Course content

This course is an introduction to the relationship between language and society. It will explore both how language variation and change occur in monolingual societies, and how these might correlate with factors such as age, sex and social class. In bi- and multilingual societies, the focus will be on determining the distribution of languages, such as who uses what language with whom and when. The course will also examine variation in language use across genders, and speech contexts, such as how in/formality is expressed through language and the impact this has on one's audience. Students should make every effort to attend lectures as the exam may test knowledge of concepts that are not discussed in the textbook.

Learning outcome

Candidates who pass this course have the ability to

- determine how and why variation in language use occurs in a given population,

- account for processes of language change,

- distinguish and analyse the major effects of language contact, including: diglossia, code-switching, language shift and pidginization,

- understand the aims of government language policy, and analyse its consequences,

- debate whether women and men speak differently,

- understand how language is used in the context of crime and justice ('Forensic linguistics').

Learning methods and activities

Lectures and/or seminars, and supervision. Students are required to use itslearning regularly.

Compulsory assignments

• 1 written assignment (approx. 1000-1500 words)

Recommended previous knowledge

Students should have knowledge of English equivalent to that of students who have learned English at Norwegian "videregående skole".

Course materials

Students should make every effort to attend lectures as the exam may test knowledge of concepts that are not discussed in the textbook. The reading list will be announced at the beginning of the semester.