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2020/2021

Sociolinguistics and Multilingualism: A Critical Approach

Code: 42298 ECTS Credits: 6
Degree Type Year Semester
4313157 Advanced English Studies OT 0 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:
Melissa G Moyer Moyer Greer
Email:
Melissa.Moyer@uab.cat

Use of Languages

Principal working language:
english (eng)

Prerequisites

Students are required to have a proficient level of oral and written English in order to fulfill the course requirements sucessfully. A minimum of a C1 us required.

 

Objectives and Contextualisation

  • To introduce students to critical thinking about multilingualism from a sociolinguistic perspective.
  • To introduce students to current themes in the study of bilingualism and multilingualism
  • To provide students with the necessary theoretical framework to be able to formulate their own questions on the topic of multilingualism
  • To prpovide students with exercise where they can aquire practical experience  and apply knoweldege acquired to the analysis of specific cases.

Competences

  • Analyse and synthesise information at an advanced level.
  • Analyse the relationship between factors, processes or phenomena in the acquisition of English as a second language, its learning and teaching methods, and its literature, history and culture.
  • Apply methodological knowledge of statistical analysis and data generation, treatment and codification of multilingual databases, analysis of literary texts, etc. to research.
  • Communicate the knowledge acquired and the contributions of one’s research correctly, accurately and clearly both orally and in writing.
  • Critically argue, issue judgements and present ideas on the basis of the analysis of information originating from scientific production in these areas.
  • Develop autonomous learning skills applicable to the research process.
  • Distinguish and contrast between the different methodological and theoretical models applied to the academic study of the acquisition, teaching and use of English as a second language in multilingual and multicultural contexts, literary studies and cultural studies.
  • Resolve problems in multicultural academic and/or professional environments associated with the studies of the acquisition, teaching and use of English as a second language in multilingual and multicultural contexts, and the literature and culture of this language.
  • Show respect towards the opinions, values, behaviours and/or practices of others.
  • Use the English language for academic and professional purposes related to research into the acquisition, teaching and use of English as a second language in multilingual and multicultural contexts, literary studies and cultural studies.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Analyse and synthesise information at an advanced level.
  2. Apply the concepts acquired to the reality of linguistic use by multilingual individuals.
  3. Communicate the knowledge acquired and the contributions of one’s research correctly, accurately and clearly both orally and in writing.
  4. Critically read academic articles on multilingualism from the point of view of critical socio-linguistics.
  5. Design ethnographic fieldwork and the methods for the collection of data on multilingual speakers and communities.
  6. Develop autonomous learning skills applicable to the research process.
  7. Distinguish the most important socio-linguistic characteristics of multilingual societies and individuals where English is used as a lingua franca.
  8. Distinguish the most recent theoretical concepts of use for explaining multilingualism from the points of view of the individual and society.
  9. Explain the advantages and disadvantages of the different models of linguistic production.
  10. Explain the relation between linguistic practices and thinking among multilingual individuals.
  11. Recognise and question the bases of monolingualism in the fields of linguistics and socio-linguistics.
  12. Show respect towards the opinions, values, behaviours and/or practices of others.
  13. Write advanced level academic texts on multilingualism from the point of view of critical socio-linguistics.

Content

Topic 1            Introducing Sociolinguistics. Key concepts.

Topic 2            Qualitative Sociolinguistics. A Critical Perspective

Topic 3            Bilingual and Multilingual Language Practices

Topic 4            Monolingualism, Bilingualism and Multilingualism in

                            the Articulation of Nations and States

Topic 5            Globalization, Language Diversity, and Inequality

Topic 6            The Value of Language in the Economy

Topic 7            Language Skills in the Workplace

Topic 8            Language and Identity

Topic 9            Language Power, Ideology and Agency

Topic 10          English in Multilingual World Contexts

Methodology

  • Each topic on the syllabus will be introduced along with the key notions and concepts students will need to master
  • Discussion of assigned readings
  • Analysis of practical cases
  • Correction in class of exercises and assignments

Activities

Title Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Type: Directed      
Assigned readings 17 0.68 9, 4
Assignments 20 0.8 1, 3, 12, 6, 8, 7, 13, 10, 4, 11
Discuss assigned readings 10 0.4 1, 3, 12, 8, 9, 4, 11
Final assignment 22 0.88 13, 9, 4
Type: Supervised      
Preparation to undertake practical exercises 11 0.44 13, 9, 4
Type: Autonomous      
Practical exercises of analysis 10 0.4 1, 2, 3, 12, 5, 8, 7, 13, 9, 10, 11

Assessment

IN RELATION TO THE COVID HEALTH CRISIS: 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.  Lecturers will ensure that students are able to access these virtual tools, or will offer them feasible alternatives.

 

The final grade of the course will be calculated
  • Assignments: 30%
  • Final paper: 40%
  • Weekly work and participation: 30%.
Recuperation
 
A grade below a 4 on the final paper can be redone. 
All work submitted that receives a grade of a 4 or above will b e included in the calculation of the average for the final grade.     -
Assignments and exercises in class can not be resubmitted.
The maximum grade for resubmission of final paper is 6
The final grade of the final paper that has been resubmitted  will be the new mark   even when this is a lower mark than obgtained previously.  
If the student fails on the resubmission of the final paper he can pass the subject as long as the global average is equal to or greater than 5.
 

