Logo UAB
2020/2021

Sociolinguistics and Diversity

Code: 105848 ECTS Credits: 6
Degree Type Year Semester
2503998 Catalan Philology: Literary Studies and Linguistics OB 2 1
The proposed teaching and assessment methodology that appear in the guide may be subject to changes as a result of the restrictions to face-to-face class attendance imposed by the health authorities.

Contact

Name:
Albert Branchadell Gallo
Email:
Albert.Branchadell@uab.cat

Use of Languages

Principal working language:
catalan (cat)
Some groups entirely in English:
No
Some groups entirely in Catalan:
Yes
Some groups entirely in Spanish:
No

Prerequisites

There are no prerequisites. It is assumed that people who enroll in this subject are trained to read specialized bibliography in Catalan, Spanish and English.

Objectives and Contextualisation

According to the definition of the reference handbook of Catalan sociolinguistics (Boix and Vila, 1998: 33), "we understand by Catalan sociolinguistics the research around the relations between language and society [...] that is carried out from some of the Catalan - speaking territories ". This research can be done from a sociological perspective (the study of society in relation to language) or from a linguistic one (the study of language in relation to society); in the first case we usually speak of "sociology of language" and in the second we could speak of "social linguistics". In accordance with the dominant tradition in Catalan sociolinguistics, in this subject we adopt the social perspective, with the following threefold objective: a) with a historical background and on the basis of basic concepts of general sociolinguistics, familiarize people enrolled with the situation current use of the Catalan language in the different territories of the Catalan - speaking area, within the framework of the existing linguistic and social diversity, according to the available empirical studies; b) initiate them in the methodology followed by these empirical studies; and c) to introduce them in the study of the language policy that is applied in those territories, which is the central topic of the optional subject Language Policy and Planning.

Competences

  • Act with ethical responsibility and respect for fundamental rights, diversity and democratic values.
  • Assess gender inequalities when acting in this field of knowledge.
  • Critically apply the different instruments of analysis to different types of linguistic data.
  • Critically read and interpret texts.
  • Demonstrate a mastery of the rules of the Catalan language, its linguistic bases and all its application in the academic and professional fields.
  • Display teamwork skills.
  • Innovate in the methods and processes of this area of knowledge in response to the needs and wishes of society.
  • Interpret the political, social and cultural factors that affect the use of the Catalan language and its evolution over time and at the present day.
  • Students must be capable of applying their knowledge to their work or vocation in a professional way and they should have building arguments and problem resolution skills within their area of study.
  • Students must be capable of collecting and interpreting relevant data (usually within their area of study) in order to make statements that reflect social, scientific or ethical relevant issues.
  • Students must be capable of communicating information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialised and non-specialised audiences.
  • Students must develop the necessary learning skills to undertake further training with a high degree of autonomy.
  • Students must have and understand knowledge of an area of study built on the basis of general secondary education, and while it relies on some advanced textbooks it also includes some aspects coming from the forefront of its field of study.
  • Use digital tools and specific documentary sources.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Competently use the fundamental digital and bibliographic tools for studying philology.
  2. Construct a written text that is grammatically and lexically correct.
  3. Demonstrate understanding of the sociolinguistic evolution of the language community.
  4. Develop creative initiatives with regard to the conditions in which the Catalan language is used.
  5. Distinguish between grammatical gender and natural gender.
  6. Gain a greater capacity for reading, interpreting and critically analysing literary and linguistic texts.
  7. Identify the actors, areas of intervention and results of language policies on the Catalan language.
  8. Identify the contexts in which historical processes are immersed.
  9. Interpret sociolinguistic data obtained using quantitative or qualitative methods.
  10. Interpret texts in depth and provide standpoints from which to analyse them critically.
  11. Interpret the problem areas and factors that have conditioned the use of the Catalan language throughout history in a multicultural society.
  12. Make appropriate use of the knowledge acquired in order to collect data and handle documentary sources in the study of Catalan language and literature.
  13. Plan, organise and carry out work in a team.
  14. Produce normatively correct written and oral texts.
  15. Propose projects and actions in accordance with the principles of ethical responsibility and respect for fundamental rights, diversity and democratic values.
  16. Use technological resources (digital and audiovisual) to acquire knowledge and apply it in language and literature.
  17. Work self-sufficiently on the synchronic and diachronic study of Catalan language and literature.
  18. Write text commentaries from a critical standpoint.

Content

1. General sociolinguistics and Catalan sociolinguistics: basic notions of general sociolinguistics and application to the study of the relationship between language and society in Catalan-speaking territories.
2. Sociolinguistic history of Catalan and history of Catalan sociolinguistics: a review of the social history of the Catalan language and the main contributions of Catalan sociolinguistics since its inception as a discipline.
3. Catalan sociolinguistics: analysis of the current situation of the Catalan language (competence, use and representations) in the different territories of its linguistic field, within the framework of the existing linguistic and social diversity.
4. Language policy and planning: introduction to public policies that affect the current situation of the Catalan language in the different territories of the Catalan-speaking area, with an emphasis on the respective legal frameworks and the linguistic ideologies that underlie them.
5. Prospective: based on the analysis of the empirical reality and the public interventions that are applied in each case, a brief consideration of the future scenarios of the Catalan language in the framework of the existing linguistic and social diversity.

Methodology

This course consists of 6 ECTS, which correspond to 150 hours of student dedication. Of this total, 45 hours (30%) correspond to classroom-directed activities, 30 hours (20%) to supervised activities, and 75 hours (50%) to autonomous activities.

The calendar will be available on the first day of class. Students will find all information on the Virtual Campus: the description of the activities, teaching materials, and any necessary information for the proper follow-up of the subject. In case of a change of teaching modality for health reasons, teachers will make readjustments in the schedule and methodologies.

