HEGRBTV07U Interdisciplinary Elective Subject, topic 7: Sociolinguistic Theory and Method

Volume 2020/2021
Content

The course introduces a range of themes, theories and methods within sociolinguistics and related disciplines, including multilingualism, language contact, language policy, language variation and change, language and identity, style and register, language ideology, language attitudes, language and gender, language and power, interactional sociolinguistics, corpus linguistics, discourse analysis and linguistic ethnography.

 

The course is concluded by a group-based project which provides students with practical insight into the interplay between theory, methods and analysis within sociolinguistics. In this way the project work prepares students for a linguistically focused BA project.

Learning Outcome

Students will acquire

  • Knowledge about key topics in sociolinguistics
  • Ability to discuss central theories within sociolinguistics and related disciplines
  • Experience working with sociolinguistic methods  
  • Ability to design and carry out a delimited sociolinguistic study with an independently formulated research question
The course has the following structure:

- 8 weeks of theory and method in class
- 6 weeks of project writing
- 2 weeks of workshops on project writing and group work
- 4 weeks of project work and supervision

During the first eight weeks of the course, focus is on key theories and methods within sociolinguistics. During this period there will be two weekly classes of each three hours (with elements of lecture, workshop and seminar). This period is followed by a six-week project writing phase. The initial two weeks in this phase are devoted to workshops about project writing and project management. The project work is carried out in groups. In the project, students work with a delimited topic within sociolinguistics, using one or more of the sociolinguistics methods introduced in the course. The project work includes a theory of science dimension. Supervision will be offered by the course teachers within their language area and their area of expertise.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Class Instruction
  • 84
  • Preparation
  • 325,5
  • Total
  • 409,5
Written
Oral
Individual
Collective
Continuous feedback during the course of the semester
Peer feedback (Students give each other feedback)
Credit
15 ECTS
Type of assessment
Other