Sociolinguistics
Code: 106312Credits: 6
| Degree programme | Type | Course |
|---|---|---|
| English Studies | OP | 3 |
| English Studies | OP | 4 |
Contact lecturer
- Name :
- Eva Codó Olsina
- Email :
- eva.codo@uab.cat
Group languages
You can consult this information at the end of the document.
Prerequisites
- Students enrolling in this course should be interested in exploring, both theoretically and practically, the sociocultural dimension of language use in (or involving) the English language.
- Active participation is required in face-to-face sessions, and in individual and group activities. This year, the course includes a COIL (Collaborative Online International Learning) module with the University of Florida (UF). Students must be prepared to make time for the two synchronous sessions with UF students, which will take place in the afternoon.
- An initial English level of C2 according to the CEFR is required.
- IMPORTANT: At the beginning of the course, a more detailed program of weekly readings will be distributed.
Objectives
This course is an introduction to the most relevant theoretical concepts in sociolinguistic studies and to the different ways of conducting research in English sociolinguistics (quantitative-variationist and qualitative-conversational and ethnographic). The course will provide a historical overview of key paradigms in sociocultural thinking about language and will address, in an informed manner, the analysis of the discipline’s theoretical, methodological, and analytical development. Particular emphasis will be placed on the study of the social meanings of linguistic variation in English and on the use of language as a tool of power, exclusion and social inequality. Students are expected to understand and explain the theoretical frameworks presented and to be able to apply them to the study of language use in real multilingual communicative contexts. One goal is to prepare students for undertaking graduate research in sociolinguistics should they wish to do so.
Learning outcomes
- Plan work effectively, individually or in groups, in order to fulfil the planned objectives.
- Locate specialised and academic information and select this according to its relevance.
- Incorporate ideas and concepts from published sources into work, citing and referencing appropriately.
- Organise academic work effectively.
- Express oneself in English, orally and in writing, in an academic register and using appropriate terminology in relation to the study of English as a language of global scope, linguistic variation and, in general, the social uses of language.
- Understand specialised academic texts on research into the use/learning of English in multilingual contexts, linguistic variation and change, sociolinguistics and language policy.
- Produce written and oral academic texts at higher-proficient-user level (C2) on the concepts and skills relevant to the study of sociolinguistics, multilingualism and varieties of English.
- Identify and understand different sociocultural approaches and their methodologies for the study of the English language.
- Analyse simulated professional situations in the classroom and evaluate the resources for dealing with these.
- Apply the knowledge acquired to the solution of contemporary socio-linguistic problems.
- Actively reflect on the ethical dilemmas of sociolinguistic research.
- Identify the inequalities generated by the intersection between sex/gender and linguistic variation.
Contents
- A conceptual approach to sociolinguistics
- Variationist sociolinguistics: social class, ethnicity, age and gender
- Language choice in multilingual societies
- Attitudes, ideologies and identity
- Language, mobility and capitalism
Learning activities and methodology
| Title | Hours | ECTS | Learning outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Completion of exercises | 20 | 0.8 | 1, 4, 9, 10, 11, 12 |
| Presentation of theoretical notions and concepts | 25 | 1 | 6, 8, 12 |
| Readings and individual study | 30 | 1.2 | 1, 2, 4, 6, 8 |
| Critical discussion of assigned readings | 10 | 0.4 | 5, 6, 8 |
| Individual or group tutorials | 5 | 0.2 | 4, 5 |
| Correction and discussion of practical exercises | 15 | 0.6 | 5, 8, 9, 11 |
| Elaboration of group project | 20 | 0.8 | 1, 2, 3, 7 |
The methodology of the course will be dialogical. Each session will be structured around a brief presentation of
theoretical material followed by discussion of images, videos, texts or exercises. Students are expected to
contribute actively to in-class discussions.
Assessment
Continuous assessment activities
| Title | Weight | Hours | ECTS | Learning outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Midterm 1 | 30% | 1.5 | 0.06 | 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12 |
| Linguistic biography | 5% | 3 | 0.12 | 4, 5, 9, 10, 11 |
| Midterm 2 | 35% | 1.5 | 0.06 | 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12 |
| Linguistic landscape project | 20% | 12 | 0.48 | 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11 |
| Active and meaningful contribution to in-class discussions | 10% | 7 | 0.28 | 5, 8, 10, 11, 12 |
Assessment dates will be made available at the beginning of term.
ALL assessment tasks are compulsory. If a task is not submitted, the student will get a 0.
IMPORTANT: The linguistic biography and the LL course project will be part of a pilot COIL (Collaborative Online International Learning) initiative with the University of Florida (UF) supported by the UAB Vice-Rector's Office for International Relations. Because of the time difference with Florida, students will have to make time in the afternoon/evening for two synchronous meetings with their UF peers.
Students will receive a 'no avaluable' (not assessed) grade unless they have submitted more than 30% of the assessment activities (i.e. more than one item).
If students have 4/10 or higher in both midterms, the linguistic biography assignment and the linguistic landscape project, their marks will be averaged out with no need for reassessment. Otherwise, they will have to retake those items with a mark lower than 4 even if the course average is higher than 5/10. To be able to pass the course, students must have a 5/10. In the event of all grades being equal to or above 4 but lower than 5, students will have to reassess the item with the lowest grade (other than in-class contributions). A final continuous assessment of 4.9 will be rounded up to 5, and will not need reassessment.
The student's command of English will be taken into account when marking all exercises and for the final mark.If a student's level of English is lower than C2, up to 40% of the final grade can be taken off.
