Language in Culture and Society (ENG123)

This course focuses on how language varies within culture and society. Students will gain a deeper understanding of the intricate ways language functions within cultural and social contexts.

In this course, students will learn about different levels of variation in language and what constitutes a linguistic standard. They will encounter several factors that influence communication and linguistic identity, such as multilingualism and its effect on individual expression. The impact that region, gender and social class have on language use will also be examined as well as how these factors contribute to distinct linguistic practices. Additionally, students will learn how language evolves over time and how languages in contact affect each other, leading to changes and innovations. Moreover, they will encounter a selection of international varieties of English, such as countries with English as a first language, as a second language and as a language of increasing importance. Finally, various linguistic features found in media and pop culture will also be discussed. By the end of the course, students will gain a deeper understanding of the intricate ways language functions within cultural and social contexts.

Knowledge

By the end of the course, the students will have gained knowledge of:

• central themes, theories, processes, and methods within the subject area
• standard language, variation and dialects
• region, gender and social class as factors influencing speech variation
• language contact, multilingualism and language change
• particular linguistic features found in select international varieties of English

Skills

By the end of the course, the students will be able to:

• describe various levels of speech variation
• analyze speech variation in relation to social variables, such as region, gender and social class
• evaluate the appropriate use of language in different social situations
• identify linguistic features typical of some international varieties of English and recognize speakers from different backgrounds
• understand the role of media language and pop culture

General competence

By the end of the course, the students will be able to:

• understand how language varies and functions within culture and society
• improve their own communication skills within specific contexts
• use the acquired knowledge in further studies of language and linguistics and in teaching

None

The course presupposes a solid command of written and spoken English.

One written assignment - approximately 500-1500 words as set by instructor.

In order to take the exam, students must have passed the obligatory written assignment.

If the assignment is assessed as not approved on the first attempt, students are given one opportunity to submit a revised assignment.

References and AI

• All submitted assignments must be the result of the student’s own independent work. Students are responsible for familiarizing themselves with the rules for source referencing.
• Information on source referencing is available on the University Library’s website: https://www.uis.no/en/library/citations
• Guidance on the use of AI tools in relation to exams can be found on the University of Stavanger’s exam pages: https://www.uis.no/en/student-pages/use-of-artificial-intelligence-ai-in-assignment-writing-and-exams

Lectures

Open course for all who meet the requirements for general university admissions certification (GSK).

General university admissions certification (GSK).

The faculty decides whether early dialogue will be held in all courses or in selected groups of courses. The aim is to collect student feedback for improvements during the semester. In addition, a digital course evaluation must be conducted at least every three years to gather students’ experiences.

The course description is retrieved from FS (Felles studentsystem). Version 1