Modiwl QXL-1113:
Language and Society
Language and Society 2023-24
QXL-1113
2023-24
School Of Arts, Culture And Language
Module - Semester 1
20 credits
Module Organiser:
Peredur Webb-Davies
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!)
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 type
Summative
Weighting
60%
Assessment type
Summative
Weighting
40%