Course Description
An introduction to the study of language in its cultural and social dimensions, with an emphasis on language variation and use. Focuses on issues related to theory, methodology, and application relevant to the various subfields in sociolinguistics, dialectology, and related fields of linguistics.
Athena Title
Language and Society
Prerequisite
LING 3060 or LING 3150 or LING 3150W
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
1. Identify research topics relevant to the area of sociolinguistics, language variation, and dialectology. 2. Explore current topics using the tools and methodologies practiced in the field. 3. Understand basic data collection, handling, and analysis using modern approaches. 4. Recognize fundamental concepts in the areas of linguistic change, language and gender, quantitative methods and their application to sociolinguistic research, code-switching, dialectology, languages in contact, bilingualism, multilingualism, and language attitudes. 5. Employ fundamental methodologies and concepts presented in class for the preparation of research projects in which original ideas are developed. 6. Prepare reports that characterize and profile linguistic variation among members of local speech communities. Students will be evaluated through written exams and reports covering relevant sociolinguistics literature. Students will also conduct hands-on projects designed to implement sociolinguistic methods and tools to understand topics concerning language variation.
Topical Outline
1. Introduction: What do sociolinguists do? 2. Multilingualism 3. Language contact 4. Pidgins, Creoles, and language shift 5. Code mixing 6. Language use in context (conversation analysis and pragmatics) 7. Social factors 8. Language variation 9. Language change 10. Valuing language use (e.g., perceptual dialectology) 11. Stylization, accommodation, and linguistic identities 12. (Socio)linguistic engagement
Syllabus