University of Edinburgh. Department of Linguistics and English Language

Transcription

1 University of Edinburgh SCHOOL OF PHILOSOPHY, PSYCHOLOGY AND LANGUAGE SCIENCES Department of Linguistics and English Language MSc by Research in English Language MSc by Research in Linguistics MSc by Research in Theoretical Linguistics Programme Handbook

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Introduction The MScR handbook The MScR programmes 3 2. Administration 4 3. Teaching & Support Staff 6 4. Coursework and assessment Taught courses Dissertation Exit requirements and assessment method of final grade Part-time students Coursework submission Collection of assessed work 8 5. Course delivery Teaching arrangements Websites WebCT 9 6. The dissertation 9 Page 7. General rules on written work Marking Extensions Late submission penalties Presentation The University of Edinburgh s Common Marking Scheme Plagiarism and intellectual property Appeals Communication Representation and facilities Student representation Research support Security and personal possessions Computing courses The Language at Edinburgh Lunch, Linguistic Circle and LEL Research Groups 15 2

3 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 The MScR handbook This handbook is intended to provide a guide to students on the three MSc by Research (MScR) programmes in the Department of Linguistics and English Language: the MSc by Research in Theoretical Linguistics (MScRTL), the MSc by Research in English Language (MScREL), and the MSc by Research in Linguistics (MScRL). We hope it will help you throughout your programme of study, by complementing and augmenting the information in the University Regulations, the University s Code of Practice for postgraduate programmes, and other material provided by the School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences (PPLS). However, in cases where the information in this document and others might appear to be in conflict, the Regulations and Code of Practice serve as the final legal authority. It is the responsibility of each student to make themselves familiar with the contents of this handbook and also of the regulations contained in these other documents. Please do not hesitate to contact the Programme Director or the PPLS Postgraduate Office if you have questions about anything in this handbook or about the programme in general. Details about how to submit your dissertation and about its formatting are available as appendices to the PPLS MSc Taught Student Handbook, and are not reproduced here, although they are also relevant to MScR students so you should be sure to consult them at the relevant point. These appendices also include a sample coursework coversheet and a description of the structure of the school. The MSc Taught Student Handbook is available here: The MScR programmes The MScR programmes have a registration period for full-time students of twelve-months and twenty-four months for part-time students. The maximum period of study is the same as the registration period. They are designed to provide training in research in a number of areas of the study of Linguistics and/or English Language. They aim to provide a thorough grounding in appropriate research methods, data analysis and argumentation to meet the needs of those seeking to undertake academic research in Linguistics and/or English Language, and to provide the foundations of a PhD (doctoral) training programme. As such, the programmes lay emphasis on the following outcomes: comprehension of the basic principles of research methodology, including an understanding of how to formulate researchable problems and an appreciation of alternative approaches to the conduct of research in a specific subdiscipline; competency in understanding and applying a range of methods and research tools; skills in research management, including managing data and conducting, and disseminating research in ways consistent with both professional practice and the normal principles of research ethics; competency in conducting an extended research project with supervision. Graduates should develop their ability to evaluate research results, critically review published academic material, draw on current theories in relation to their own research findings, and plan and manage a research project with supervision. The MScR programmes are designed around individual students and are usually assessed by a combination of coursework and a dissertation. Some students registered for an MScREL or MScRL may be allowed to be assessed only on the basis of a long dissertation if this is felt 3

