Language, Ideologies and Attitudes

Module overview

This module explores language in its social context. The main aim of this module is to introduce you to key research approaches to the study of language attitudes and ideologies and to encourage you to reflect on how attitudes and beliefs about language emerge and develop. It will allow you to gain a critical understanding of exisiting attitudes towards different varieties of English in Britain and around the world. It will also explore the connection between accents, language use and identity using English as a case study.

Aims and Objectives

Learning Outcomes

Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

evaluate sociolinguistic data using theoretical and methodological models
synthesise your own commentaries of sociolinguistic case studies
recognise principles underlying the analysis and significance of sociolinguistic data in a global context

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

Sociolinguistic phenomena relating to language ideology, and sociopsychological phenomena relating to language attitudes;
how particular beliefs about language, including stereotypes and prejudice, emerge and develop.

Transferable and Generic Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

display both self-confidence and self-awareness in your studies
demonstrate written communication skills through the development of ideas and arguments
display individual learning, study and performance skills and time management through your independent learning activities
show capacity for problem solving, information gathering and presenting your findings

Learning and Teaching

Teaching and learning methods

Teaching methods include: - 1 lecture per week - 1 seminar per week Lectures will serve to introduce, analyse and investigate key aspects of sociolinguistics with respect to language ideologies and language attitudes. The weekly seminar will be mostly student-led and will offer an opportunity to discuss key themes through discussion of various activities prepared individually and in groups.

Study time
Type	Hours
Revision	20
Completion of assessment task	26
Lecture	12
Preparation for scheduled sessions	70
Wider reading or practice	10
Seminar	12
Total study time	150

Resources & Reading list

Textbooks

Garrett, Peter (2010). Attitudes to language. Cambridge: CUP.

Gal, S. and J. Irvine (2019). Signs of Difference: Language and Ideology in Social Life. Cambridge: CUP.

Lippi-Green, Rosina (2012). English with an Accent: Language, Ideology, and Discrimination in the United States. London: Routledge.

Milroy, J. and Milroy, L. (2012). Authority in Language Investigating Standard English. London: Routledge.

Assessment

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Breakdown
Method	Percentage contribution
Reflective essay	60%
Research project Report	40%

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.

Breakdown
Method	Percentage contribution
Reflective essay	60%
Research project Report	40%

Repeat

An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.

Breakdown
Method	Percentage contribution
Reflective essay	60%
Research project Report	40%

Repeat Information

Repeat type: Internal & External