Spring 2025 - LING 160 D900
Language, Culture and Society (3)
Class Number: 4915
Delivery Method: In Person
Overview
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Course Times + Location:
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Mon, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
Surrey
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Instructor:
Ivelina Koleva Tchizmarova
ikt1@sfu.ca
Description
CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:
Examines the relationship between language use and social structure. Considers how social factors such as gender, class, age, and ethnicity may be reflected in language use, as well as "big picture" topics that include multilingualism, dialect variation, language policy and linguistic stereotypes. Encourages students to think critically about the social dimensions of language. Open to all students. Breadth-Social Sciences.
COURSE DETAILS:
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course will introduce you to sociolinguistics, which explores language as a social phenomenon constantly being changed by the people who use it (users) as they communicate in different settings (uses), navigating power relationships, solidarity and social distance. Users continuously change sounds, vocabulary, and grammar over time (e.g., English in the Middle Ages vs. Modern English), and various speech communities use the same language in unique ways which reflect their own cultural identities, backgrounds, beliefs, practices, and values (e.g., Standard Canadian English is distinct from both Newfoundland English and Black Canadian English).
You will learn about sociolinguistic methods through illustrations from a variety of languages, and examine language practices in Canada as we discuss topics such as:
- bilingual and multilingual communities;
- the social factors driving language shift, language loss, and language death;
- the systematic, rule-governed nature of regional dialects (e.g., West Coast Canadian & American English, Newfoundland English, Southern US English, Cockney, etc.) and social dialects (e.g., the French of the working class vs. that of the upper middle class in Francophone Montreal);
- prejudice and discrimination against linguistic varieties (often stemming from similar attitudes towards their users);
- using language to signal aspects of our social and cultural identity: gender (how different genders speak differently), age (why do teenagers speak differently from adults?), ethnicity (e.g., African American Vernacular English and its global spread as the language of rap, hip hop & non-conformism), social networks (how typical interactions in typical settings affect our language use);
- the role of politeness in language use, and how it varies across cultures;
- the relationship between language and cognition (does language shape our thinking and perception of the outside world, or the other way around?).
COURSE DELIVERY: In-person, 2:30-5:20 pm on Mondays, SFU Surrey.
Grading
- Weekly Attendance & Participation 8%
- Short Assignments (2 assignments worth 5% each) 10%
- Group Projects (2 projects worth 14% each) 28%
- Midterm Exams (3 exams worth 18% each; no final exam) 54%
REQUIREMENTS:
Platform(s) used: Canvas (and Zoom, if needed).
Technology required: Laptop, Internet (camera and microphone, if Zoom needed).
Materials
REQUIRED READING:
Holmes, Janet, and Wilson, Nick (2022). An Introduction to Sociolinguistics (6th revised ed.) Routledge. ISBN: 9780367421106 [Alternatively, (2017), 5th Ed.
Be sure to obtain one of the correct editions above. Older editions will not be used!
Additional materials, e.g., chapters on reserve in the SFU library and article downloads from the library, highlighting sociolinguistic issues in Canada.
ISBN: 9781138845015
REQUIRED READING NOTES:
Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.
Department Undergraduate Notes:
Students should familiarize themselves with the Department's Standards on Class Management and Student Responsibilities.
Please note that a grade of “FD” (Failed-Dishonesty) may be assigned as a penalty for academic dishonesty.
All student requests for accommodations for their religious practices must be made in writing by the end of the first week of classes or no later than one week after a student adds a course.
Registrar Notes:
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS
SFU’s Academic Integrity website http://www.sfu.ca/students/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
RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION
Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.