Language and Social Variation

Level: 7
Credit Rating: 30
Code: EGL7103
Tutor: Robert Lawson

Aims

Language and Social Variation aims to:(1) consider linguistic and social definitions of what constitutes a language;(2) examine how members of a society will have various codes or varieties of language at their disposal to differing degrees;(3) investigate how the social evaluation of a language variety influences those who use it and the uses to which it is put;

Module Description

This module explores ten key areas within the field of sociolinguistics: language variety and use, dialect variation, accent variation, speaking and writing, register, World English, multilingualism, language and literacy, language and gender, language and illness.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of the module students should be able to(1) demonstrate an understanding of the social nature of English in use today;(2) show a critical awareness of variation across the language;(3) demonstrate the skills required in sociolinguistic description;(4) collect and analyse fieldwork data.

Learning and Teaching Strategy

For all the modules on this programme, the modulehandbook guides the student through relevant topics in conjunction with recommended reading. The handbook includes many exercises, which encourage the students to reflect on and interact with the knowledge they are acquiring. Students may contact the module tutor at any point for support during their learning experience, using post, email or telephone as appropriate.

*Assessment Criteria

In the first piece of assessment, students will be assessed on their ability to carry out sociolinguistic fieldwork and provide informed and critical analyses of the collected data (LOs 1-4). Across both assessments, students will be assessed on their ability to carry out independent research while making clear links to the case-studies and various theories to which they would have been introduced during the course of this module (LOs 1-4)They are expected to produce work of academic rigour in terms of methodology, content and presentation (LOs 2-3).

Assessment Strategy

There are two elements of assessment, the first comprising two assignments, each of which is marked separately, with their grades being combined to produce the mark. The first part requires students to devise, plan and design a fieldwork study to investigate a particular social occurrence of language, and collect notes, data and material. This fieldwork will be agreed between the students and the tutor (LOs 3,4). The second part involves writing up the material collected in the first assignment as a sociolinguistic article to a professional standard. This will involve analysing the data, discussing it, and drawing conclusions (LOs 1-4). The second assessment is based on an essay on a sociolinguistic topic of the student's choice. Suggestions will be provided, but personal interests will be considered as subjects for assessment (LOs 1-3).Each element of assessment should not exceed 3000 words (or equivalent).

Related Modules

Language and Social Variation builds on the linguistic skills acquired through Language Description.

Method of Feedback to students

Written feedback is provided on all assignments. During the course of the module, informal feedback may be provided by email or telephone discussion as appropriate.

Learning Resources

Essential reading: Wardhaugh, R. (2001) An Introduction to Sociolinguistics. Blackwell.