Module Identifier EL10610  
Module Title LANGUAGE IN SOCIETY: AN INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLINGUISTICS  
Academic Year 2006/2007  
Co-ordinator Dr Winifred V Davies  
Semester Semester 1  
Other staff Professor David A Trotter, Mr Robert Morris Jones  
Course delivery Lecture   10 Hours.  
  Seminars / Tutorials   3 Hours.  
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
Aitchison, Jean Language web Cambridge University Press 0521574757
Aitchison, Jean Linguistics edition 4r.e. . Hodder 0340559381
Andersson, Lars-Gunnar Bad Language edition n.e. . Penguin 0140125086
Bauer, Laurie Language myths Penguin Books 0140260234
Bolinger, Dwight Language, the loaded weapon Longman 0582291089
Cameron, Deborah Verbal Hygiene Routledge 041510355X
Chambers, J.K. Dialectology edition 2r.e. . Camb.U.P. 0521596467
Chambers, J.K. Sociolinguistic Theory edition 2r.e. . Blackwell 0631228829
Coates, Jennifer Language and gender Blackwell 0631195955
Coates, Jennifer Women Talk Blackwell 0631182535
Coates, Jennifer Women,Men and Language edition 2r.e.of "Women,Men and Language: Sociolinguistic Account of Sex Differences in Language" . Longman 0582074924
Coupland, Nikolas Sociolinguistics MacMillan 0333611802
Crystal, David Cambridge encyclopedia of language edition 2nd . Cambridge University Press 0521559677
Downes, William Language and Society edition 2r.e. . Camb.U.P. 0521456630
Fasold, Ralph Sociolinguistics of language Blackwell 0631138250
Fasold, Ralph Sociolinguistics of society Blackwell 063113462X
Foulkes, Paul Urban Voices Arnold 0340706082
Gibbon, Margaret Feminist Perspectives on Language Longman 0582356369
Giglioli, Pier Paolo Language and social context Penguin Books 0140133038
Goddard, Angela Language and Gender Routledge 0415201772
Graddol, David Gender Voices Blackwell 0631137343
Holmes, Janet Women,Men and Politeness Longman 0582063612
Honey, John Does Accent Matter? edition 2r.e. . Faber 0571144446
Hudson, R.A. Sociolinguistics edition 2r.e. . Camb.U.P. 0521565146
Labov, William Sociolinguistic Patterns Blackwell 0631177205
Miller, Casey Handbook of Non-sexist Writing for Writers,Editors and Speakers edition 3r.e. . Women's P. 0704344424
Mills, Sara Language and gender Addison Wesley Longman 0582226317
Milroy, Lesley Language and Social Networks edition 2r.e. . Blackwell 0631153144
Milroy, Lesley Observing and Analysing Natural Language Blackwell 0631136231
Newmeyer, Frederick J. Linguistics Cambridge University Press 0521375835
Petyt, K.M. Study of Dialect edition n.e. . Blackwell 0631138455
Pride, J Sociolinguistics Penguin
Radford, Andrew Linguistics Camb.U.P. 0521478545
Romaine, Suzanne Communicating gender L Erlbaum Associates
Romaine, Suzanne Language in Society edition 2r.e. . Oxf.U.P. 0198731922
Smith, Philip M. Language,the Sexes and Society Blackwell 0631127534
Spender, Dale Man Made Language edition 4r.e. . Pandora P. 0863584012
Tannen, Deborah You Just Don't Understand edition n.e. . Virago 1853814717
Thomas, Linda Language,Society and Power Routledge 0415187443
Trudgill, Peter Applied sociolinguistics Academic 0127012206
Trudgill, Peter Sociolinguistic patterns in British English E. Arnold
Trudgill, Peter Sociolinguistics edition 2r.e.of "Sociolinguistics: An Introduction" . Penguin 0140224793
Trudgill, Peter Sociolinguistics reader Arnold 0340652063
Wardhaugh, Ronald Proper English Blackwell 0631212698
** Recommended Consultation
Chambers, J K (1995) Sociolinguistic Theory Oxford: Blackwell
Chambers, J K & Trudgill, P (1980) Dialectology Cambridge: CUP
Cheshire, J & Trudgill, P (1997) The Sociolinguistics Reader
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
Fasold, R (1984) The Sociolinguistics of Society Oxford: Blackwell
Hudson, R A (1980) Sociolinguistics Cambridge: CUP
Romaine, S (1994) Language in Society Oxford: OUP
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
Trudgill, P & Cheshire, J (1999) The Sociolinguistics Reader. Vol. 2: Gender and Discourse London: Arnold
** Consult For Futher Information
Crystal, D (1987,1997) The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Language Cambridge: CUP
Honey, J (1991) Does Accent Matter? London: Faber & Faber
Labov, W (1972) Sociolinguistic Patterns Oxford: Blackwell
Milroy, L (1987) Language and Social Networks 2nd edition. Oxford: Blackwell (1st edition, 1980)
Newmeyer, F J (1988) Linguistics: The Cambridge Survey. Vol. IV, Language: The Socio-cultural Context Cambridge: CUP
Radford, A et al (1999) Linguistics: An introduction Cambridge: CUP
Trudgill, P (ed) (1978) Sociolinguistic Patterns in British English London: Edward Arnold

Web Page/Sites
** Supplementary Text
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 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

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 4