Last modified: 25 Mar 2016 11:36
What language variety we use, what language variety we are allowed to use, affects our position in society. While democracy theoretically guarantees equality, social elites use language to maintain their position in society. Anyone using a rural dialect will at best be treated with condescension; anyone using an urban dialect may be seen as threatening. That said, empowering people to write in their own language helps speakers join a digital world beyond their immediate experience. This course is concerned with various macrosociolinguistic topics: language policy and planning; language and dialect; language and the nation state; language maintenance and language shift.
| Study Type | Undergraduate | Level | 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term | First Term | Credit Points | 30 credits (15 ECTS credits) |
| Campus | None. | Sustained Study | No |
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What language variety we use, what language variety we are allowed to use, affects our position in society. While democracy in theory guarantees equality, social elites use language as a means of maintaining their position in society. Anyone who uses a rural dialect will at best be treated with condescension; anyone who uses an urban dialect may be seen as a threat. On the other hand, empowering people to use their own language in writing helps speakers become a part of a digital world beyond their immediate experience.
This course is concerned with a range of macrosociolinguistic topics: language policy and planning; language and dialect; language and the nation state; language maintenance and language shift. Students who take this course will build a sense of linguistic understanding which will inevitably lead to greater tolerance and desire for linguistic democracy. Given how important language policy is becoming in Scotland and elsewhere, this course may also mark the beginning of the possibility of employment in that and related fields.
Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.
1st Attempt: Two essays of 3,000 words each (80%); Seminar Assessment Mark (SAM) (20%) Resit: For honours students only: candidates achieving a CAS mark of 6-8 may be awarded compensatory level 1 credit. Candidates achieving a CAS mark of less than 6 will be required to submit a new essay.
Formative assessment will be given in particular through discussion of seminar topics and seminar performance, both as a group and individually (the latter by request). Formative assessment is also provided both in the written comments given on the essay and in individual discussion with the tutor (normally by request).
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