Social variation, language contact and power in English

On completion of the course, students should be able to:

• identify different factors explaining fundamental patterns of language use, variation and change
• analyse linguistic interaction using sociolinguistic terminology
• discuss the notions of language maintenance and death
• analyse the effects of globalization and language contact involving English
• discuss power relationships and their effect on language use
• analyse how language policy and planning affect the use of English in the world
• apply methods of sociolinguistic analysis (such as, those in ethnographic and variationist sociolinguistics) to instances of English language use
• demonstrate a high level of spoken and written academic English.

The course involves the deeper study of different topics within the sociolinguistics of English. Different factors that explain how people use the English language and methods of studying linguistic interaction are investigated, including power relationships between individuals. Theoretical approaches to the study of the relationship between English and society are discussed as well. The role of English in a global world is discussed, including how it affects other languages, both in terms of how languages are changed through adopting vocabulary from other languages and how languages can be put in danger because of the power of English.

Examination takes place through active participation in seminars, hand-in assignments, and an essay.

The forms of study are seminars. Teaching is conducted entirely in English.

The Swedish grades U–VG.