4 appropriate, but this is allowed only in certain cases, and only with the agreement of a student s supervisor(s) and the programme director. Students are assigned one (or occasionally two) supervisors, who will guide and monitor the progress of their research. At the beginning of the academic year, students studying for an MSc by Research negotiate a course of study for the year with their supervisor(s) (and the programme director, where appropriate). The requirements are slightly different for the three degrees: MScREL and MScRL students typically complete 40 credits of coursework, chosen from the courses offered on taught MSc programmes in the Department of Linguistics and English Language (or, occasionally, other MScs offered in the university); this normally means that students take two, or occasionally three, courses students also submit a dissertation of 25,000 words if students are allowed to be assessed only on the basis of a dissertation, they may still be required to attend taught courses, but will submit a dissertation of 30,000 words MScRTL students complete 40 credits of coursework, chosen from the courses offered on taught MSc programmes in the Department of Linguistics and English Language (or, occasionally, other MScs offered in the university); this normally means that students take two, or occasionally three, courses students complete 40 credits of research training and dissertation preparation, assessed on the basis of (i) an essay based on topics addressed in the research training course and (ii) a lengthy dissertation proposal students also submit a dissertation of 20,000 words More details on the courses available to MScR students are given in section 4 of this booklet. If, towards the end of their MScR year, students have made excellent progress, they may seek a concession to progress straight into a PhD, without submitting a dissertation for the MScR degree, and treating the MSc year as the first year of a PhD. 2. ADMINISTRATION The MScR programmes fit in among a number of MSc degrees offered by the Department of Linguistics and English Language (LEL). LEL is part of the School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences (PPLS), within the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS). Most teaching is organised at Department level, but most administration for postgraduate degrees occurs at the level of the School. The administration of the MScR programmes is handled mainly by the Programme Director and the Programme Secretary. Students will also likely have contact with other members of the Postgraduate Office team. Policy issues for postgraduate students in PPLS are dealt with by the School Postgraduate Group which consists of Postgraduate Advisors and Programme Directors and is convened by the School s Postgraduate Director. The MScR programmes are monitored by an External Examiner, whose role is to support the programmes in ensuring that academic standards are maintained at the appropriate level and that student performance is properly judged against this. 4

5 The most important contact for you during your time on your degree will be your supervisor (or supervisors, if you have more than one). Your supervisor(s) will likely be assigned before you start the programme and will be responsible for all your work toward your dissertation, as well as for negotiating the set of courses that you take as part of the programme. The Programme Director is responsible for the smooth running of admissions, co-ordinating examinations, programme evaluation and curriculum development. In addition, the Programme Director is available to all MScR students to provide pastoral support and advice for any scholarly or personal issues which may arise whilst students are on the programme and which you may not want to discuss with your supervisor(s). It is your responsibility to inform your supervisor(s) and the Programme Director immediately of any problems which are interfering with your coursework or progress through the programme, including any religious or medical requirements that might affect your participation in any aspects of the programme. If you cannot, or do not want to discuss an issue with your supervisor(s) or the Programme Director, you could contact the PPLS Postgraduate Office. The Postgraduate Office staff will be able to direct you to the most appropriate person to advise you. Questions? We hope that this handbook will answer most of the questions that you have about the programme, but if you have any remaining queries about any aspect of the course, feel free to contact one of the following: Programme Director: Dr Graeme Trousdale Tel.: Room: 3.04, DSB Programme Secretary: Ms Toni Noble Tel.: Room: 1st floor, DSB PG Administrator: Ms Katie Keltie Tel.: Room: 1st floor, DSB Assistant PG Secretary: Ms Lynsey Buchanan Tel: Room: 1st floor, DSB The Postgraduate Office operates an open door policy; if you have any questions about studying in the school, don t hesitate to come to the office during its office hours: 9.30am 12.30pm & 1.30pm 5.00pm. Further important information can also be found on the PPLS postgraduate webpages: Lots of information about the Department of Linguistics and English Language can be found on the LEL webpages: 5

6 3. TEACHING & SUPPORT STAFF The teaching in the courses that you follow as part of your MScR programme will be taken by members of teaching staff in the Department of Linguistics and English Language. Most current full-time members of staff are listed here; room numbers refer to rooms in the Dugald Stewart Building: Name Tel. Ext. Room No. Dr Peter Ackema Dr Ellen Gurman Bard Dr Linda van Bergen Dr Ronnie Cann Dr Claire Cowie Dr Joseph Gafaranga Professor Heinz Giegerich Dr Nikolas Gisborne Dr Lauren Hall-Lew Professor Caroline Heycock Dr Patrick Honeybone Professor John Joseph Dr James Kirby Professor Simon Kirby Professor D Robert Ladd bob@ling.ed.ac.uk Dr Warren Maguire w.maguire@ed.ac.uk Dr Mitsuhiko Ota mits@ling.ed.ac.uk Professor Geoffrey Pullum tbd pullum@ling.ed.ac.uk Dr Kenny Smith kenny@ling.ed.ac.uk Professor Antonella Sorace antonella@ling.ed.ac.uk Dr Graeme Trousdale graeme.trousdale@ed.ac.uk Professor Alice Turk turk@ling.ed.ac.uk LEL also has a number of technical staff, who should be able to help you with computing issues or with sound recording, if this is an important part of your research. They are listed here: Name Tel. Ext. Room No. Mrs Morag Brown morag@ling.ed.ac.uk Mr Eddie Dubourg eddie@ling.ed.ac.uk Mr Cedric MacMartin cedric@ling.ed.ac.uk Mr Barry Campbell studio barry@ling.ed.ac.uk 4. COURSEWORK As explained in section 1.2, most students taking an MScR programme will submit both coursework relating to taught courses, and a dissertation. Teaching takes place during two semesters (from September to March). You should be working on your dissertation during the whole year (from September to August), although you should expect to start relatively slowly with the work on the dissertation itself, as you carry out a number of tasks which contribute towards refining your topic. 6

