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Sociolinguistics and Diversity

Code: 105848
Credits: 6
2026/2027
Degree programme Type Course
Catalan Philology: Literary Studies and Linguistics OB 2

Contact lecturer

Name :
Albert Branchadell Gallo
Email :
albert.branchadell@uab.cat

Group languages

You can consult this information at the end of the document.

Prerequisites

There are no prerequisites. It is assumed that people who enroll in this subject are trained to read specialized bibliography in Catalan, Spanish and English.

Objectives

According to the definition of the reference handbook of Catalan sociolinguistics (Boix and Vila, 1998: 33), "we understand by Catalan sociolinguistics the research around the relations between language and society [...] that is carried out from some of the Catalan - speaking territories ". This research can be done from a sociological perspective (the study of society in relation to language) or from a linguistic one (the study of language in relation to society); in the first case we usually speak of "sociology of language" and in the second we could speak of "social linguistics". In accordance with the dominant tradition in Catalan sociolinguistics, in this subject we adopt the social perspective, with the following threefold objective: a) with a historical background and on the basis of basic concepts of general sociolinguistics, familiarize people enrolled with the situation current use of the Catalan language in the different territories of the Catalan - speaking area, within the framework of the existing linguistic and social diversity, according to the available empirical studies; b) initiate them in the methodology followed by these empirical studies; and c) to introduce them in the study of the language policy that is applied in those territories, which is the central topic of the optional subject Language Policy and Planning.

Learning outcomes

  1. Write text commentaries from a critical standpoint.
  2. Produce normatively correct written and oral texts.
  3. Use technological resources (digital and audiovisual) to acquire knowledge and apply it in language and literature.
  4. Identify the contexts in which historical processes are immersed.
  5. Interpret texts in depth and provide standpoints from which to analyse them critically.
  6. Gain a greater capacity for reading, interpreting and critically analysing literary and linguistic texts.
  7. Make appropriate use of the knowledge acquired in order to collect data and handle documentary sources in the study of Catalan language and literature.
  8. Work self-sufficiently on the synchronic and diachronic study of Catalan language and literature.
  9. Plan, organise and carry out work in a team.
  10. Competently use the fundamental digital and bibliographic tools for studying philology.
  11. Distinguish between grammatical gender and natural gender.
  12. Demonstrate understanding of the sociolinguistic evolution of the language community.
  13. Develop creative initiatives with regard to the conditions in which the Catalan language is used.
  14. Identify the actors, areas of intervention and results of language policies on the Catalan language.
  15. Critically analyse and evaluate language policies from a comparative perspective.
  16. Interpret sociolinguistic data obtained using quantitative or qualitative methods.
  17. Use available resources for studying Catalan as a foreign language.
  18. Use and critically analyse lexicographic resources in different media on the Catalan language.
  19. Propose projects and actions in accordance with the principles of ethical responsibility and respect for fundamental rights, diversity and democratic values.
  20. Construct a written text that is grammatically and lexically correct.
  21. Interpret the problem areas and factors that have conditioned the use of the Catalan language throughout history in a multicultural society.

Contents

1. General sociolinguistics and Catalan sociolinguistics: basic notions of general sociolinguistics and application to the study of the relationship between language and society in the Catalan-speaking area.


2. Sociolinguistic history of Catalan: a review of the social history of the Catalan language as a background of its present situation.


3. Catalan sociolinguistics: analysis of the current situation of the Catalan language (competence, use and attitudes), within the framework of the existing linguistic and social diversity.


4. Language policy and planning: introduction to public policies that affect the current situation of the Catalan language, with an emphasis on the relevant legal frameworks and the linguistic ideologies that underlie them.


5. Prospective: based on the analysis of the empirical reality and the public interventions that are applied in each case, a brief consideration of the future scenarios of the Catalan language in the framework of the existing linguistic and social diversity.


Learning activities and methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Information search 15 0.6 3, 5, 7, 8, 14, 16
Assignment supervision 30 1.2 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 16, 19, 20
Reading tasks 30 1.2 4, 5, 6, 8, 14, 16
Assignment preparation & elaboration 30 1.2 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 16, 19, 20
Theory classes 37.5 1.5 4, 5, 6, 7
Oral assignments discussion 7.5 0.3 4, 7, 10, 12, 13, 14, 16, 19

This course consists of 6 ECTS, which correspond to 150 hours of student dedication. Of this total, 45 hours (30%) correspond to classroom-directed activities, 30 hours (20%) to supervised activities, and 75 hours (50%) to autonomous activities.

The calendar will be available on the first day of class. Students will find all information on the Virtual Campus: the description of the activities, teaching materials, and any necessary information for the proper follow-up of the subject. In case of a change of teaching modality for health reasons, teachers will make readjustments in the schedule and methodologies.

Note: 15 minutes of a class will be reserved, within the calendar established by the center/degree, for the completion by the students of the evaluation surveys of the teaching staff's performance and evaluation of the subject.

Annotation: within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.

