Module Identifier EL10610  
Module Title LANGUAGE IN SOCIETY: AN INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLINGUISTICS  
Academic Year 2005/2006  
Co-ordinator Dr Winifred V Davies  
Semester Semester 1  
Other staff Mr Robert Morris Jones, Professor David A Trotter, Miss Melanie M Wagner  
Course delivery Lecture    
  Seminars / Tutorials    
Assessment
Assessment TypeAssessment Length/DetailsProportion
Semester Exam2 Hours (written exam)70%
Semester Assessment (1 essay of 1500 words)30%
Supplementary Exam2 Hours 1 x 2-hour examination if continuous assessment submitted. 1 x 3-hour examination if no continuous assessment submitted.100%

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
a) Demonstrate that they have gained insights into the social meaning of language by having acquired a knowledge of some of the main areas of contemporary sociolinguistics.
b) Assess critically theoretical and methodological aspects of the discipline.
c) Carry out independent research and analyse critically the material they have collected.
d) Express themselves clearly, coherently and cogently, both orally and in writing.
e) Demonstrate familiarity with and an ability to use appropriately the specialist terminology associated with the subject.

Brief description

This module will offer an introduction to sociolinguistics and will show how trends and developments in language are often related to developments in society. The main basis for any conclusions as to the nature of the relationship between language and society will be provided by an examination of linguistic variation. After a general introduction to the field of sociolinguistics and a discussion of different approaches to the study of language in society, students will consider the effect of social factors, such as socio-economic class, gender and situation, on language use.

