LING 412 - Research Topics in Sociolinguistics

Language and Media
This course draws on theories and insights from the field of sociolinguistics to critically analyze language use in media. Students will look at a broad range of media, including popular media (television, movies, etc), social media, and newspapers. They will use qualitative and quantitative techniques to apply the sociolinguistic and pragmatic concepts of variation, indexicality, iconicity, and implicature to these texts, and analyze the ways in which language is used to shape stories, create and develop characters and character types, influence audiences, and convey ideological messages. They will also look at the representation of language varieties themselves within media texts. Students will develop original research on a text and topic of their choosing over the course of the semester.

Unit(s): 1
Group Distribution Requirement(s): Distribution Group II
Prerequisite(s): Language and Media: LING 212
Instructional Method: Conference
Grading Mode: Letter grading (A-F)
Not offered: 2026-27
Group Distribution Learning Outcome(s):

Evaluate data and/or sources.
Analyze institutions, formations, languages, structures, or processes, whether social, political, religious, economic, cultural, intellectual or other.
Think in sophisticated ways about causation, social and/or historical change, human cognition, or the relationship between individuals and society, or engage with social, political, religious or economic theory in other areas.