This module examines the powerful relationship between language and society, revealing how the way we speak both reflects and shapes who we are. Students will investigate language variation and examine how social factors such as social class, gender, and social networks influence everyday communication. Through the lens of interactional sociolinguistics, the module explores how speakers actively construct social identities and how meaning is shaped by context in real-world interaction. The module also engages with key sociolinguistic phenomena arising from language contact, including code-switching, diglossia, bilingualism, and language shift, providing insights into multilingual societies and changing linguistic landscapes.
Students will apply core theories to authentic, naturally occurring data and develop practical skills in sociolinguistic data collection and analysis. The module is taught via interactive whole cohort workshops, student-led seminars, independent study and a small-scale sociolinguistic research project where students investigate a topic of language in society that aligns with their interests. By the end of the module, students will have developed a critical understanding of how language operates in social life, alongside valuable analytical and research skills applicable across a range of academic and professional contexts.