7 4.1 Taught courses MScRTL core courses There are two core courses for the MScRTL. (i) Research Methods in Theoretical Linguistics (LASC11069) This 20 credit course consists of lectures, workshops and discussions with members of staff. It aims to introduce you to a number of issues in research methodology which will be relevant to work in Linguistics and/or English Language. Topics covered typically include: bibliographic methods, data collection, data analysis, linguistic argumentation, experimental approaches, theory construction, and conference presentation. Assessment is by one 3,000 word essay plus presentation on a topic of the student s own choosing. (ii) Dissertation Proposal (LASC11070) This course provides training in the writing of research proposals, specifically geared to the preparation of a proposal for a master s dissertation. The course is constructed around a programme of guided reading and includes the preparation of an annotated bibliography and the dissertation proposal itself. The course is conducted by the student s supervisor. Assessment is a 4,000 word proposal (typically including an annotated bibliography). Option courses All students on MScR programmes are advised to take 40 credits of option modules, which can be chosen according to their interests. You will be assessed on these modules and the marks will be part of your overall assessment. Courses will normally be taken from available level 11 (that is, MSc level) courses in Language Sciences (= Linguistics and English Language) as listed in the DRPS website ( With agreement of the supervisor and permission from the Programme Director, students may take up to 20 credits worth of level 11 courses outwith the Language Sciences OR up to 20 credits of level 10 courses in Language Sciences. The Programme Director and your supervisors will provide you with information on the available courses, as contained in the DRPS website. 4.2 Dissertation Students are required to submit a lengthy dissertation by 4pm on Friday 17 th August The precise topic of the dissertation should be chosen in consultation with a supervisor by the end of the first semester at the latest, and the word-count for the dissertation is determined by a number of factors, as explained in section 1.2 of this booklet. 4.3 Exit requirements and assessment method of final grade (i) Award of a Masters degree In order to obtain an MSc degree you must normally: obtain a mark of 50 or above in the dissertation obtain a mark of 50 or above in any taught courses that you take (for the MScRTL, this must be a mark of 50 or above in each of the core courses individually) 7

8 (ii) Award of a Masters degree with Distinction A distinction may be awarded, normally, if you fulfil all the following criteria: an outstanding performance (a mark of 70 or more) in the dissertation if coursework is also taken, the average of the coursework is near to or above 70 and no coursework mark is below 60 (ii) Award of a Diploma A Diploma may be awarded in one of the following cases: the dissertation achieves a mark of more than 40 but less than 50 the weighted average of all components is more than 40 but less than 50 a student has 60 credits or more at a fail mark (below 40) 4.4 Part-time students Students who are enrolled on a part-time basis must complete the same requirements for the degree described above within two academic years. All coursework is normally to be completed by the end of the first semester of the second academic year, and should be spread out equally to the extent that this is possible during the three taught semesters. The Programme Director and your supervisor will advise you on this. 4.5 Coursework submission All coursework must be submitted to the Postgraduate Office, on the 1st floor of the Dugald Stewart Building. One hard copy of each piece of work and one electronic version must be submitted. A coversheet detailing your assignment title, word count, examination number, which course the essay is for and the programme you are studying must be completed with every piece of work. Your exam number must be at the top of every page and the page number at the bottom. Your name or matriculation number must not be on any of your assignments. All coursework assessments should be anonymous in order to maintain fair marking. 4.5 Collection of assessed work Students are given an agreed mark on their coursework as it is marked. These marks are provisional and have no status until they are approved or modified by the Board (of Examiners). They are purely a guide to the general standard that a student is achieving. The Postgraduate Office will let you know by an to your university account when the provisional marks are available. 5. COURSE DELIVERY 5.1 Teaching arrangements Teaching on the programme takes a number of different forms. Most courses consist of lectures, often with associated tutorials (small group sessions typically discussing prepared reading or a set of exercises). Some of the larger option courses follow a similar lecture/tutorial format but others take the form of seminars and workshops. Each course has a course organiser, typically one of the lecturers of the course, who is responsible for coordinating the course. Questions specific to a course should be addressed to the course organiser. 5.2 Websites All MSc courses have online entries in the Degree Regulations & Programmes of Study (DRPS: which provide basic information about the course (e.g., credit points, 8

