Sociolinguistic Theory and Analysis (420-0-20)
Instructors
Annette Kumsun D'onofrio
847/491-8052
2016 Sheridan Rd,, Room 106
Office Hours: By appt.
Meeting Info
Cresap Laboratory 101: Tues, Thurs 12:30PM - 1:50PM
Overview of class
This course is a graduate-level introduction to theoretical frameworks and analytic methods in sociolinguistics. The course will emphasize foundational and contemporary work in linguistic variation and change. We will discuss the origins and history of the field of sociolinguistics, various approaches to studying the role of language in society, quantitative methods of studying linguistic variation, and the ways in which social theoretic frameworks and concepts can bear on the study of language. We will engage with questions about the social conditioning of linguistic variation, stylistic practice, language change, multi-modality, and the connection between smaller-scale interactions and macro-social patterns of variation.
Registration Requirements
Graduate standing or instructor consent required
Learning Objectives
Through successfully completing this course, students will • Understand and articulate in oral and written formats fundamental theoretical approaches to the study of sociolinguistics • Understand and articulate in oral and written formats how social ideologies toward language, reflect, produce, perpetuate, or contest hegemonic power structures in society • Draw upon previous work and theoretical frames to pose new research questions in sociolinguistics • Become familiar with a variety of analytic methods in sociolinguistic variation and apply them to new potential sources of data
Teaching Method
Lecture
Discussion
Evaluation Method
writing assignments, oral presentations, discussion posts
Class Materials (Required)
No required texts (all will be provided by instructor)