| Unit name | Regional and Minority Languages |
|---|---|
| Unit code | MODLM0018 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
| Unit director | Dr. James Hawkey |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
None |
| Co-requisites |
None |
| School/department | School of Modern Languages |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
This unit aims to introduce and develop an understanding of sociolinguistic approaches to regional and minority language situations worldwide. We will be addressing a number of theoretical and practical concerns faced by speakers of regional and minority linguistic varieties, and will focus on a number of different speech communities. Within this unit, specific attention will be paid to topics including (but not limited to):
This will allow students to undertake an original, analytical study project which compares multiple, seemingly distinct scenarios, in an attempt to underline any (theoretical and/or practical) commonalities and differences between them.
a) Students will gain familiarity with the discipline of sociolinguistics, which offers a complete set of tools that can be used to analyse contemporary society and culture. This complements other theoretical approaches that students will acquire in other units.
b) Students will gain in-depth knowledge of several regional and minority language situations worldwide.
c) Students will develop their own analytical skills through the comparative analysis of different speech situations worldwide.
d) Students will be able to apply their new theoretical knowledge to different linguistic situations, and will be able to perform independent, original, critical analyses.
e) Students will be skilled in the selection and synthesis of relevant material.
f) Students will be able to analyse and evaluate a wide range of materials at a high level.
Seminar-style teaching: discussions based around a series of theoretical and community-specific texts, set each week. This will allow students to develop their own analysis and receive feedback from staff and fellow students on their ideas.
1 x 5,000 word essay (testing ILOs a-f).
Extra, G. and Gorter, D. (eds, 2001). The other languages of Europe: Demographic, sociolinguistic and educational perspectives. Clevedon: Multilingual Matters.
Judge, A. (2007). Linguistic policies and the survival of regional languages in France and Britain. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
May, S. (2012). Language and minority rights: Ethnicity, nationalism and the politics of language (second edition). Abingdon: Routledge.
