Sociolinguistics

Course Description

Sociolinguistics is a scientific field within linguistics that examines the relationship between language and society, and society’s influence on language. Contemporary sociolinguistics focuses on linguistic variation—namely, the internal and external differentiation of linguistic phenomena across different social groups and communicative contexts. It also investigates language use as a tool for communication and interaction among individuals and communities, as well as the interconnection between language and culture.

Learning Objectives & Intended Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the course, students will further strengthen the knowledge acquired during their undergraduate studies while developing the ability to undertake research and formulate original approaches to sociolinguistic issues. Through an individual research project, students will cultivate critical thinking and originality, while the public presentation of their work will enhance their skills in communicating research to audiences beyond the academic classroom.

Given the interdisciplinary nature of sociolinguistics, students completing the course will be capable of understanding and addressing complex problems that arise in related scientific fields.

Additionally, students will enhance their ability to draw well-founded scientific conclusions based on thorough data analysis, logical assumptions, and sound methodological approaches.

Finally, upon completion of the course, students will acquire all the necessary (academic, communicative, research) skills required for pursuing further studies with greater independence.

Course Content (Syllabus)

Sociolinguistics is a scientific field within linguistics that explores the relationship between language and society, and society’s influence on language. Contemporary sociolinguistics focuses on linguistic variation—internal and external differentiation of linguistic phenomena across social groups and communicative situations—and examines language use as a tool of communication and social interaction, as well as the link between language and culture.

Weekly Topics:

1. Language and Society
2. Research Methods in Sociolinguistics
3. Speech Communities
4. Linguistic Identity
5. Gender and Language
6. Youth Language
7. Sideline Discourse
8. Forbidden Language
9. The Authority of Language and the Language of Authority
10. Geographic Linguistic Variation
11. Language Borrowing
12. Language, Politics, and Ideology
13. Language Error and Hypercorrection

Recommended Bibliography

Suggested Books

• Archakis A. & Kondyli M. Introduction to Sociolinguistics. Athens: Nisos.
• Boutet J. (1984). Introduction to Sociolinguistics. Athens: Grigoris.
• Kakridi-Ferrari M. (2005). Language and Social Environment: Issues in Sociolinguistics, Part I. Athens.
• Kostouli-Makraki N. (2001). Language and Society. Athens: Metaichmio.
• Mikros G. (2009). Quantitative Analysis of Sociolinguistic Variation: Theoretical and Methodological Approaches. Athens: Metaichmio.
• Daltas P. (1997). Sociolinguistic Variability: Theoretical Models and Research Methodology. Athens: Epikyrotita.
• McKay S.L., Hornberg N. (eds.) (2009). Sociolinguistics and Language Teaching. Thessaloniki: Epikentro.

Related Academic Journals

• Journal of Sociolinguistics
• Language in Society (Cambridge University Press)
• International Journal of Society, Culture & Language
• Language, Discourse & Society

Teaching and Learning Methods

• Combination of distance synchronous learning and face-to-face instruction.
• Two (2) in-person lectures per semester.
• Eleven (11) online lectures via the ZOOM platform.
• Use of the asynchronous platform Opencourses of the Ionian University.

Use of Information and Communication Technologies

• Support of teaching and learning via the asynchronous OpenCourses platform of the Ionian University (document repository, announcements, lecture notes, user groups, online assignments, file exchange, etc.).
• Use of Zoom for synchronous teaching and communication with students.
• Use of the Turnitin text-processing software for plagiarism detection in assignments.
• Use of MS Teams for communication with students.

Assessment Methods

Assessment methods include:

• Individual written assignment (report format)
• Public presentation of the assignment
• Oral examination/discussion on the presented work

The assessment criteria are explained orally during the first lecture and posted on the corresponding section of the course’s asynchronous e-class platform.