ALM5130 - Language in Society

Leader: Dr Anna Margetts

Offered

Not offered in 2007

Synopsis

The forms, functions and uses of language in societies around the world. Areas of study include variation in language (eg social, regional, local, gender-based, age-based), language varieties (eg standard languages, registers, pidgins, creoles), notions such as that of a speech community, language change, language and culture, the statuses of languages and varieties, language attitudes, the uses and functions of language(s). The course also discusses a range of methods and approaches to the study of language in society, eg sociolinguistics, sociology of language, ethnography.

Assessment

Essay (3000 words): 35%
Field Project (4000 words): 40%
Open book test (2 hours, 2000 words equivalent): 25%