 

Activities

Title Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Type: Directed      
Oral assignments discussion 7.5 0.3 12, 3, 4, 1, 8, 7, 9, 11, 15
Theory classes 37.5 1.5 12, 8, 10, 6
Type: Supervised      
Assignment supervision 30 1.2 12, 2, 3, 4, 1, 8, 7, 9, 11, 10, 13, 6, 14, 15, 18, 16
Type: Autonomous      
Assignment preparation & elaboration 30 1.2 2, 3, 4, 1, 8, 7, 9, 11, 10, 13, 14, 15, 18, 17
Information search 15 0.6 12, 7, 9, 10, 17, 16
Reading tasks 30 1.2 8, 7, 9, 11, 10, 6, 17

Assessment

ASSESSMENT

According to the UAB assessment  regulation, "the continuous assessment process must include a minimum of three assessment activities, of two different typologies, distributed throughout the course, none of which can represent more than 50% of the final grade ". In the case of this course, the continuous assessment process consists of five assessment activities.

To pass the course you will need to get a minimum grade of 5 (out of 10).

NON-ASSESSABLE

The student will receive the grade of Non-assessable as long as he / she has not delivered more than 30% of the assessment activities.

REVIEW OF GRADES

At the time of carrying out each assessment activity, the lecturer will inform the students (Moodle) of the procedure and date of review of grades.

RESIT

According to the UAB assessment regulation, "in order to participate in the resit, students must have previously been evaluated in a set of activities whose weight is equivalent to a minimum of two thirds of the total grade of the course ". In the case of this course, in order to participate in the resit, the research report (50%) and the written assignments (30%) or the research report (50%), participation. in class (10%) and oral assignments (10%) must have been evaluated.

In accordance with the UAB assessment regulation, to participate in the resit the lecturer responsible for the course requires students to have obtained a minimum grade of 3.5 in the average of the subject.

The maximum grade achievable in the resit is a 5.

IRREGULARITIES

In the event of a student committing anyirregularitythat maylead to a significant variation in the grade awarded to an assessment activity, the student will be given a zero for this activity, regardless of any disciplinary process that may take place. In theevent of severalirregularities in assessment activities of the same subject, the student will be given a zero as the final grade for this subject.

Assesment activities that incur in irregularities cannot be resit.

COVID-19

In the event that tests or exams cannot be taken onsite, they will be adapted to an online format made available through the UAB’s virtual tools (original weighting will be maintained). Homework, activities and class participation will be carried out through forums, wikis and/or discussion on Teams, etc. Lecturers will ensure that students are able to access these virtual tools, or will offer them feasible alternatives.

Assessment Activities

Title Weighting Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Class participation 10 0 0 12, 3, 8, 7, 9, 11, 10, 6
Oral assignments 10 0 0 12, 3, 4, 8, 7, 9, 11, 6, 14
Research report 50 0 0 12, 2, 3, 5, 4, 1, 8, 7, 9, 11, 15, 18, 17, 16
Written assignments 30 0 0 12, 3, 5, 1, 8, 9, 11, 13, 15, 18, 17, 16

Bibliography

DOCUMENTS

 

Boix, Emili; Vila, F. Xavier (1998). Sociolingüística de la llengua catalana. Barcelona: Ariel. Versió pdf disponible al Campus Virtual.

 

Diversos autors (2011). "La sociolingüística catalana, balanç i reptes de futur". Treballs de Sociolingüística Catalana 21. Barcelona: Societat Catalana de Sociolingüística.

https://www.raco.cat/index.php/TSC/issue/view/14808

 

Enquesta d'usos lingüístics de la població 2018 https://llengua.gencat.cat/ca/serveis/dades_i_estudis/poblacio/Enquesta-EULP/Enquesta-dusos-lingueistics-de-la-poblacio-2018

 

Fasold, Ralph (1987). The Sociolinguistics of Society. Oxford: Blackwell.

 

Solé, Joan (2000). "Els mètodes bàsics de recerca sociolingüística". Noves SL Tardor 2000.

http://www.gencat.cat/llengua/noves/noves/hm00tardor/metodologia/sole1_1.htm

 

Stockwell, Peter (2007). Sociolinguistics. A Resource Book for Students. Oxon i Nova York: Routledge. Versió pdf disponible al Campus Virtual.

 

Vallverdú, Francesc (1973). "Breu història sociolingüística de la llengua catalana". Dins: El fet lingüístic com a fet social. Barcelona: Edicions 62, 19856, 127-150.

 

INSTITUTIONS

 

Centre de Recerca en Sociolingüística i Comunicació (UB)

https://cuscub.wordpress.com/

 

Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas

http://www.cis.es/cis/opencms/ES/index.html

 

Direcció General de Política Lingüística (Govern de les Illes Balears)

http://www.caib.cat/govern/organigrama/area.do?lang=ca&coduo=2390443

 

Direcció General de Política Lingüística i Gestió del Multilingüisme (Generalitat Valenciana)

http://www.ceice.gva.es/va/web/dgplgm/inicio

 

Institut d'Estadística de Catalunya

http://www.idescat.cat

 

Instituto Nacional de Estadística

https://ine.es/

 

Llengua Catalana (Generalitat de Catalunya)

https://llengua.gencat.cat/ca/inici

 

Servei de Política Lingüística i Àrea de Llengua Catalana (Govern d'Andorra)

https://www.cultura.ad/llengua

 

Societat Catalana de Sociolingüística (Institut d'Estudis Catalans)

https://blogs.iec.cat/socs/

 

Xarxa Cruscat: Coneixements, representacions i usos del català

https://blogs.iec.cat/cruscat/