Dr Robert M McKenzie

Biography

I received my first degree (Scottish MA) in Psychology from the University of Glasgow and then taught English in Hong Kong, Italy, France, Spain and Poland. I returned to Scotland and taught at the University of Edinburgh for 2 years. Following the completion of an MSc in Applied Linguistics at the University of Edinburgh in 1996, I began working at the University of Glasgow. During this time I completed a PhD in Sociolinguistics/Applied Linguistics at the Department of Linguistics and English Language at the University of Edinburgh. In 2009 I left the University of Glasgow and joined the Department of Humanities at Northumbria University.

Teaching Interests

In my previous post at the University of Glasgow I most recently taught postgraduate courses in Sociolinguistics and Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methods as well as undergraduate modules in World Englishes and Language and Intercultural Communication. At Northumbria University I contribute to the postgraduate MA in TESOL/Applied Linguistics and undergraduate BA in English Language and Literature.

Research Interests

My research is mainly focussed in the areas of sociolinguistics, world Englishes and the social psychology of language. I am particularly interested in how individuals perceive and evaluate languages and language varieties and the ways in which these constructs relate to individual and wider societal/global issues in language and communication. My recent research has been relatively wide ranging in scope and has focussed on attitudes towards language variation, the emergence of new/expanding circle Englishes, the global spread of English, language ideology and identity in Japan and quantitative (and qualitative) research methods in applied linguistics and sociolinguistics.  I am currently working on a research monograph for Springer (Educational Linguistics series) provisionally entitled The Social Psychology of Learning English as a Global Language.

Postgraduate Supervision

I have previously supervised a number of doctoral students in the fields of language attitudes, language motivation and critical applied linguistics. I would particularly welcome PhD proposals from individuals intending to conduct research into language attitudes and English in Japan as well as in the areas of world Englishes, the social psychology of language and English language and identity more generally.

Funding Awards

I received funding from the GEN Foundation (2005-2006) to conduct sociolinguistic research into language attitudes at 12 high-ranking national and private universities in Japan.

Affiliations and Memberships

Member, British Association of Applied Linguistics (BAAL).

Member, British Association of Japanese Studies (BAJS).

Reviewer for the following journals: World Englishes (Wiley-Blackwell); Japan Forum (Taylor and Francis/Routledge); and Journal of Language and Intercultural Communication (Taylor and Francis/Routledge).

Publications

‘Social Factors and Non-Native Attitudes towards Varieties of Spoken English: A Japanese Case Study’, International Journal of Applied Linguistics, 18.1 (2008): 63-88.

‘The role of variety identification in Japanese university students’ attitudes towards English speech varieties’, Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, 29.2 (2008): 139-153.

‘The complex and rapidly changing sociolinguistic position of the English language in Japan: a summary of English language contact and use’, Japan Forum, 20.2 (2008): 267-286.

‘Attitudes of Japanese nationals towards standard and non-standard varieties of Scottish English speech’, The East Asian Learner, 1.1 (2004): 17-27.

‘Attitudes of Japanese nationals resident in Scotland towards standard and non-standard varieties of English’, Saga University Economic Review (Japan) 35.5/6 (2003): 137-150.