Modiwl QXL-1113:
Language and Society
Language and Society 2022-23
QXL-1113
2022-23
School Of Arts, Culture And Language
Module - Semester 1
20 credits
Module Organiser:
Meinir Williams
Overview
Students will learn about topics such as the following:
- Sociolinguistics as a field, and its relevant terminology;
- Sociolinguistic variability - how people use language in various different ways, depending on their social background, the context of the language use, etc.;
- Linguistic variables - what features of English grammar display variation in use?
- Social variation - what aspects of a person's social background (including e.g. age, gender) influences their language use?
- Regional variation - what dialectal variation is there in English (and other languages) and why?
- Examples of sociolinguistic variation - students will learn about influential studies in the field and what researchers know about how English varies.
- The sociolinguistics of Welsh. How does the sociolinguistic situation of a minority Celtic language like Welsh differ to that of a global and majority language like English? (No prior knowledge of Welsh is required!)
Assessment Strategy
-threshold -D: Student has achieved the minimum acceptable standard of understanding and/or knowledge in all the learning outcomes. Student can demonstrate a minimum level of understanding of the basic concepts and be able to apply them to data with some degree of accuracy.
-good -B: Student has achieved a better-than-average standard of understanding and/or knowledge in all learning outcomes, and has a clear and accurate understanding of concepts; ability to apply concepts to data critically and thoughtfully; evidence of wide reading and clear and accurate reference to source materials; free from misunderstanding and errors of content; free from irrelevant material.
-excellent -A: Student has achieved a thorough standard of understanding and/or knowledge in all learning outcomes; or student has demonstrated an exceptional level of achievement in one or more learning outcomes together with a good overall standard: student has achieved a thorough understanding of the subject, both in terms of content and theory; student is able to apply concepts clearly and accurately; substantial evidence of critical and original thought and analysis; clear, logical argument; high level of communicative competence; free from irrelevant material and errors of spelling and punctuation; evidence of extensive reading beyond basic texts and clear and accurate references to source material.
Learning Outcomes
- Students will be able to demonstrate a developing familiarity with and an ability to use appropriately the specialist terminology associated with the subject
- Students will be able to give an account of sociolinguistic insights about linguistic variability in English
- Students will be able to specify linguistic, social/regional, and situational variables and differentiate clearly between them
- Students will show a developing understanding of some of the main areas of contemporary sociolinguistics
- Students will show a developing understanding of the role of the English language in society and comment in an informed manner on approaches to this subject
Assessment method
Exam/Test
Assessment type
Crynodol
Description
Online exam on module contents
Weighting
60%
Due date
10/01/2023
Assessment method
Other
Assessment type
Crynodol
Description
Analysis and Essay Assignment
Weighting
40%