Multilingualism: Positive & Negative Consequences on Society

FINAL ESSAY: The second assignment will be an essay and can be linked to what you do for part one (the ‘Research Proposal’), but this is not a requirement; it is worth 60% of the overall module mark, and should be around 2000 words. Topics for assignments include main areas that have been discussed this semester. Choose ONE of the questions below as an assignment question.
A. Sociolinguistics
1. Generally speaking, sociolinguistics considers spoken rather than written forms of languages. Begin by describing the differences between the two forms. Then, consider why linguistics tends to view speech as ‘primary’ and writing as ‘secondary’. Finally, discuss the ways in which people (perhaps using yourself as an example) relate to and use spoken and written forms of language.
2. Discuss why and how sociolinguistics’ focus on language variation was and continues to be a departure from generativists’ analysis of language. Explain, with detailed reference to a range of sociolinguistic approaches and ideas, how this departure has increased or, perhaps, not increased our understanding of language.
B. Variation and Language
Consider who speaks English in the world, where and for what purposes. (Be careful not to be too broad in your approach, other than in the early part of your essay. Pick one ‘group’, or two at the very most, and focus on this or these in close detail).
C. Language Variation and Style
1. It appears that when people start to sermonise about a topic, particularly language, they tend to take more care over their style of speech. What topics would you expect to make people morecareful about their style of speech and why?
2. Do you think Bell’s (1991) audience-design approach is just another way of referring to Labov’s (1966) notion of style-shifting regarding how much attention speakers are paying to listeners? Or, are the differences between these two more deep-seated?
D. Language Attitudes
Speakers of a language can differ in how negative they find a word. (In English for example, people have varying attitudes towards ‘gay’, ‘bitch’ and ‘stud’). What determines how positively or negatively you might perceive particular words? Is it the people who use them or what the words refer to? And, what other factors might there be? (You can select your own words and they do not need to be from English, but an English translation is required of the words you select).
E. Multilingualism, Language Use and Language Choice
1. Describe positive and negative consequences that multilingualism might have for a society.
2. Consider the language policies in your own country and ‘who’ decides what language(s) will be used in institutional domains, such as law and education. In connection, what account is taken of minority groups and/or immigrants whose first language may not be the national language?
3. Many multilinguals use a different language (or languages) at home from the one(s) they use outside the home and at work. If you are like this, map the process by which you select a language or variety for use in a particular situation; and also consider the reasons why you shift between languages and, perhaps, code-switch within a conversation.
F. Social Class and Language Use
To what extent does the way in which an individual talks tell you about this person, in terms of, for example, age, gender, ethnic background, occupation and level of education, among other possible social variables?
G. Communities of Practice and Social Networks
Describe the extent to which your own country (or another one with which you are familiar) can be considered a single speech community instead or as well as a complex grouping of intersecting speech communities.
H. Gender and Language Use
Consider how a women’s magazine, and a magazine aimed primarily at men, use language to refer to and describe males and females. What differences do you notice and how can account for these?
I. Contact between Languages
In national contexts dominated by one language, it is generally minority groups who become multilingual, show diglossia in action or code-switch more than members of the majority.
Minority groups generally adapt in these ways to survive in the face of external economic and political pressures. Describe a situation with which you are familiar and explain some of the social and/or linguistic outcomes of contact.
Acknowledgements
The following questions have been adapted from Meyerhoff’s (2006). Introducing Sociolinguistics: C1, C2, D and E3.
The following questions have been adapted from Paulston & Tucker’s (eds) (2003). Sociolinguistics: The Essential Readings: B, E1 and E2.
References
Bell, A. (1991). The Language of News Media. Oxford: Blackwell.
Labov, W. (1966). The Social Stratification of English in New York City. Washington, DC: Center for Applied Linguistics.