239598 Language, Society, and Power (S) (WiSe 2012/2013)

In this class we will study language in relation to society, describe language use as a social phenomenon and look for correlations between language use, power and social structure. This class thus intends to introduce students to language use in politics and the media, how language use may reflect the status of children or older people, how it may be used to construct identities and to mark ethnicity. But it also investigates whether women and men talk differently and sexist features of language(s). Furthermore we will explore notions of correctness, standardisation and attitudes towards language use and how language variation may be investigated.

Teilnahmevoraussetzungen, notwendige Vorkenntnisse

BaAngBM2 completed!

Literaturangaben

Mooney, Annabelle et al. (2011). Language, Society and Power. An Introduction. Third edition. London: Routledge.

Mooney, Annabelle et al., eds. (2011). The Language, Society and Power Reader. London: Routledge.

A reader with the required reading assignments for each session will be made available before start of term.
Please make sure to get your personal copy before our first meeting.