Reading Lists

Books
** Recommended Text
Trudgill, P (2000) Sociolinguistics. An introduction to language and society
** Supplementary Text
Downes, William Language and Society edition 2r.e. . Camb.U.P. 521456630
Romaine, Suzanne Language in Society edition 2r.e. . Oxf.U.P. 198731922
Bauer, Laurie Language myths Penguin Books 140260234
Thomas, Linda "Language,Society and Power" Routledge 415187443
Aitchison, Jean Linguistics edition 4r.e. . Hodder 340559381
Newmeyer, Frederick J. Linguistics Cambridge University Press 521375835
Spender, Dale Man Made Language edition 4r.e. . Pandora P. 863584012
Wardhaugh, Ronald Proper English Blackwell 631212698
Fasold, Ralph Sociolinguistics of language Blackwell 631138250
Fasold, Ralph Sociolinguistics of language Blackwell 631138250
Trudgill, Peter Sociolinguistics edition 2r.e.of "Sociolinguistics: An Introduction" . Penguin 140224793
Pride, J Sociolinguistics Penguin
Hudson, R.A. Sociolinguistics edition 2r.e. . Camb.U.P. 521565146
Coupland, Nikolas Sociolinguistics MacMillan 333611802
Chambers, J.K. Sociolinguistic Theory edition 2r.e. . Blackwell 631228829
Trudgill, Peter Sociolinguistic patterns in British English E. Arnold
Labov, William Sociolinguistic Patterns Blackwell 631177205
Miller, Casey "Handbook of Non-sexist Writing for Writers,Editors and Speakers" edition 3r.e. . Women's P. 704344424
Graddol, David Gender Voices Blackwell 631137343
Gibbon, Margaret Feminist Perspectives on Language Longman 582356369
Honey, John Does Accent Matter? edition 2r.e. . Faber 571144446
Chambers, J.K. Dialectology edition 2r.e. . Camb.U.P. 521596467
Romaine, Suzanne Communicating gender L Erlbaum Associates
Crystal, David Cambridge encyclopedia of language edition 2nd . Cambridge University Press 521559677
Andersson, Lars-Gunnar Bad Language edition n.e. . Penguin 140125086
Trudgill, Peter Applied sociolinguistics Academic 127012206
Trudgill, Peter Sociolinguistics reader Arnold 340652063
Trudgill, Peter Sociolinguistics reader Arnold 340652063
Trudgill, Peter Sociolinguistics reader Arnold 340652063
Fasold, Ralph Sociolinguistics of society Blackwell 063113462x
Milroy, Lesley Language and Social Networks edition 2r.e. . Blackwell 631153144
Giglioli, Pier Paolo Language and social context Penguin Books 140133038
Mills, Sara Language and gender Addison Wesley Longman 582226317
Goddard, Angela Language and Gender Routledge 415201772
Coates, Jennifer Language and gender Blackwell 631195955
Tannen, Deborah You Just Don't Understand edition n.e. . Virago 1853814717
Holmes, Janet "Women,Men and Politeness" Longman 582063612
Coates, Jennifer "Women,Men and Language" edition 2r.e.of "Women,Men and Language: Sociolinguistic Account of Sex Differences in Language" . Longman 582074924
Coates, Jennifer Women Talk Blackwell 631182535
Cameron, Deborah Verbal Hygiene Routledge 041510355X
Foulkes, Paul Urban Voices Arnold 340706082
Petyt, K.M. Study of Dialect edition n.e. . Blackwell 631138455
Trudgill, Peter Sociolinguistics reader Arnold 340652063
Milroy, Lesley Observing and Analysing Natural Language Blackwell 631136231
Radford, Andrew Linguistics Camb.U.P. 521478545
Newmeyer, Frederick J. Linguistics Cambridge University Press 521375835
Smith, Philip M. "Language,the Sexes and Society" Blackwell 631127534
Bolinger, Dwight "Language, the loaded weapon" Longman 582291089
Bolinger, Dwight "Language, the loaded weapon" Longman 582291089
Aitchison, Jean Language web Cambridge University Press 521574757
** Recommended Consultation
Trudgill, P & Cheshire, J (1999) The Sociolinguistics Reader. Vol. 2: Gender and Discourse London: Arnold
Coupland, N & Jaworski, A (1997) Sociolinguistics: a reader and coursebook
Downes, W (1998) Language and Society Cambridge: CUP
Fasold, R (1990) The Sociolinguistics of Language Oxford: Blackwell
Romaine, S (1994) Language in Society Oxford: OUP
Hudson, R A (1980) Sociolinguistics Cambridge: CUP
Fasold, R (1984) The Sociolinguistics of Society Oxford: Blackwell
Thomas, L & Wareing, S (1999) Language, Society and Power New York: Routledge
Trudgill, P & Cheshire, J (1997) The Sociolinguistics Reader. Vol. 1: Variation and Multilingualism London: Arnold
Cheshire, J & Trudgill, P (1997) The Sociolinguistics Reader
Chambers, J K & Trudgill, P (1980) Dialectology Cambridge: CUP
Chambers, J K (1995) Sociolinguistic Theory Oxford: Blackwell
** Consult For Futher Information
Crystal, D (1987,1997) The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Language Cambridge: CUP
Labov, W (1972) Sociolinguistic Patterns Oxford: Blackwell
Milroy, L (1987) Language and Social Networks 2nd edition. Oxford: Blackwell (1st edition, 1980)
Radford, A et al (1999) Linguistics: An introduction Cambridge: CUP
Trudgill, P (ed) (1978) Sociolinguistic Patterns in British English London: Edward Arnold
Newmeyer, F J (1988) Linguistics: The Cambridge Survey. Vol. IV, Language: The Socio-cultural Context Cambridge: CUP
Honey, J (1991) Does Accent Matter? London: Faber & Faber

Web Page/Sites
** Supplementary Text
Language in society http://voyager.aber.ac.uk/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?DB=local&Search_Arg=language+in+society&SL=None&Search_Code=JALL&CNT=20
Linguistische Berichte http://voyager.aber.ac.uk/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?DB=local&Search_Arg=linguistische+berichte&SL=None&Search_Code=JALL&CNT=20
Journal of sociolinguistics http://voyager.aber.ac.uk/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?DB=local&Search_Arg=journal+of+sociolinguistics&SL=None&Search_Code=JALL&CNT=20
Language and communication http://voyager.aber.ac.uk/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?DB=local&Search_Arg=language+and+communication&SL=None&Search_Code=JALL&CNT=20
Language and communication http://voyager.aber.ac.uk/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?DB=local&Search_Arg=language+and+communication&SL=None&Search_Code=JALL&CNT=20

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 4