ENG4632 - Language, Person, Society: Sociolinguistics and Pragmatics 1

Objectives:

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
Demonstrate awareness of the significance of context for the analysis of language in use; and how different domains of linguistic study explore this issue.
Describe and apply basic concepts relating to how linguistic interaction works (eg inference, maxims of conversation, politeness).
Describe and apply basic concepts relating to how language use constructs social identity and varies according to social context (eg register, slang, dialect).
Distinguish and comment on different types of linguistic variation in a range of texts.
Use appropriate resources to inform research and discussion.

Content:

This module introduces students to a strand of linguistic study which will feature throughout the core of their programme - the study of how language is actually used interactively, in society, and how widely it varies in use according to social context. Students will learn to research and use a range of relevant concepts and terms, and apply these to the analysis of examples of language in use.

Learning and Teaching Information:

The main form of teaching session will be the seminar, where concepts and skills will be introduced by the lecturer and learned through practical application - specific tasks, problem-solving, discussion and collaborative close reading of texts, with regular provision of formative feedback on those activities (including through Directed Activities - see below). There will be two two-hour seminars each week. Additional resources and support for guided independent study will be provided via Moodle and through availability of weekly staff drop-in times for advice, clarification, discussion of assignment plans etc.

Seminars
Hours: 40
Intended Group Size: 15

Guided independent study
Hours: 160

Further details relating to assessment
Directed activities: these consist of weekly tasks that must be completed and submitted for inspection at timetabled sessions each week. The assessment will be assessed on a pass/fail basis with a pass requiring at least 75% of all weekly tasks to be completed successfully. A pass will lead to the full award of 10% towards the final module mark. A fail in directed activities will contribute 0% to the final mark.

Formative assessment: For the assignments, Directed Task and seminar exercises will be used to help students prepare for and practise fulfilling the requirements of the task. For the first assignment students will choose a selection of terms which they will explain and illustrate; for the second assignment they will create a text which they will then analyse using a selection of terms.

Assessment:

Fact File

Module Coordinator - LINDA WALZ
Level - 4
Credit Value - 20
Pre-Requisites - NONE
Semester(s) Offered - 4S1

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