9 entry requirements, course organiser). Some MSc courses also have their own webpage maintained by the course organiser. 5.3 WebCT Many courses use WebCT, an online virtual learning environment through which the lecturers can provide lecture notes, exercises, exams, and other teaching resources specifically related to the course. In some courses, assignments may also be collected through WebCT. Note that you will get access to WebCT only for the courses you are registered for. Lecturers on each course will explain whether and how WebCT is to be used for that course. 6. THE DISSERTATION The dissertation is the primary focus of the MScR degree programmes. Work on the dissertation should begin right at the start of the year and should proceed throughout the year until the submission deadline. Students undertake most of the research required for the dissertation in line with guidance obtained in meetings with their supervisor(s) (and perhaps other members of staff). Supervisors may set milestones (such as an expanded literature review, or data collection or analysis) which students are expected to achieve, although such milestones are not independently assessed. The summer (end of May to submission date) is for writing up the dissertation. During this period consultation with the supervisor will be limited to a maximum of 10 hours which includes both meetings and reading time for drafts. A pass (50% or higher) in the dissertation is required for the award of an MSc. All the rules relating to the presentation of written work (see below) apply equally to the dissertation. For marking purposes you are required to submit two hard copies as well as an electronic copy to the School Postgraduate Office. The dissertation is double-marked. The dissertation must be submitted by 4pm on Friday 17 th August Please consult the dissertation instructions in the appendix to the PPLS MSc Taught Student Handbook for details about how to set out your dissertation. As explained in section 1.1 of this booklet, the PPLS Taught Masters Handbook is available here: All dissertations are examined by the External Examiner who has the right to summon students on any date up to the end of the academic year. Note that general supervisors and student s rights and responsibilities during the dissertation stage are described in the university s Code of Practice. The basic function of supervisors is to offer advice and guidance when asked to do so. You should prepare for an interview with a supervisor by working out what you want to ask. However, supervisors cannot read and comment on every draft of your work or mention every deficiency they notice. Confusion has sometimes arisen in the past over written work which did not get a good mark or which failed in spite of being seen by a supervisor on one or more occasions. The complaint has been that the student should not have been allowed to hand the work in until it was sure to pass well. The system does not work that way. Supervisors cannot be expected to guarantee anything; they are not responsible for your work you are. The student and supervisors are both responsible for staying in touch throughout the period of study, although students should take primary responsibility for maintaining contact. You should arrange to meet regularly, and exchange frequent correspondence if the student is away on 9

10 fieldwork. It is important that the supervisor knows how to reach the student at all times. It is also important that the supervisor keep the supervisee informed of any periods when they will be away from the University. 7. GENERAL RULES ON WRITTEN WORK 7.1 Marking All written work is assessed or moderated by two people within LEL and by an External Examiner. All marks are based on the University s common marking scheme, shown below. There are many kinds of written work for different courses and markers may apply slightly different criteria, but the following list summarises the major criteria used in assessing most written work: a clear statement of aims evidence of adequate and appropriate background reading accurate understanding of key concepts, issues and frameworks rigorous methodology evidence of systematic and independent thinking critical stance in interpretation and evaluation of literature and data sound argumentation sensible planning and organisation clarity and coherence of expression. Please also pay attention to the following points: Bear in mind that your readers have to get through a fairly large number of projects on similar topics. Make sure you describe your aims and objectives clearly at the beginning and bring the work to a close efficiently at the end. Be concise. Judicious concision indicates understanding. Make your work as accessible and easy to read as possible. For instance, make good use of section headings, overviews, previews, summaries, well-labelled figures, etc. Don t swamp the reader with everything you know. Select and discuss information that is relevant to the main aims of the paper. Don t simply summarise what you have read or what you have heard. Regurgitation (no matter how accurate) will not get you a high mark. Your work should build upon what other people have done, not restate it. Don t forget to proof-read. It s impossible to catch all the slips, but frequent, glaring errors create a very bad impression. The use of word-processing equipment makes the need for proof-reading more, not less, urgent. Although spelling checkers catch spelling mistakes, they do not notice nonsense. If English is not your mother-tongue, don t worry excessively about the minutiae of grammar etc but do your best to seek advice. The University offers in-session courses on postgraduatelevel essay-writing, which you might want to consider taking. Please note that any marks returned to you prior to the final exam board are provisional. 7.2 Extensions Submission dates for all work must be strictly adhered to. If you have a reason to request an extension for either coursework or your dissertation, you must do this before the deadline in question where possible. 10

