LING 212 - Introduction to Sociolinguistic Patterns

This course is part of the linguistics department’s introductory series, and is a survey of scholarship devoted to the inclusion of the social within linguistic inquiry. We focus on the sociolinguistic patterning of language through the key concepts of variation and change. We also explore theoretical notions (ideology, indexicality, repertoires), methodologies for gathering sociolinguistic data, perspectives on sociolinguistic analysis at the level of the group and the individual, and the role of identity, agency, and social categories in sociolinguistics. Students collect original data and write short research write-ups, moving from a collaborative data project to a final research project of each student’s choosing.

Unit(s): 1
Group Distribution Requirement(s): Distribution Group II
Instructional Method: Conference
Grading Mode: Letter grading (A-F)
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.