| Unit name | Sociolinguistics: Language Variation and Change |
|---|---|
| Unit code | MODL30015 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | H/6 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Dr. James Hawkey |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | School of Modern Languages |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
Why is this unit important?
What can language tell us about the world around us? And what can the world around us tell us about language? The relationship between language, culture and society is complex and can be studied from a number of different approaches. On this unit, we will study sociolinguistics, which will reveal how the ways people speak is closely linked to their lived experiences of the world around them. Together, we will undertake problem-solving activities, engage in critical analysis of scholarship, draw on examples from languages and cultures around the world, and learn more about how the study of language in society increases our understanding of the people around us.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study?
This unit fits into your degree whether you’re taking other linguistics units or not. If this is your only linguistics unit, great! You’ll learn more about how languages are used in society, and will develop advanced research skills at the same time. If you’re taking other linguistics units too, also great! This unit slots in neatly with other linguistics units offered at Year 4 in French, German and HiPLA, so you’ll be able to relate what you know about sociolinguistics to other parts of your degree. You will undertake exciting, independent research, drawing on cutting-edge advances in sociolinguistics, which will put you at the cutting edge of the discipline.
An overview of content
Sociolinguistics is the study of language in its social context; it is primarily concerned with analysing how and why speakers mark their personal history and identity in their speech. In this unit, students will be introduced to key concepts in sociolinguistics, and will have an opportunity to analyse the treatment of social meaning in sociolinguistics over time by investigating language use in relation to macro-sociological categories (age, sex, social class), ethnographic methods, and the construction of social meaning through language. Additionally, the unit will cover topics such as gender; sexuality; language diversity, language change, endangerment, and death; race and ethnicity; linguistic relativism; and the relationship between language, culture, and cognition.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of this unit?
Having taken this unit, students will have developed a broad range of skills. In terms of knowledge and intellectual abilities, students are not only set on the path to becoming subject-specific experts, but they also will be able to apply this knowledge to specific real-world situations. In terms of engagement and influence, the sociolinguistic project component of the summative assessment allows students to engage in independent fieldwork and develop their own projects. This in turn results in development in personal wellbeing, meaning students are more confident, reflective, self-motivated and adaptive.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit students will be able to:
This unit will be taught by a combination of in-person activities and directed study:
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative)
Each week’s seminar consists of close reading and discussion of current academic scholarship in the discipline, allowing students to arrive at answers to questions together. Most of these activities are modelled on the work students will undertake in the Timed Assessment, meaning that students are exceptionally well-prepared for this.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative)
This piece of assessment requires students to record and analyse their own original, authentic, real-world spoken data, using the sociolinguistic methods and theories encountered during the unit. It takes the form of a sociolinguistic project, which is inspired by disciplinary conventions in academic writing.
This piece of assessment consists of the analysis of an unseen academic article and/or short essay-style questions. The questions that students will answer closely mirror those discussed in seminars. As such, the formative work prepares students and serves the purpose of scaffolding this piece of summative assessment.
When assessment does not go to plan
When required by the Board of Examiners, you will normally complete reassessments in the same formats as those outlined above. However, the Board reserves the right to modify the form or number of reassessments required. Details of reassessments are normally confirmed by the School shortly after the notification of your results at the end of the academic year.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. MODL30015).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The assessment methods listed in this unit specification are designed to enable students to demonstrate the named learning outcomes (LOs). Where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, schools will make reasonable adjustments to support a student to demonstrate the LO by an alternative method or with additional resources.
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