11 7.3 Presentation Written work must be produced on a word-processor. It should be presented with double or 1.5 line spacing on A4 size paper. Choose a font-size of 11 or 12-point. Avoid using exotic fonts. Pages must be numbered consecutively. 7.5 The University of Edinburgh s common marking scheme Mark Range Description Class A1 Outstanding performance Excellent A2 An unusually good grasp of the subject both in details and in its wider context, regularly displaying independence of thought and critical judgement (an excellent performance, satisfactory for A3 Always answers the questions, shows evidence of wide and a distinction) discriminating reading and uses imaginative and appropriate examples Well argued and lucidly presented Often shows flair B A very substantial answer Very Good A very good grasp of the subject and some ability to show independence of thought and critical judgement May have a few errors, but should show awareness of the wider context Always answers questions set, using relevant examples; the amount of relevant data presented may be impressive but there may be a failure to draw the right kinds of conclusions from this material Well expressed C A good understanding of the subject but one which is generally limited to received opinions and basic information Good (marks of 50% Shows little in the way of personal insight and is generally unadventurous and above indicate a pass May have quite a few factual errors at MSc level) Addresses question set but may not fully understand it and may digress occasionally May show signs of B quality in patches but miss a crucial issue demanded by the question May be awkwardly expressed and plodding in manner D Answers will show a limited to very limited knowledge of the subject, although basic information will be provided Satisfactory (pass at Will probably have quite a lot of factual errors, and may not really Diploma level) understand the question set Will not tackle the question seriously, and may consist of superficial and short answers or merely notes Awkwardly expressed and poorly structured E Characterised by error, misunderstanding, and irrelevance Marginal Fail Very insufficient answer to the question set, though with apparent awareness of what the question was about Poorly expressed Characterised by error, misunderstanding, and irrelevance Clear Fail Clear misunderstanding of the question set and/or clear failure to answer it 11

12 G H An answer which provides no indication of what the candidate knows and understands about the question set Normally reserved for blank script books and answers of only a few lines Bad Fail 7.6 Plagiarism and intellectual property Plagiarism is the unacknowledged copying of other people s work, including that in books, published or unpublished articles and materials on the internet. It is a form of theft and a serious offence, and if you commit it, it may lead to your work being given a mark of zero, or not accepted, and in serious cases may lead to disciplinary action. It can result in expulsion from the University. Plagiarism, at whatever stage of a student's course, whether discovered before or after graduation, will be investigated and dealt with appropriately by the University. If after investigation it is established that work submitted for assessment has been plagiarised to a significant extent, this will be permanently noted on a student's record. Please make sure you do not lay yourself open to charges of plagiarism. If you quote or paraphrase work you have read, whoever it is by, acknowledge this clearly with a reference to your source. It is your responsibility to learn what constitutes plagiarism and what consequences it may bring to your coursework. You should read the University s regulations on plagiarism at: You should also consult the relevant section in the university s Code of Practice. Do not assume that your understanding of plagiarism is the same as ours. Note that plagiarism does not have to be 100% verbatim copying. You will not avoid the charge of plagiarism by occasional changes in the wording of an otherwise unacknowledged quotation if you are in any doubt, acknowledge. Nor will you avoid the charge of plagiarism by acknowledging your source once and then claiming that everything is covered it isn t. Every quotation or idea that you have taken from elsewhere must be acknowledged separately if in doubt, acknowledge again. Different disciplines have slightly different means of acknowledging sources, and you must ensure that you fully understand the conventions that apply to your subject. If in doubt, consult your supervisor. Out of respect for your hard work we will always ask for maximum penalties for those few individuals who see fit to plagiarise or cheat. No details of home academic discipline, national or cultural origin, or poor command of English are any excuse. If you do not understand any aspect of the relevant regulations, ask and make sure you do. Consider the following examples: On the internet, you come across an interesting discussion of data from a largely undiscussed language. You extract some of the data from the site and use them in your essay, without citing the source OR you simply refer to the data and language as though you have direct knowledge of them, again without citing the source. You are writing an essay on whether bound pronouns differ from free ones. You find a book in which the author presents four arguments against the view that there is a significant difference. Because you completely agree with these four points, you summarise them in your own words. You then list the book in the references section of the essay, but do not acknowledge the source in the text. You are writing an essay on topic and focus. You find a book dedicated to the issue. You cite the author s definition of contrastive focus with proper reference to the book and page number. Later, you use other pieces of information from the same book, but since you have already cited the source earlier, you don t attach any references to them. 12

