LIN8015 Introduction to Sociolinguistics

Contents

• Staffing
• Rationale
• Synopsis
• Objectives
• Topics
• Texts
• Reference materials
• Student workload
• Assessment details
• Important assessment information
• Production date
• PDF version

STAFFING

RATIONALE

Sociolinguistics is a deverse and dynamically growing area of linguistics and its scope is highly relevant to all educational contexts. Some of the key contexts include education of minority children and speakers of non-standard language varieties as well as all contexts of foreign language education.

SYNOPSIS

Language is inextricable from the society in which it is used. This course provides students with a comprehensive coverage of the most relevant topics related to the interrelationship between language and society, as well as language and culture. It provides educators, applied linguists and language teachers with an understanding of the social aspects of language, including the most topical issues of language planning and policy, societal aspects of language use, attitudes towards social dialects and other language varieties. This course is useful not only for teachers and educators, but also for those who take advocacy in maintaining native and community languages, including language program managers at institutional as well as national levels. NOTE: Minimum enrolment numbers apply to this offering. Should enrolments not reach the minimum number required for on-campus study, students may be transferred to the EXT or WEB offering and advised of this change before semester commences.

OBJECTIVES

The course objectives define the student learning outcomes for a course. The assessment item(s) that may be used to assess student achievement of an objective are shown in parenthesis. On completion of this course students will be able to:

1.

demonstrate an understanding of the scope of sociolinguistics and identify language related issues as part of the field; (Assignment 1)

2.

compare different language varieties, demonstrate an understanding of societal attitudes towards them and discuss their implications for education and the society as a whole; (Assignment 1)

3.

discuss the factors influencing the choice of different languages used as a means of communication in various contexts; (Assignment 1)

4.

discuss and describe the interrelationship between language and culture and how culture affects our everyday communication; (Assignment 2)

5.

demonstrate cross-cultural sensitivity and the ability to apply culturally sensitive and appropriate approaches in educational practices; (Assignment 2)

6.

compare the gender-specific characteristics of speech and develop a sensitivity to language related stereotypes; (Assignment 1)

7.

identify and describe factors that contribute to language death and demonstrate the ability to critically analyse and suggest ways of language revitalisation; (Assignment 2)

8.

suggest ways of reversing language shift and propose ways of promoting minority languages; (Assignment 2)

9.

discuss language policy documents of international significance; (Assignment 2)

10.

critically analyse language policies and language planning in the Australian context as well as in the learners' own context and offer alternative solutions. (Assignment 2)

TOPICS

TEXT and MATERIALS required to be PURCHASED or accessed

ALL textbooks and materials are available for purchase from USQ BOOKSHOP (unless otherwise stated). Orders may be placed via secure internet, free fax 1800642453, phone 07 46312742 (within Australia), or mail. Overseas students should fax +61 7 46311743, or phone +61 7 46312742. For costs, further details, and internet ordering, use the 'Textbook Search' facility at http://bookshop.usq.edu.au click 'Semester', then enter your 'Course Code' (no spaces).

Wardhaugh, R 2006, An introduction to sociolinguistics, 5th edn, Blackwell Publishers Ltd, Oxford.

REFERENCE MATERIALS

Reference materials are materials that, if accessed by students, may improve their knowledge and understanding of the material in the course and enrich their learning experience.

Whether you are on, or off campus, the USQ Library is an excellent source of information http://www.usq.edu.au/library. The gateway to education resources is here... http://www.usq.edu.au/library/faculties/education/default.htm

Holmes, J 2001, An introduction to sociolinguistics, Longman, London.

STUDENT WORKLOAD REQUIREMENTS

ASSESSMENT DETAILS

NOTES

1.

APA style is the referencing system required in this course. Students should use APA style in their assignments to format details of the information sources they have cited in their work. The USQ library provides advice on how to format information sources using this system. http://www.usq.edu.au/library/help/ehelp/ref_guides/apastyle/default.htm Students need to submit journal OR discussion board entries with each assignment (500 words).

2.

Students need to submit journal OR discussion board entries with each assignment (500 words).

IMPORTANT ASSESSMENT INFORMATION

1. Attendance requirements:
   There are no attendance requirements for this course. However, it is the students' responsibility to study all material provided to them or required to be accessed by them to maximise their chance of meeting the objectives of the course and to be informed of course-related activities and administration.
2. Requirements for students to complete each assessment item satisfactorily:
   To satisfactorily complete an individual assessment item a student must achieve at least 50% of the marks (Depending upon the requirements in Statement 4 below, students may not have to satisfactorily complete each assessment item to receive a passing grade in this course.)
3. Penalties for late submission of required work:
   If students submit assignments after the due date without (prior) approval of the examiner then a penalty of 5% of the total marks gained by the student for the assignment may apply for each working day late up to ten working days at which time a mark of zero may be recorded. No assignments will be accepted after model answers have been posted.
4. Requirements for student to be awarded a passing grade in the course:
   To be assured of receiving a passing grade a student must achieve at least 50% of the total weighted marks available for the course.
5. Method used to combine assessment results to attain final grade:
   The final grades for students will be assigned on the basis of the aggregate of the weighted marks obtained for each of the summative assessment items in the course.
6. Examination information:
   There is no examination in this course.
7. Examination period when Deferred/Supplementary examinations will be held:
   As there are no examinations in this course, there will be no deferred or supplementary examinations.
8. University Regulations:
   Students should read USQ Regulations 5.1 Definitions, 5.6. Assessment, and 5.10 Academic Misconduct for further information and to avoid actions which might contravene University Regulations. These regulations can be found at the URL http://www.usq.edu.au/corporateservices/calendar/part5.htm or in the current USQ Handbook.

This version produced 28 Aug 2009.