VERY IMPORTANT: Total or partial plagiarism of any of the evaluatioin items will automatically be considered  a “fail” (0 points ) for the plagiarized item. Plagiarism isinvolves copying one or more sentences from  unidentified sources, presenting it as original work (THIS INCLUDES COPYING PHRASES OR FRAGMENTS FROM THE INTERNET AND ADDING THEM WITHOUT MODIFICATION TO A TEXT WHICH IS PRESENTED AS ORIGINAL).    Plagiarism is a serious offense. Students must learn to respect the intellectual property of others, identifying any source they may use, and take responsibility for the originality and authenticity of the texts they produce.

GRADE REVISION: Lecturers will inform students (via the Moodle) of the procedures to be followed, the place, and the dates for reviewing all grades awarded for assignments.  

REQUIRED WORK: Students will not obatin a grade  for the course unless they have submitted more than 70% of the assessment items.

 

 

Assessment Activities

Title Weighting Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Assignments 30 40 1.6 1, 2, 3, 13, 9, 4
Class participation and forums of debate 30 10 0.4 1, 2, 12, 8, 7, 13, 10, 4, 11
Final paper 40 10 0.4 6, 5, 8, 7, 13, 10, 4, 11

Bibliography

Anderson, Benedict. 1983. Imagined Communities. London: Verso, 224Pp.

Appadurai, Arjun. 1996. Modernity at Large. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 229 Pp.

Bex, Tony & Richard J. Watts (eds.). 1999. Standard English. The Widening Debate. London:Routledge, 312 Pp.

Billig, Michael. 1995. Banal Nationalism. London:Sage, 197 Pp.

Blommaert, Jan. 2003. Commentary: A sociolinguistics of globalization. Journal of Sociolinguistics 7/4: 607-623.

Blommaert, Jan and Jef Verschueren. 1998. The “migrant” problem. In Jan Blommaert and Jef Verschueren Debating Diversity. London: Routledge.

Brutt-Griffler, Janina. 2002. World English. Clevedon: Multilingual Matters, 216 Pp.

Cameron, Deborah. 2000. Good to Talk? London: Sage Publications, 213Pp.

Cameron, Deborah. 2000. Styling the worker: Gender and the commodification of language in the globalized service economy. Journal of Sociolinguistics 4/3:323-347.

Coupland, Nikolas, Srikant Sarangi, & Cristopher Candlin (eds.). 2001. Sociolinguistics and Social Theory. London: Longman.

Gellner, E. 1983. Nations and Nationalism. Oxford:Blackwell.

Giddens, Anthony. 1991. Modernity and Self Identity. Stanford: Stanford University Press, Pp. 256 Pp.

Hill, Jane. Published on the web pages http://languageculture.binghamton.edu/symposia/2/part1/index.html  and to see the pictures in the article consult the address below:http://www.deaflibrary.org/nakamura/courses/linguisticanthro/hill1995slides/

Hobsbawm, E. J. 1992. Nations and Nationalism since 1780. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Hutchinson, John& Anthony D. Smith (eds.). 1994. Nationalism. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 378Pp.

Inda, Jonathan Xavier & Renato Rosaldo (eds.).2002. The Anthropology of Globalization. Oxford: Blackwell, 498 Pp.

Joseph, John E. Language and Identity. National, Ethnic and Religious. 2004. London: Palgrave, 268 Pp.

Lippi Green, Rosina. 1997. English with an Accent. London: Routledge, 286 Pp.

Milroy, James. 1999. The Consequences of Standardization in Discriptive Linguistics. In Bex, Tony & Richard J. Watts (eds.). Standard English. The Widening Debate. London: Routledge, Pp. 13-39.

Moyer, Melissa & Luisa Martin Rojo. 2007. Language, Migration and Citizenship: New Challenges in the Regulation of Bilingualism. In Monica Heller (ed.) Bilingualism. Social Approaches. London: Palgrave, 36 Pp.

Muehlmann, Shaylih & Alexandre Duchêne. 2007. Beyond the nation-state: international agencies as new sites of discourses on bilingualism. In Monica

Heller (ed.) Bilingualism. Social Approaches. London: Palgrave, 13Pp.

Pennycook, Alastair. 1998. English and the Discourses of Colonialism. London: Routledge, 239 Pp.

Pujolar, Joan. 2007. Bilingualism and the Nation-State in the Post-national Era. In Monica Heller (ed.) Bilingualism. Social Approaches. London: Palgrave,

Stroud, Cristopher. 2007. Bilingualism: Colonialism and postcolonialism. In Monica

Heller (ed.) Bilingualism. Social Approaches. London: Palgrave, 36 Pp.

Sutton, John. 2006. Globalization: A European perspective. In Anthony Giddens, Patrick Diamond and Roger Liddle (eds.) Global Europe, Social Europe.Cambridge: Polity Press, 37-51Pp..

Urciuoli, Bonnie. 1996. Exposing Prejudice. Puerto Rican Experiences of Language, Race and Class. Boulder, Co.: Westview Press, 222 Pp.

Woolard, Kathryn. Language ideology as a field of inquiry. In Schieffelin, Bambi, Kathryn Woolard & Paul Kroskrity (eds.). 1998. Language Ideologies. Practice and Theory. Oxford:Oxford University Press, Pp. 3-27.

Zentella, Ana Celia. 1997. Growing up Bilingual. Oxford: Blackwell, 322 Pp.