Project on language variation and change – PhD scholarship available

Cardiff University’s School of Welsh and the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol, are looking for a PhD candidate for an exciting new project on language in modern Wales.

The research project will be supervised by Dr Iwan Wyn Rees and Dr Jonathan Morris, noted academics in the fields of linguistics, sociolinguistics and dialects.

The main aim of the project is to analyse the influence of political and social factors on variation in Welsh. By collecting data from one or two specific communities, the applicant will use quantitative methods to show to what extent various social factors affect the use of certain dialectal features.

Dr Iwan Wyn Rees said: "While there is much information already available on varieties of spoken Welsh, few previous studies actually consider the impact of recent changes in the demographics and the status of the Welsh language in Wales on the development of Welsh dialects.”

This is an excellent opportunity for a student to contribute to new research that is socially and linguistically important and of political interest.

The doctorate is funded by the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol and the School of Welsh.  All tuition fees are paid on behalf of the successful candidate (worth £ 4,195 per year). An annual bursary of £14 553 is also provided. Please note that the ability to collect data and present research findings in Welsh, both orally and in writing, is essential for this post.

Candidates will have a 2:1 or first class undergraduate degree, and will ideally have completed a postgraduate course, but those without a postgraduate degree will be considered.

For more information and to receive an application form please contact Cadi Thomas: +44 (0) 29 2087 4843, thomasCR9@caerdydd.ac.uk.

Deadline for applications: 20 June 2017 (5pm)

Interview date (in Cardiff or via Skype): 26 June 2017