ENGLISH LINGUISTICS AND THE NON-BRITISH TELEVISION PROGRAMME

The paper deals with the potential use for research and for teaching of the non-British (i.e. American, Canadian, Australian and New Zealand) programmes and series currently being shown on British television screens. Potential projects are outlined in the areas of sociolinguistics and dialectology, and the potential of television as a tool for research into English language generally is discussed. Examples of the types of series that would lend themselves to linguistic research of this nature are noted, and the availability of programmes from the various nations is discussed. Recommendations are made about the future of the English language and the use of television in English language research in the future.