRS)

Please note that the Terms and Conditions for scholarships are subject to change for 2027/28.