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LN3527: LANGUAGE RIGHTS AND REVITALISATION (2023-2024)

Last modified: 05 Oct 2023 08:46


Course Overview

Linguistically, we consider all languages as equal, but we know society does not always treat them as such. The world is made up of almost 200 countries; however, over 7000 languages are currently spoken. The result? Many speakers of societally minoritised languages whose language rights are often compromised. In this course you will learn about the challenges faced by such communities and gain a critical appreciation of the language maintenance and revitalisation efforts currently underway.

Course Details

Study Type Undergraduate Level 3
Term Second Term Credit Points 30 credits (15 ECTS credits)
Campus Aberdeen Sustained Study No
Co-ordinators
  • Dr Dawn Leslie

What courses & programmes must have been taken before this course?

What other courses must be taken with this course?

None.

What courses cannot be taken with this course?

Are there a limited number of places available?

No

Course Description

Linguistically, we consider all languages as equal, but we know society does not always treat them as such. The world is made up of almost 200 countries; however, over 7000 languages are currently spoken. The result? Many speakers of societally minoritised languages whose language rights are often compromised. In this course you will learn about the challenges faced by such communities and gain a critical appreciation of the language maintenance and revitalisation efforts currently underway.

The course will approach this subject from a global perspective, doing a ‘round-the-world' tour of minoritised, indigenous and endangered languages. The course will cover such topics as:

  • The historical and social context surrounding minority languages (including exploration of colonialism and migration).
  • The importance of language rights to human rights and cultural/personal identity
  • The role of politics in defining the statuses of languages
  • Language attitudes towards minoritised languages
  • Language endangerment
  • 'Dead’ languages (and what led to their extinction)
  • Language planning for minoritised languages (status planning, corpus planning, acquisition planning)
  • Linguistic landscapes
  • Language in education
  • Revitalisation projects (and their effectiveness)

Contact Teaching Time

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

Teaching Breakdown

More Information about Week Numbers


Details, including assessments, may be subject to change until 30 August 2024 for 1st term courses and 20 December 2024 for 2nd term courses.

Summative Assessments

Tutorial/Seminar Participation

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 20
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

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Feedback

Students will be provided with a comment through the Blackboard platform, as well as oral feedback from the tutor throughout the course if desired. Students will be assessed on a calculation derived from the following components: regularity of attendance, appropriate engagement with pre-reading activities ahead of seminar tasks; participation during group tasks; reflective posts on post-seminar online discussion boards.

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualAnalyseTo analyse frameworks and theories related to language policy and planning (and reflect upon their applications in practice)
ConceptualAnalyseTo engage with metalinguistic material to assess attitudes towards minority language situations and identify potential conflicts
FactualUnderstandTo understand historical and social factors leading to the existence of minority languages
ProceduralEvaluateTo evaluate the current health of minority languages in specific contexts

Oral Presentation: Group

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 20
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

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Feedback

Group presentation of a proposed action plan for a chosen endangered/minority language (12mins)

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
Sorry, we don't have this information available just now. Please check the course guide on MyAberdeen or with the Course Coordinator

Critical Analysis

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 20
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

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Feedback

Critical analysis of a piece of metalinguistic commentary (e.g. a newspaper article, blog post, political speech about a minority language) to be presented in video presentation format and shared with the rest of the class online.

Ro be submitted either in video format (5mins) or as an annotated paper presentation (700 words)

Feedback will be provided by tutors in written form via the Gradebook on Blackboard.

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualAnalyseTo engage with metalinguistic material to assess attitudes towards minority language situations and identify potential conflicts

Essay

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 40
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

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Feedback

Feedback will be provided by tutors in written form through the online coursework submission platform Turnitin.

Word Count 2500
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualAnalyseTo analyse frameworks and theories related to language policy and planning (and reflect upon their applications in practice)
FactualUnderstandTo understand historical and social factors leading to the existence of minority languages
ProceduralEvaluateTo evaluate the current health of minority languages in specific contexts

Formative Assessment

There are no assessments for this course.

Resit Assessments

Essay

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 100
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

Look up Week Numbers

Feedback

Feedback will be provided by tutors in written form through the online coursework submission platform Turnitin.

Word Count 3000
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
Sorry, we don't have this information available just now. Please check the course guide on MyAberdeen or with the Course Coordinator

Course Learning Outcomes

Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualAnalyseTo engage with metalinguistic material to assess attitudes towards minority language situations and identify potential conflicts
ProceduralEvaluateTo evaluate the current health of minority languages in specific contexts
ConceptualAnalyseTo analyse frameworks and theories related to language policy and planning (and reflect upon their applications in practice)
FactualUnderstandTo understand historical and social factors leading to the existence of minority languages

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