LINGUIST List 25.2189
Mon
May 19 2014
Summer Schools: An
Introduction to Theory and Praxis of
Sociolinguistics / Pristina, Kosovo
Editor for this issue:
Malgorzata Cavar <gosialinguistlist.org>
Date: 15-May-2014
From: Uranela Demaj
<uranela.demaj
universitetiaab.com>
Subject: An Introduction to
Theory and Praxis of Sociolinguistics /
Pristina, Kosovo
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An Introduction to Theory and Praxis of
Sociolinguistics
Host Institution: AAB University
Coordinating Institution: AAB University
Website:
http://isu.aab-edu.net
Dates: 07-Jul-2014 - 18-Jul-2014
Location: Pristina, Kosovo
Focus: The purpose of the course is to
familiarize students with the concepts,
objectives, hypotheses, and research methods
that constitute the study of sociolinguistics.
In addition, the course encourages students to
think critically about sociolinguistic aspects
in Kosovo and the region and develop an
interest and thorough understanding of research
in the (thus far underexplored) domain of the
Kosovo sociolinguistic configuration.
Minimum Education Level: Undergraduate
Special Qualifications:
Intermediate level knowledge of English and
interest in sociolinguistics.
Description:
This Summer University Course offers an
introduction to the study of sociolinguistics
as both an independent academic discipline and
an interesting and fruitful research domain in
the specific context of Kosovo. We propose an
intensive 50-hour class encompassing both (i)
theoretical lectures, and (ii) workshop
activities:
(i) In case of the former, 26 hours of lectures
will introduce and address basic
sociolinguistic concepts, topics and
theoretical principles. This overview includes,
amongst others:
the inception of the field of sociolinguistics
within the larger tradition of 20th century
linguistics; sociolinguistic variation and
variability in language use;
multilingualism and language contact phenomena
(e.g. pidgins and creoles, and
code-switching);
language maintenance, shift and death;
language attitudes and ideologies;
English world-wide and World Englishes;
social dialectology;
language and gender;
linguistic landscape studies (cf. research
project infra).
At the end of the course, the students’
individual knowledge of and familiarity with
these theoretical topics will be assessed by
means of a final oral exam, which counts
towards 50% of their final mark for the Summer
University Course.
(ii) In addition to this theoretical framework,
the Summer University Course also includes 24
hours of workshop activities in which students
are expected to conduct their own research
study. Engaging in their own research project
will as such enable them to thoroughly
understand the different aspects and
possibilities of the field of sociolinguistics
as a research domain. Students will be divided
into five groups of 5 students each (25
students in total in accordance with
specifications in the Summer University
contract) and will collectively in group
conduct their own linguistic landscape study
(i.e. studying the use of written language in
the public sphere) in Pristina. As part of
their training, these workshops also aim to
teach students how to compose and choose a
sociolinguistic research topic, how to devise a
research
question and how to formulate a range of
potential hypotheses. The activities during
these workshops will also allow them to
critically discern various quantitative and
qualitative research methods, and select and
implement the adequate methodology of their own
choice in their research project. For their
exam assignments, students are expected to
collect linguistic landscape data by means of
ethnographic fieldwork in different areas in
Pristina (or Kosovo) and to analyze and code
these data quantitatively in class by means of
a language visibility score system. In addition
to this, they are also expected
to document perceptions of local inhabitants
(by means of brief, un-structured interviews)
regarding the use of language (e.g. English or
tourist languages) in the public sphere in
Pristina and apply a more qualitative
perspective to their study. During the final
session of the course, students are expected
to
discuss their results and observations in an
oral presentation (10% of the evaluation mark;
15 minutes per group presentation) and hand in
their final conclusions in a written research
report (30% of the evaluation mark).
In addition to the written research report, the
presentation and the oral exam, students are
also expected to hand in an interim progress
report at the end of the first week, which will
not count towards their exam mark but in which
they document the steps undertaken so far in
their study, as well as the problems they
encountered and concerns that arose during the
research process. Based on this progress
report, the two lecturers can assist where
necessary and provide feedback.
Linguistic Field(s): Sociolinguistics
Tuition: 250.00 EUR
Tuition Explanation: 100 euro for local
students
250 euro for international students (including
course costs, food and lodging expenses)
Registration: 25-Apr-2014 to 01-Jun-2014
Contact Person: Uranela Demaj
Email: uranela.demaj
universitetiaab.com
Apply on the web:
http://isu.aab-edu.net/apply-now/
Registration Instructions:
Students can apply online. If applicants have
difficulties with any of the question please
feel free to contact uranela.demaj
universitetiaab.com
Page Updated: 19-May-2014