Assessment

Continuous assessment activities

Title Weight Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Research report 50 0 0 1, 3, 4, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20
Written assignments 30 0 0 1, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 16, 19, 21
Oral assignments 10 0 0 2, 4, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 16
Class participation 10 0 0 4, 5, 6, 7, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18

ASSESSMENT


According to the UAB assessment regulation, \"the continuous assessment process must include a minimum of three assessment activities, of two different typologies, distributed throughout the course, none of which can represent more than 50% of the final grade \". In the case of this course, the continuous assessment process consists of the four assessment activities that appear in the table.

This subject foresees the single assessment modality. In this case, the assessment consists of four assessment activities: a review (10%), a test (40%), a written assignment (40%) and the corresponding oral presentation (10%).

To pass the course you will need to get a minimum grade of 5 (out of 10).

Erasmus and exchange students who request to advance an exam must present a document from their home university justifying their request.


NON-ASSESSABLE

The student will receive the grade of Non-assessable as long as he / she has not delivered more than 30% of the assessment activities.


REVIEW OF GRADES


At the time of carrying out each assessment activity, the lecturer will inform the students (Moodle) of the procedure and date of review of grades.


RESIT


According to the UAB assessment regulation, \"in order to participate in the resit, students must have previously been evaluated in a set of activities whose weight is equivalent to a minimum of two thirds of the total grade of the course \". In the case of this course, in order to participate in the resit, the research report (50%) and the written assignments (30%) must have been evaluated. Class participation and oral assignments can't be resat.

In accordance with the UAB assessment regulation, to participate in the resit the lecturer responsible for the course requires students to have obtained a minimum grade of 3.5 in the average of the subject.

For the single assessment the same resit method as continuous assessment will be used.


IRREGULARITIES

In the event of a student committing any irregularitythat maylead to a significant variation in the grade awarded to an assessment activity, the student will be given a zero for this activity, regardless of any disciplinary process that may take place. Activities in which fraud or misuse of AI has been detected cannot be reassessed. In the event of several irregularities in assessment activities of the same subject, the student will be given a zero as the final grade for this subject.

Assessment activities that incur in irregularities cannot be resit.

COVID-19

In the event that tests or exams cannot be taken onsite, they will be adapted to an online format made available through the UAB’s virtual tools (original weighting will be maintained). Homework, activities and class participation will be carried out through forums, wikis and/or discussion on Teams, etc. Lecturers will ensure that students are able to access these virtual tools, or will offer them feasible alternatives.

AI

This subject entirely prohibits the use of AI technologies in all of its activities. Any submitted work that contains content generated using AI will be considered academic dishonesty and will result in the activity being graded with a zero, without the possibility of reassessment, or in more serious sanctions in cases of greater severity.


Bibliography

DOCUMENTS


Boix, Emili; Vila, F. Xavier (1998). Sociolingüística de la llengua catalana. Barcelona: Ariel. pdf available on the Campus Virtual.


Enquesta d'usos lingüístics de la població 2023 2023. Llengua catalana


Fasold, Ralph (1987). The Sociolinguistics of Society. Oxford: Blackwell.


Junyent, Carme (amb Bel Zaballa) (2020). El futur del català depèn de tu. Barcelona: La Campana.


Pradilla, Miquel Àngel (ed.) (2022). Catalan Sociolinguistics. State of the art and future challenges. Amsterdam/Philadelphia: John Benjamins.


Solé, Joan (2000). \"Els mètodes bàsics de recerca sociolingüística\". Noves SL Tardor 2000.

http://www.gencat.cat/llengua/noves/noves/hm00tardor/metodologia/sole1_1.htm


Stockwell, Peter (2007). Sociolinguistics. A Resource Book for Students. Oxon/New York: Routledge. pdf available on the Campus Virtual.


Vallverdú, Francesc (1973). \"Breu història sociolingüística de la llengua catalana\". Dins: El fet lingüístic com a fet social. Barcelona: Edicions 62, 19856, 127-150.

INSTITUTIONS


Centre de Recerca en Sociolingüística i Comunicació (UB)

www.ub.edu/cusc


Institut d'Estadística de Catalunya

http://www.idescat.cat


Instituto Nacional de Estadística

https://ine.es/


Llengua Catalana (Generalitat de Catalunya)

Inici. Llengua catalana (gencat.cat)


Societat Catalana de Sociolingüística (Institut d'Estudis Catalans)

Societat Catalana de Sociolingüística | Institut d'Estudis Catalans (iec.cat)


Xarxa Cruscat: Coneixements, representacions i usos del català

Xarxa Cruscat: coneixements, representacions i usos del català | (iec.cat)


Software

No specific software is used in this course. In some sessions a program in Microsoft Office (Excel) is used and free applications that do not require registration, such as Mentimeter or Socrative.

Course groups and languages

The information provided is provisional until November 30. After this date, you will be able to consult the language of each group through this link. To access the information, you will need to enter the course CODE

Type of teaching Group Language Semester Shift
(TE) Theory 1 Catalan first semester morning-mixed
(PAUL) Classroom practices 1 Catalan first semester morning-mixed