13 All of the above examples will be considered cases of plagiarism according to our academic practices. If you don t agree, then please read the documents mentioned above, and if you still do not understand why, please come and talk to the Programme Director. 8. COMMUNICATION Much of the communication for the Programme is done by . By default, we assume that your University address is the one you would be using for communication related to the MSc Programme, so if you decide to use another address for that purpose, you must arrange for sent to your University address to be forwarded to your other address. If you want to make an appointment with members of staff outside their office hours or if you need to contact them for any other reason, the preferred mode of communication is . You can find the addresses of LEL teaching staff members in section 3 of this handbook. It is important that you keep the PPLS Postgraduate Office informed of any changes in your accommodation address and telephone number, so that we know how to contact you at all times throughout the course. Please also let us know of any changes in your permanent address, so that the University s records can be amended. Your university address will also be added to the PPLS Postgraduate ing list: pplspostgrad@lists.ed.ac.uk. This will be used to inform you of any events happening in the School, which may be of interest to you. You may also use this list to communicate with all other postgraduates within the School (please limit this to academic use). If you have any queries regarding the list, please contact the Postgraduate Office. There is also a number of other lists used by the Department of Linguistics and English Language which you may benefit from being a member of (these include lists for individual research groups, and for advertising the talks in the Linguistic Circle). You should ask your supervisor(s) about which lists may be relevant to you and for help to have yourself added to them. You are expected to remain in residence throughout the year. If you need to be absent you must get prior permission, and this is not always granted. Check with the PG office, your supervisor, or the Programme Director if you need to leave Edinburgh for any reason. 9. REPRESENTATION AND FACILITIES 9.1 Student representation Student feedback and evaluation is a valued input to curriculum development and programme review at the University of Edinburgh. Informal feedback, to the Programme Director, individual course conveners or the PPLS Postgraduate Office, is welcome at any time, and students will be asked to fill out evaluation forms for any taught courses that they take. A student rep will be appointed early in the year for every type of PG programme, to represent the interests and concerns of the students at programme and subject area level, and one rep is normally appointed for all MScR students in Linguistics and English Language. Reps should also communicate with the student representatives on the School Postgraduate Group (school reps will be appointed to the PG Group at the beginning of semester one). Postgraduate reps are also welcome to participate in the Edinburgh University Students Association. 13

14 9.2 Security and personal possessions Students personal possessions are not covered by the university s insurance policy. Please be sensible about security issues, leaving the doors of empty offices and flats locked, and leaving street doors locked in the evenings and at weekends. If items do go missing while at the university, please inform Security. 9.3 Computing courses A list of computing courses run by the university can be found on the web here: These courses can be free to postgraduates if the topic is deemed necessary to your study by your supervisor. 9.4 The Language at Edinburgh Lunch, Linguistic Circle and LEL Research Groups The Language at Edinburgh Lunch is a bi-monthly opportunity for postgrads at the University interested in language to showcase their research, discuss ideas, and socialise with researchers in other fields. Participating departments include Philosophy, Psychology, Linguistics & English Language and Informatics. Around five posters are presented at each lunch, showing work drawn from various areas of language-related study. A buffet lunch is also provided. Anyone with an interest in language is invited to attend, investigate some new research, and enjoy a sociable and informative lunch. Further details are provided on the Language at Edinburgh Lunch website: The Department of Linguistics and English Language at Edinburgh also runs one main talk series the Linguistic Circle and a number of Research groups also run talk series. You are very much encouraged to take part in these, and details can be found here: