Course materials © for/by Peter L. Patrick. May contain
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LG102,
autumn term 2003
Introduction
to Sociolinguistics
Lecturer: Prof Peter L Patrick
Office: Room 4.328, ext. 2088, email:
patrickp@essex.ac.uk
Webpage: http://privatewww.essex.ac.uk/~patrickp
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tues nov 11 |
Code-Switching |
|
|
tues nov 18 |
Societal
Multilingualism |
|
|
tues nov 25 |
Language Shift
and Death |
|
|
tues dec 2 |
Language
Evolution: Gradual Change |
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tues dec 9 |
Pidgins,
Creoles and Mixed Languages |
Primary Textbook:
Peter
Trudgill, 2000. Sociolinguistics: An Introduction to Language and Society
(Penguin). Note: Earlier editions have different chapter
structures etc. – plesae try to get the latest one!
Assignments: see below
·
Code-Switching. What is code-switching?
How is it different from other kinds of language choice? (Style, register,
borrowing) Is it an individual or group activity? What kinds of people
code-switch, in what situations – and why? What levels of language do speakers
switch between? How is code-switching related to language attrition? Verbal
repertoires and a continuum of language choice. Sample data & case studies.
Peter
Trudgill, 2000. Sociolinguistics, Chap. 5, “Language and Context” (esp.
the second half).
·
Further Reading:
R Wardhaugh 2002. An introduction to sociolinguistics. Chap. 4,
"Choosing a code," 100-115.
S Romaine 2000. Language
in Society. Chap. 2, “Language choice,” esp. 55-63.
R Fasold 1984. Sociolinguistics of Society. Chap.
7, "Language Choice," 180-212.
P Gardner-Chloros 1997. "Code-switching:
Language selection in 3 Strasbourg department stores." In N Coupland & A Jaworski
eds., Sociolinguistics: A reader, 361-75.
o
Examples of Code-switching
o
More examples of Code-switching
o
A continuum of language choice
·
Societal Multilingualism. Is mono-lingualism
‘normal’? or a disability? Is multi-lingualism a ‘problem’ for nations? What
links language to nation, ethnic group, race, & power? What linguistic
rights & responsibilities do majority- & minority- language speakers
have? Examples & case studies.
Trudgill
2000, Chap. 7, “Language and Nation”.
·
Further Reading:
R Fasold 1984. Sociolinguistics of Society. Chap.
1 "Societal multilingualism".
S Romaine 2000. Language
in Society. Chap. 2, “Language choice,” esp. 32-54.
R Wardhaugh 2002. An introduction to sociolinguistics. Chap. 15, “Language
planning.”
J Fishman 1989. "Language Ethnicity and
Racism," in Coupland & Jaworski eds., 329-40.
o
Language numbers in world perspective: Papua New Guinea
·
Language Shift and Death. How does language death
happen? Are many of the world’s indigenous languages really disappearing
rapidly? Is linguistic diversity a useful thing? How can language shift be
reversed? Are local dialects at risk too? What role can education and mass
media play? Case studies.
Trudgill
2000, Chap. 10, “Language and Humanity.”
·
Further Reading:
J Fishman 1991. Reversing language
shift: Theoretical and empirical foundations of assistance to threatened
languages.
Linguistic Society of America. www.lsadc.org/ 1995 Statement on
Language Rights (look under “Members > Resolutions”), and Guide to Endangered Languages (look under “About
linguistics > FAQs”)
Lenore Grenoble & Lindsey Whaley,
eds. 1998. Endangered languages: Language loss & community response.
David Crystal, 2000. Language Death.
Daniel
Nettle and Suzanne Romaine. 2000. Vanishing
Voices.
Foundation for Endangered Languages website: http://www.ogmios.org/
Peter L
Patrick, 2003. Linguistic Human Rights: A sociolinguistic introduction. (link
from my homepage:)
http://privatewww.essex.ac.uk/~patrickp/LinguisticHumanRightsIntro.htm
·
Notes online:
§
Notes on language shift and death
§
Factors safe-guarding some languages of Papua New
Guinea
§
Factors predicting ethnolinguistic vitality (=language survival)
·
Language Evolution:
Gradual Change. How do languages change? Family-trees and genetic linguistics. Do
sounds change gradually or abruptly? Changes in features; mergers & splits.
Changes in meaning. Borrowing. Gradual spread of sounds by contact. Sample
data.
A Radford,
M Atkinson, D Britain, H Clahsen & A Spencer, 1999. Linguistics: An
introduction, Chap. 4, “Sound change.” Review Chap. 2 if needed.
·
Further Reading:
Trudgill
2000, Chap. 9, “Language and geography.”
J
Aitchison 1992. Language Change: Progress or decay?
A McMahon
1994. Understanding Language Change.
RL
Trask 1996. Historical Linguistics.
·
Notes online:
Chart of the Northern Cities chain shift
More info on this Shift, and on Mergers
(technical!)
·
Pidgins, Creoles and Mixed
Languages.
How do languages change suddenly when societies collide? What are pidgins?
Creoles? How are they formed, and how do they develop? Do they resemble first-
and second-language acquisition? What social functions do they serve? What
problems do their speakers have? Audio-/video samples, maps.
Trudgill
2000, Chap. 9, “Language and contact.”
·
Further Reading:
J
Arends, P Muysken & N Smith, eds 1994. Pidgins
& Creoles: An introduction, Chap. 1-2.
JR Rickford & J McWhorter 1997. "Language contact
and language generation: Pidgins and Creoles", in F Coulmas, ed. Handbook
of Sociolinguistics: 238-256.
JA Holm 2000. An introduction to pidgins and creoles.
S Romaine
2000. Language in Society. Chap. 6.
·
Notes online:
Rapid loss and endangerment of languages is occurring on a global scale. What are some of the causes of this? What consequences might it have, especially for speakers of minority languages? Describe some of the steps proposed for diagnosing, halting and reversing language shift. (Mention specific case studies.)
Compare and contrast pidgins with creoles. How are they similar, and how do they differ, in their historical development and their linguistic structures? Discuss both social and linguistic aspects. (Give examples and case studies.)
I have written up some advice on writing essay
assignments in sociolinguistics. This advice is primarily aimed at 2nd-
and final-year students, so be warned that it may aim a little higher than
where you are just now. Also, please note that it is directed at writing essays
for ME, and other staff – even staff on this course – may not agree with all of
it! That said, it may still be useful for you to have a look at.
Please look first at the departmental
advice given in the Undergraduate Handbook (here), and any other sources you are directed to by your course
instructor (Wyn Johnson) and class teachers. Then look at mine (here). If the two clash, please follow the departmental
advice. (Next year, if you take a course entirely from me, you can
follow mine!)
Peter L. Patrick's Course Page
Last updated on 08 December 2003
