The course introduces basic concepts, research issues and methods in sociolinguistics as they relate to language communication and use with the aim to raise students’ awareness of the impact of social factors on human speech behaviour and the multiple ways of interaction between language and society. Course readings and lectures will examine key micro-/macro-sociolinguistic topics grouped into four sections: approaches to sociolinguistic analysis; language variation reflecting its USERS and contexts of USE; communication in multilingual/ multicultural speech communities; language policy and planning. The approach is student-oriented and involves extensive reading and discussion of resource materials and fulfillment of diverse tasks and activities enabling students to get hands-on experience of various sociolinguistic research methods and findings. To feel the practical significance of the acquired knowledge, students will be engaged in academic forums, will conduct small-scale field research, report on case studies and review papers by key scholars in the field. Upon completion of the course students are expected to extend their knowledge of the great diversity of communication patterns and ways of speaking in different sociocultural environments, to develop sensitivity to the effect of social and cultural factors on communication and improve their skills of socially appropriate language use. Evaluation involves class presentation of survey results on a selected topic and a portfolio including a written paper and a selection of tasks and activities done during the course. Final assessment breakdown: self-study assignments – 30%, class presentation of field-study results – 25%, portfolio – 45%
- Maria Georgieva: Мария Костадинова Георгиева