Sociolinguistics
Code: 106312 ECTS Credits: 6| Degree | Type | Year |
|---|---|---|
| English Studies | OT | 3 |
| English Studies | OT | 4 |
Contact
- Name:
- Melissa Moyer Greer
- Email:
- melissa.moyer@uab.cat
Teaching groups languages
You can view this information at the end of this document.
Prerequisites
- Students enrolling for this course should be interested in exploring the use and sociocultural practices of English from a practical perspective. Active participation is required in face-to-face sessions and in group activities.
- A C2 level of proficiency in English as defined by the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment is requiered.
- A more complete syllabus will be distributed at the beginning of the course with a detailed schedule of activities and readings.
Objectives and Contextualisation
The goals of English Sociolinguistics are to equip students with both theoretical knowledge and practical skills for analyzing contemporary English language use. This analysis is approached from two perspectives: a quantitative, Labovian framework and a qualitative, ethnographic approach. The course content complements other modules within the English Philology degree program, where English is often treated as a fixed or standardized system. Students will have the opportunity to work hands-on with sociolinguistic data, applying the theoretical and conceptual tools introduced in the course to real-life communicative situations. Additionally, they will develop an understanding of how social inequality and exclusion are (re)produced through language use.
Competences
- English Studies
- Apply scientific ethical principles to information processing.
- Apply the concepts, resources and methods acquired to the study of the English language in a global and multilingual social context of language learning and teaching.
- Demonstrate skills to work autonomously and in teams to fulfil the planned objectives.
- Distinguish and contrast the distinct paradigms and methodologies applied to the study of English.
- Make changes to methods and processes in the area of knowledge in order to provide innovative responses to society's needs and demands.
- Students must develop the necessary learning skills in order to undertake further training with a high degree of autonomy.
- Understand and produce written and spoken academic texts in English at advanced higher-proficient-user level (C2).
- Use digital tools and specific documentary sources for the collection and organisation of information.
- Use written and spoken English for academic and professional purposes, related to the study of linguistics, the philosophy of language, history, English culture and literature.
Learning Outcomes
- Apply the knowledge acquired to the solution of contemporary socio-linguistic problems.
- Express oneself in English, orally and in writing, in an academic register and using appropriate terminology in relation to the study of English as a language of global scope, linguistic variation and, in general, the social uses of language.
- Identify and analyse—from a critical point of view—the existing models and concepts to conceptualise the rise and use of English as a lingua franca in global communication.
- Identify and understand different sociocultural approaches and their methodologies for the study of the English language.
- Incorporate ideas and concepts from published sources into work, citing and referencing appropriately.
- Locate specialised and academic information and select this according to its relevance.
- Organise academic work effectively.
- Plan work effectively, individually or in groups, in order to fulfil the planned objectives.
- Produce written and oral academic texts at higher-proficient-user level (C2) on the concepts and skills relevant to the study of sociolinguistics, multilingualism and varieties of English.
- Understand specialised academic texts on research into the use/learning of English in multilingual contexts, linguistic variation and change, sociolinguistics and language policy.
Content
1. A conceptual approach to Sociolinguistics
2. Quantitative sociolinguistics: variation in the system
3. Variables of language, social class, ethnicity, and style
4. Qualitative sociolinguistics: language as social action
5. Language and culture
6. Language ideologies and stance
7. Language and identity
8. Language and gender from a qualitative perspective
9. Language and the economy. The role of English
10. Multilingual societies
Activities and Methodology
| Title | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type: Directed | |||
| Correction and discussion of practical exercises | 10 | 0.4 | |
| Presentation of theoretical notions and concepts | 12 | 0.48 | |
| To take a critical perspective to class debates and readings | 8 | 0.32 | |
| Type: Supervised | |||
| Individual assignment and exercises | 30 | 1.2 | |
| Type: Autonomous | |||
| Group exercises | 10 | 0.4 | |
| Readings and individual study | 10 | 0.4 | |
| Weekly individual assignments | 28 | 1.12 |
The teaching methodology is based on: 1 ECTS credit = 25 teaching hours x 6 credits = 150 hores
Directed activities (up to 25%)
Supervised activities (up to 15%)
Autonomous activities (minimum 50%)
Assessment activities ( up to 10%)
Use of AI: This subject entirely prohibits the use of AI technologies in all of its activities. Any submitted work that contains content generated using AI will be considered academic dishonesty; the corresponding grade will be awarded a zero, without the possibility of reassessment. In cases of greater infringement, more serious action may be taken.
