Fall 2018 - LING 806 G100
Sociolinguistics (4)
Class Number: 6538
Delivery Method: In Person
Overview
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Course Times + Location:
Sep 4 – Dec 3, 2018: Tue, Thu, 2:30–4:20 p.m.
Burnaby
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Instructor:
Suzanne Hilgendorf
skh7@sfu.ca
1 778 782-8583
Description
CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:
Introduction to the most prominent aspects of the interface between language and society, and the qualitative and quantitative methods that are used to investigate it.
COURSE DETAILS:
Linguistics 806: Sociolinguistics is a graduate level course that explores how societal factors influence and change language use. The course focuses on systematic approaches to studying language use and linguistic variation in different areal, social, and cultural settings. It further considers social variables for language use, such as age, gender, ethnicity, education level, economic class, etc.
In the fall, 2018 semester, the course will be dedicated to the topic of the international spread of English and the social, political, and educational ramifications of this phenomenon for regions and other languages around the world. Themes to be addressed include the adoption of English as an additional language, the role of globalization in this process, and issues concerning World Languages (e.g. French, Spanish, Chinese, etc.) in general. In-depth consideration will be given to the theory of World Englishes, looking at recent research on English use in the Inner, Outer (Asia, Africa), and Expanding Circles (Europe, South America). There will be a review of the language contact processes of Englishization and nativization, as well as the concepts of English as a Lingua Franca (ELF) and as an International Language (EIL). Other topics include English use in various domains (the media, education, business), the pedagogy of World Englishes, and Center – Periphery dynamics, especially as concerns Non-native English Speaking Teachers (NNESTs).
The primary emphasis will be on qualitative, macrosociolinguistic methods, however readings and discussion also will include quantitative, empirical, formal, and microsociolinguistic approaches.
The course is not limited to graduate students in Linguistics, but may be of interest also to students in other disciplines, such as French, Education, and Political Science.
Grading
- Attendance & Participation 25%
- Article Discussion with Handouts 20%
- Exam 15%
- Term Paper & Presentation 40%
Materials
REQUIRED READING:
* Blommaert, Jan. 2010. The Sociolinguistics of Globalization. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. (ca. 229 pages). ISBN: 9780521710237
* Seidlhofer, Barbara. 2011. Understanding English as a Lingua Franca. Oxford: Oxford University Press
* Swaan, Abram de. 2001/2002. Words of the World: The Global Language System. Malden, Mass.: Polity Press.
* Select journal articles and book chapters. This material will be available via the SFU library website.
Graduate Studies Notes:
Important dates and deadlines for graduate students are found here: http://www.sfu.ca/dean-gradstudies/current/important_dates/guidelines.html. The deadline to drop a course with a 100% refund is the end of week 2. The deadline to drop with no notation on your transcript is the end of week 3.
Registrar Notes:
SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://students.sfu.ca/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating. Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.
Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community. Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS