Language and Society: Introduction to Sociolinguistics

Pre-requisites: Completed an introductory course in social, sociological or cultural theory.

Course objectives: The aim of the course is to introduce sociolinguistic concepts and methods, authors, theories and topics; as well as to help students develop an appreciation for the significance of linguistic issues and skills in applying sociolinguistic methods to empirical material.

Course description: On a theoretical level, this course deals with basics in sociolinguistics/sociology of language as a discipline, offering an introduction to its history and general concepts and methods, as well as major authors, theoretical tenets and schools of thought The practical component consists of developing an appreciation of the significance of linguistic issues in studying society and culture, and skills in applying sociolinguistic procedures on data gathered in real social settings, through practical exercises of observation, recording and analyzing linguistic material.

Learning Outcomes: Basic knowledge in the field of sociolinguistics/sociology of language, familiarity with fundamental terms, concepts and contributions; ability to identify sociological aspects of language behavior; basic skills in analyzing linguistic data.

Language and Society: Introduction to Sociolinguistics

Pre-requisites: Completed an introductory course in social, sociological or cultural theory.

Course objectives: The aim of the course is to introduce sociolinguistic concepts and methods, authors, theories and topics; as well as to help students develop an appreciation for the significance of linguistic issues and skills in applying sociolinguistic methods to empirical material.

Course description: On a theoretical level, this course deals with basics in sociolinguistics/sociology of language as a discipline, offering an introduction to its history and general concepts and methods, as well as major authors, theoretical tenets and schools of thought The practical component consists of developing an appreciation of the significance of linguistic issues in studying society and culture, and skills in applying sociolinguistic procedures on data gathered in real social settings, through practical exercises of observation, recording and analyzing linguistic material.

Learning Outcomes: Basic knowledge in the field of sociolinguistics/sociology of language, familiarity with fundamental terms, concepts and contributions; ability to identify sociological aspects of language behavior; basic skills in analyzing linguistic data.

Literature/Reading:

• Fišman, Džošua, Sociologija jezika, Sarajevo 1978: 35-77.
• Bugarski, Ranko, Jezik u društvu, Beograd 1986
• Bugarski, Ranko, Lica jezika, Beograd 2002.
• Holmes, Janet, An Introduction to Sociolinguistics, London 1992:
• Radovanović, Milorad, Sociolingvistika, Novi Sad 2003.
• Spolsky, Bernard, Sociolinguistics, Oxford 1998
• Coulmas, Florian (ed.), The Handbook of Sociolinguistics, Oxford 1997
• Piper, Predrag, Srpski između velikih i malih jezika, Beograd 2004
• Radovanović, Milorad, Planiranje jezika i drugi spisi, Sremski Karlovci 2004.
• Trudgill, Peter, Sociolinguistics: An Introduction to Language and Society, Penguin 2000