Christian Ilbury
Lecturer

- Linguistics and English Language
- School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences
Contact details
Address
- Street
-
Room 2.04, Dugald Stewart Building
- City
- 3 Charles Street, Edinburgh
- Post code
- EH8 9AD
Availability
Office Hours: 4-5pm Monday
Book: bit.ly/3Q1gNjt
Background
I am a sociolinguist who is principally interested in exploring the social meaning of variable patterns of language.
My research explores the intersection of digital culture and language variation and change. I am an interdisciplinary scholar utilizing methods and approaches from sociolinguistics, (linguistic) anthropology, and media studies.
I am particularly interested in exploring variable patterns of language across offline (i.e., face-to-face) and online (i.e., social media) space. Most of my research has focussed on the digital and linguistic practices of young people.
I am also interested in language, politics, and globalisation. My work has examined the sociolinguistic dynamics of gentrification, the effects of standard language ideology and youth language, and the impact of accent bias on perceptions of professional competence.
Prior to this appointment, I held teaching and research positions at Queen Mary University of London, the University of York, Newcastle University, the University of Suffolk, and Regents University London.
CV

Qualifications
PhD Linguistics, Queen Mary University of London
MA Linguistics, Queen Mary University of London
BA Linguistics, the University of Sussex
Responsibilities & affiliations
Internal
- Ethics Committee member for LEL
- Department Lead for Equality, Diversity, & Inclusion (EDI)
- Recruitment and Outreach Co-ordinator
- School Lead for the Centre for Data, Culture and Society
- Cohort Lead for all 3rd year degrees owned by LEL
External
- Research Associate, Speaking Citizens
- Visiting Research Fellow, the University of Suffolk
Undergraduate teaching
During 2023-24, I am teaching on the following courses:
LASC08023: Linguistics and English Language 1B (Pre-Hons)
LASC10002: Sociolinguistics (Organiser, Hons)
LASC10085: Dialects of English in Britain and Ireland (Hons)
LASC10102: Language Variation and Change (Hons)
LASC10112: Guided Research - The Sociolinguistics of Digital Communication (Organiser, Hons)
Postgraduate teaching
During 2023-24, I am teaching on the following courses:
LASC11180: Sociolinguistics (Organiser)
LASC11141: Language Variation and Change
LASC10117: Guided Research - The Sociolinguistics of Digital Communication (Organiser)
Open to PhD supervision enquiries?
Yes
Areas of interest for supervision
I am happy to receive applications for PhD supervision on a number of sociolinguistic topics including: Language + technology, ethnography, language variation & change (particularly youth language), queerness+language, & Language-social-class-ethnicity. I particularly welcome proposals from minoritized students and those who are first-gen/state school educated.
Please note, I do not supervise projects on EFL/ESL/TEFL/TESOL.
Current PhD students supervised
PhD
Shutong Han (PPLS funded, first supervisor, with Sumin Zhao)
Ashley Xing (first supervisor, with Guy Puzey)
Ryan Shaw-Hawkins (SSGSS funded - with Jane Stuart-Smith, Glasgow & James Scobbie, QMU)
Zhaoxi Yan (second supervisor, with Lauren Hall-Lew)
Bonnie Liu (second supervisor, with Sumin Zhao)
Past PhD students supervised
Ashley Xing (MScR)
Angel Garmpi (MScR)
Research summary
Sociolinguistics ∙ sociolinguistic variation ∙ ethnography ∙ digital communication ∙ linguistic appropriation ∙ gentrification ∙ ‘youth’ language ∙ accent bias ∙ language-gender-sexuality ∙ Digital Culture ∙ social media ∙ language and media ∙ affordances and constraints ∙ society and technology ∙ youth online ∙
Research activities
- External Examiner for Badryah Almesfer (Newcastle): 'Saudi PhD Sojourners’ Construction of Identities on Twitter: An Exploratory Study in the United Kingdom'
- BAAL SIG Language and New Media 2023 Research Seminar
- The Recontextualisation of a Multiethnolect: The Case of MLE
- Sociolects
- Between the macro and the micro: Using computational tools to better understand sociolinguistic issues – the case of Multicultural London English
-
The recontextualisation of Multicultural London English: Stylising the 'Roadman’
(25 pages)
In:
Language in Society
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0047404523000143
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (E-pub ahead of print) -
How multiethnic is a multiethnolect?: Recontextualising Multicultural London English
Research output: › Chapter (peer-reviewed) (Accepted/In press) -
Speaking Up: Accents and Social Mobility
Research output: › Commissioned report (Published) -
U Ok Hun?: The digital commodification of white woman style
In:
Journal of Sociolinguistics, vol. 26, pp. 483-504
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/josl.12563
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (Published) -
Discourses of social media amongst youth: An ethnographic perspective
In:
Discourse, Context and Media, vol. 48
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dcm.2022.100625
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (Published)