Language in society (part I)
Mark Newbrook
12 points
* 2 hours per week
* Second semester
* Clayton
Objectives The objectives of this subject are that students should: come to understand the main theoretical notions of sociolinguistics and the sociology of language and be able to apply them (using the associated terms accurately) to the description and comparison of actual sociolinguistic situations, familiar or otherwise; be able to carry out their own sociolinguistic fieldwork (including the use of a questionnaire or other interview schedule) and write it up, with a particular focus on methodology; be observant and insightful in `spotting' and commenting on items of sociolinguistic interest met with in everyday life, and in relating these specific items to general sociolinguistic ideas and issues; be aware of the nature of folk-linguistic thought and be able to analyse the points of difference between folk-linguistics and sociolinguistics; be aware of some of the main theoretical debates within sociolinguistics; be able to manipulate basic statistics (means, standard deviations etc) in the analysis of linguistic variation; be in a position to develop critical and well-informed positions on the practical upshots of these considerations (educational, language planning, etc.)
Synopsis This subject focuses on language, its forms, functions and uses in societies around the world. Specific areas of study include variation in language (eg social, regional, local, gender-based, age-based), language varieties (eg standard languages, registers, pidgins, creoles), types of speech communities, language change, language and culture, the uses and functions of language. The course also discusses a range of methods and approaches to the study of language in society, eg sociolinguistics, sociology of language, ethnography and ethnomethodology. The aim of this subject is to provide an overview of the study of language in social contexts and of the relationship between language and society. Students are also introduced to the basic tools and methods used in the study and examination of language in society.
Assessment Two class/take-home exercises (1000 words each): 30%
*
Essay (5000 words): 50%
* Test (2 hours): 20%
Prescribed texts
Wardhaugh R An introduction to sociolinguistics Blackwell, 1992
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