IMPORTANT NOTE: 15 minutes of class time will be reserved, within the timetable established by the faculty or degree program, for students to complete the evaluation surveys on teaching performance and the subject.
Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.
Assessment
Continous Assessment Activities
| Title | Weighting | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Active participation in class | 10% | 3 | 0.12 | 10, 2, 3, 8, 9 |
| Final exam (JUNE 2ND) | 30% | 2 | 0.08 | 1, 10, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9 |
| Midterm exam (MARCH 26TH) | 30% | 2 | 0.08 | 1, 10, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9 |
| Presentations and homework | 15% | 16 | 0.64 | 1, 5, 6, 8 |
| 4 Individual assignments | 15% | 19 | 0.76 | 1, 10, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 |
60 % of the final mark will be calculated by of 2 exams (30% each) for each part of the syllabus (quantitative sociolinguistics and qualitative sociolinguistic).
15 % of the final grade will come from the completion of 4 individual assignments that students should complete outside the classroom.
15 % of the final grade will come from class presentation and group and individual exercises based on examples and questions related to readings.
10% will come from active participation in class
Students will receive a “Not assessed/Not submitted” course grade if less than 30% of assessments items have been submitted.
IMPORTANT: The two EXAMS, the individual assignment in the class are COMPULSORY.
The two EXAMS must be passed (with a minimum grade of a 5 out of 10) in order to successfully complete the subject.
Reassessment: The reassessment of this subject will be done through a synthesis exam including the two parts of the subject (individual assignments cannot be recuperated) with the following conditions:
- Students must have submitted a minimum of two thirds of the items to be evaluated.
- Students must have passed 50% of the items that can be evaluated in the subject in order to be eligible for the re-assessment exam.
- Students must have obtained an average grade of 3,5 or more. The maximum grade that can be obtained in the re-assessment exam is a 5.
The level of English will be taken into account in the correction of written work and in the final evaluation. If a student shows a level lower than C2, a reduction of score point up to 30% will be applied to each assignment being assessed.
Students will be able to review assessment tasksand activities. The review procedure and the dates will be established by the Facultat de Filosofia i LLetres and made public in Moodle.
Single assessment: It is possible to request a single assessment for this subject. For more information you can access the link: https://www.uab.cat/web/estudis/grau/informacio-academica/avavaluacio/avavaluacio-unica-1345885008033.html
Assessment consists of:
· An exam covering the entire course content: 60%
· A paper related to the course content: 40%
The criteria for resits and for reviewing the final grade in a single assessment are the same as those applied in the class format with continuous assessment.
The dates to request this form of assessment, as stipulated by the Faculty of Philosophy and Letters, are from Feb. 12, 2026 to March 6, 2026.
Language use: Students should avoid the use of sexist language in their submitted written work. See Ten tips for a non‑sexist use of language, https://ddd.uab.cat/record/187914/
Important note for exchange students (Erasmus, etc.) on exams and other tests
Erasmus students who request to bring forward an exam or any other type of assessment activity must present the teacher with an official document from their home university justifying their request.
Plagiarism: Total or partial plagiarism of any submission will automaticallybe considered a FAIL grade for the plagiarized exercise. If plagiarism is repeated, the student will receive a fail for the entire course. PLAGIARISM involves copying text from unidentified sources,whether it is a single phrase or more, that is presented as one’s own work (THIS INCLUDES COPYING PHRASES OR INTERNETFRAGMENTS AND ADDED WITHOUT MODIFICATIONS TO THE TEXT THAT IS PRESENTED AS YOUR OWN ), and it is considered by UAB policy a serious offense.
In the event of a student committing any irregularity that may lead 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 the event of several irregularities in assessment activities of the same subject, the student will be given a zero as the final grade for this subject.
Bibliography
The readings listed below provide additional information and examples on the topics that are covered in the course.
