This is a second year Arts subject taken by the reviewer in second semester 2010.
Subject Outline. The subject is essentially about how different social groups use language in different ways, and what these uses reflect. One question raised is the easily-googled ‘priority thesis’, where the role of language might influence social grouping OR social grouping might influence language – and gosh, the linguists are excited to make use of a real philosophical question for a change.
The subject is divided into small units composed of different sub-topics: gender, ethnicity, spatial location etc, but plenty of energy is devoted to asserting how these all intersect to make a delightful, unpredictable but instinctively comprehensible picture. Seriously – this subject is one of those which tells you nothing you couldn’t have worked out for yourself, and just puts labels on it all – but it is plenty interesting if you like it enough.
Materials. No materials were really necessary. The lecture slides are adequate for exam study. Much research was required for the final assignment – start learning how to access journal articles online; they are your saving grace.
Assessment. The major assessment for this subject is due just prior to the exam period – it is a full, completely written-up linguistic study on a particular socio-linguistic factor. You will pick a question, formulate a hypothesis, find subjects, acquire their material (this often means the hassle of making recordings and getting permissions), tons of research, ethical considerations and very, very long report at the end, involving graphs and tables and anything else you can offer to look like your material is actually quantifiable. You can fake the results all you like, but this still can’t be done two hours before it’s due.
Lectures. Read the slides. Attend the first and last lecture for each subject, and attending the rest one actually hurt you if you like the topic or the lecturer – but don’t consider them anything vital.
Tutorials/Practicals. Tutorials are a hurdle – the tutors are pleasant, your classmates are either vague, over-informed or ignorant/asleep. A little bit of philosophical background (or frenzied wikipedia reading) will make you look extra good for a little tutor cred if your assignment is late or somewhat illegible – these are wonderfully low-stress tutes.
The reviewer rated this subject 7/10.
Words of Wisdom. Really, don’t leave the project too late. This is not a challenge, it’s a plea.
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Posted Monday 26 September, 2011. Updated Monday 26 September, 2011.