Students must use inclusive and non-gendered language. See https://www.lsadc.org/guidelines_for_inclusive_language
IMPORTANT NOTE FOR EXCHANGE STUDENTS (ERASMUS, ETC.) ON EXAMS AND OTHER TESTS: Erasmus students who request to bring forward an exam or any other type of assessment activity must present the lecturer with an official document from their home university justifying their request.
VERY IMPORTANT: PLAGIARISM.In the event of a student committing any irregularity that may lead 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. 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.These evaluation activities will not be re-assessed. Irregularities can refer, for instance, to copying in an exam, copying from sources without indicating authorship, or a misuse of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools.
NOTE ON AI USAGE: 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; the corresponding grade will be awarded a zero, without the possibility of reassessment. In cases of greater infringement, more serious action may be taken.
REASSESSMENT:
The final average grade will be communicated to the students a minimum of 72 hours before the resit test.
Re-assessment for this subject will be undertaken on an item-by-item basis, for which the following conditions apply:
-students must have an average mark equal to or higher than 3.5.
-to access reassessment, students must have been assessed in activities worth at least two-thirds of the total grade. PLEASE NOTE that the linguistic biography and the linguistic landscape project cannot be reassessed, as they form part of the COIL initiative with UF.
-it is not possible to reassess class contribution (10%).
-if students need to reassess the two exams, they will be required to sit one single examination.
PROCEDURE FOR REVIEWING GRADES AWARDED:
On carrying out each assessment activity, lecturers will inform students (on Moodle) of the procedures to be followed for reviewing all grades awarded, and the date on which such a review will take place. Grades will be communicated within a maximum of three weeks after the sitting or submission of the activity.
SINGLE-ASSESSMENT OPTION:
Students will have to hand in a course project (20%), sit an exam covering all the concepts in the course (70%) and give an oral presentation of article on the topic of linguistic landscapes.
RE-ASSESSMENT OF SINGLE-ASSESSMENT OPTION:
Students who opt for the single-assessment option must have taken or submitted all the evaluation activities to be allowed to reassess the course. In addition, they must have an average mark equal to or higher than 3.5.
Bibliography
The readings listed below are basic references in the field of English sociolinguistics. They offer additional material and examples on the topics that are covered in the course. The lecturer will provide specific bibliography at the beginning of each topic.
Ahearn, Laura M (2012) Living Language. An Introduction to Linguistic Anthropology. Blackwell.
Bayley, Robert, Cameron, Richard & Lucas, Ceil (eds.) (2013) The Oxford Handbook of Sociolinguistics. Oxford University Press.
Blommaert, Jan (2010) The Sociolinguistics of Globalisation. Cambridge University Press.
Cameron, Deborah (2000) Good to Talk? Living and Working in a Communication Culture. Sage
Coulmas, Florian (ed.) (2017) The Handbook of Sociolinguistics. Blackwell.
Coulmas, Florian (2019) An Introduction to Multilingualism: Language in a Changing World. Oxford University Press.
Coupland, Nikolas & Jaworski, Adam (1997) Sociolinguistics: A Reader and Coursebook. Macmillan
Coupland, Nikolas & Jaworski, Adam (2009) The New Sociolinguistics Reader. Palgrave.
Coupland, Nikolas, Sarangi, Srikant & Candlin, Christopher N. (eds.) (2001) Sociolinguistics and Social Theory. Routledge.
Coupland, Nikolas (2007) Style. Language Variation and Identity. Cambridge University Press.
Del Percio, Alfonso & Flubacher, Mi-Cha (eds.) (2024) Critical Sociolinguistics: Dialogues, Dissonances, Developments. Bloomsbury.
Duranti, Alessandro (1997) Linguistic Anthropology. Cambridge University Press.
Fasold, Ralph (1990) Sociolinguistics of Language. Oxford: Blackwell.
Heller, Monica (2011) Paths to Post-Nationalism: A Critical Ethnography of Language and Identity. Cambridge University Press.
Heller, Monica, Pietikäinen, Sari & Pujolar, Joan (2024) Critical Sociolinguistic Research Methods: Studying Language Issues That Matter (2nd ed.). Routledge.
Hill, Jane (2008) The Everyday Language of White Racism. Blackwell.
Holmes, Janet & Meyerhoff, Miriam (2003) Language and gender. Oxford: Blackwell.
Mesthrie, Rajend, Swann, Joan, Deumert, Ana & William L. Leap (eds.). (2000) Introducing Sociolinguistics. Edinburgh University Press.
Meyerhoff, Miriam (2006) Introducing Sociolinguistics. Routledge.
Milroy, Lesley & Gordon, Matthew (2003). Sociolinguistics. Blackwell.
Petrovic, John E. & Yazan, Bedrettin (2021) The Commodification of Language: Conceptual Concerns and Empirical Manifestations. Routledge.
Romaine, Suzanne (1994) Language in Society. An Introduction to Sociolinguistics. Oxford University Press.
Saville‐Troike, Muriel (1982) The Ethnography of Communication. Blackwell.
Schieffelin, Bambi B., Woolard, Kathryn A. & Kroskrity, Paul (eds.) (1998) Language Ideologies: Practice and Theory. Oxford University Press.
Wardhaugh, Ronald & Fuller, Janet M (2015) An Introduction to Sociolinguistics. Blackwell.
Woolard, Kathryn A. (2016) Singular and Plural: Ideologies of Linguistic Authority in 21st Century Catalonia. Oxford University Press.
Key journals in the field:
International Journal of the Sociology of Language
Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development
Multilingua: Journal of Cross-Cultural and Interlanguage Communication
Software
No specific software will be used.
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 | English | second semester | morning-mixed |
| (PAUL) Classroom practices | 1 | English | second semester | morning-mixed |