Aquestes lectures son llibres introductoris a l'area de sociolinguistica anglesa i proporcionen a l'alumnat informació i contingut addicional i exemples dels temes tractats durant el cur.
Ahearn, Laura M. 2012. Living Langauge. An Introduction to Linguistic Anthropology. Oxford: Wiley Blackwell. UAB Library online resource: https://cataleg.uab.cat/iii/encore/record/C__Rb2080302__Sahearn%2C%20laura__Orightresult__U__X4?lang=cat&suite=def
Bayley, Robert, Richard Cameron, and Ceil Lucas (eds.). 2013. The Oxford Handbook of Sociolinguistics. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Bell, Alan. 2014. The Guidebook to Sociolinguistics. Oxford: Wiley Blackwell.
Blommaert, Jan. 2005. Discourse. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. UAB library online resource:https://cataleg.uab.cat/iii/encore/record/C__Rb1747595__Sblommaert%20Discourse__Orightresult__U__X2?lang=cat&suite=def
Bonvillain, Nancy. 2008. Language Culture and Communication. The Meaning of Messages. London: Pearson Education. UAB online library resource https://cataleg.uab.cat/iii/encore/record/C__Rb1963179__Sbonvillain__Orightresult__U__X4?lang=cat&suite=def
Coupland, Nikolas and Jaworski, Adam. 2009. The New Sociolinguistics Reader. New York: Palgrave. UAB online library resource https://cataleg.uab.cat/iii/encore/record/C__Rb1963192__Scoupland%20and%20jaworski__Orightresult__U__X2?lang=cat&suite=def
Coupland, Nikolas, Srikant Sarangi and Christopher N. Candlin (eds.). 2001. Sociolinguistics and Social Theory. London: Pearson Longman. UAB online library resource https://cataleg.uab.cat/iii/encore/record/C__Rb1622682__Scoupland%2C%20sarangi%20and%20candlin__Orightresult__U__X2?lang=cat&suite=def
Coupland, Nikolas. 2007. Style. Language Variation and Identity. Cambridge: CUP. UAB online library resource https://cataleg.uab.cat/iii/encore/record/C__Rb1802570__SCoupland%2C%20Nikolas.%202007.%20__Orightresult__U__X1?lang=cat&suite=def
Duranti, Alessandro. 1997. Linguistic Anthropology. Cambridge: CUP.
Fasold, Ralph. 1990. Sociolinguistics of Language. Oxford: Blackwell.
Gay y Blasco, Paloma and Wardle, Huon2007. How to Read Ethnography. London: Routledge.
Heller, Monica. 2007. Bilingualism. A Social Approach. London: Palgrave.
Hill, Jane. 2008. The Everyday Language of White Racism. Malden, MA: Wiley-Blackwell.
Holmes, Janet and Meyerhoff, Miriam. 2003. Language and gender. Oxford: Blackwell.
Lippi‐Green, Rosina. 1997. English with an accent. London: Routledge.
Mesthrie, Rajend, Joan Swann, Ana Deumert, & William L. Leap (eds.). 2000. Introducing Sociolinguistics. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.
Meyerhoff, Miriam. 2006. Introducing Sociolinguistics. London: Routledge.
Milroy, Lesley and Gordon, Matthew. 2003. Sociolinguistics. Oxford: Blackwell.
Romaine, Suzanne. 1994. Language in Society. An Introduction to Sociolinguistics. Oxford: OUP.
Saville‐Troike, Muriel. 1982. The Ethnography of Communication. Oxford:Blackwell.
Wardhaugh, Ronald and Fuller, Janet M. 2015. An Introduction to Sociolinguistics. Oxford: Blackwell. UAB online resource: https://cataleg.uab.cat/iii/encore/record/C__Rb2094240__Swardhaugh__Orightresult__U__X4?lang=cat&suite=def
Wolfram, Walt and Natalie Schilling‐Estes. 1998. American English. Oxford: Blackwell.
Software
No specific software will be used.
Groups and Languages
Please note that this information is provisional until 30 November 2025. You can check it through this link. To consult the language you will need to enter the CODE of the subject.
| Name | Group | Language | Semester | Turn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (PAUL) Classroom practices | 1 | English | second semester | morning-mixed |
| (TE) Theory | 1 | English | second semester | morning-mixed |