Sociolinguistics
Code
711131040
Academic unit
Faculdade de Ciências Sociais e Humanas
Department
Linguística
Credits
6
Teacher in charge
Alexandra Fiéis
Weekly hours
4
Teaching language
Portuguese
Objectives
By the end of this course students should be able to:
(1) Have a better understanding of the theoretical foundations underlying the field of sociolinguistics;
(2) Characterise the main methods of sociolinguistic research;
(3) Learn and appreciate aspects of linguistic variation, and to examine some of the ways in which language varies;
(4) Acquire the theoretical-practical bases to the analysis of linguistic variation and its relation to social contexts of use;
(5) Apply the knowledge previously acquired to the analysis of linguistic uses of Portuguese speakers.
Prerequisites
Not applied.
Subject matter
1. The object of study of sociolinguistics; sociolinguistics and related fields
2. Key concepts: variety, variation, variable and variant
2.1. communicative competence;
2.2. domains of linguistic variation;
2.3. language and dialect;
2.4. linguistic varieties;
2.5. linguistic and social variables;
2.6. speakers and communities.
3. Methods of sociolinguistic variation research
4. Language policy issues (norm(s), official and non-official languages, multilingualism, minority languages, linguistic protection, standard and non-standard varieties
5. Language and identity (language, power and linguistic prejudice)
6. Language and contexts of use (register, style, diglossia, code switching)
7. Linguistic variation and change
8. Aspects of dialectal variation (geographic and social) in Portuguese
Bibliography
Bailey, Robert & Ceil Lucas. 2007. Sociolinguistic variation: theories, methods and applications. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Chambers, J. K. 2003. Sociolinguistic Theory. Linguistic Variation and its Social Significance. Blackwell Publishing, 2nd edition.
Edwards, John. 2009. Language and Identity. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Llamas, Carmen, Louise Mullany & Peter Stockwell. 2007. The Routledge Companion to Sociolinguistics. Oxon/NY: Routledge.
Milroy, Lesley & Matthew Gordon. 2003. Sociolinguistics: Method and Interpretation. Blackwell Publishing.
Milroy, James & Lesley Milroy. 1991. Authority in Language. Investigating Language Prescription & Standardization. London/NY: Routledge, 2nd edition.
Tarallo, Fernando. 2005. A pesquisa sociolingüística. São Paulo: Ed.Ática, 7ª edição.
Wardhaugh, Ronald. 2006. An Introduction to Sociolinguistics. Blackwell Publishing.
Teaching method
There will both theoretical lectures and practical work in class and as homework; discussion of reading topics. Summaries and relevant material will be available on \"moodle\". Tutorials will be on students´ request.
Evaluation method
Evaluation:
One short written essay with oral presentation (30%); one test (40%); exercises and class activities (30%).