Postgraduate Course: Bilingual Interaction (LASC11176)
Course Outline
| School | School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | An advanced study of bi/multilingualism (hereafter 'bilingualism') as a sociolinguistic phenomenon. The course focuses on macro-societal patterns of language use in bilingual communities as well as on micro-interactional language choices. It also explores the applications of bilingualism studies to real-life issues. |
| Course description |
Week-by-week topics
Week 1: Definition and scope of bilingualism
Week 2: Language choice in bilingual communities
Week 3-5: Language choice in bilingual interaction
Week 6: Independent study/flexible learning
Week 7: Applied bilingual interaction studies: a background
Week 8: Bilingual interaction in educational settings
Week 9: Bilingual interaction in family settings
Week 10: Bilingual interaction in workplace settings
Week 11: Review of the course
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
|
| Academic year 2025/26, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: 0 |
| Course Start |
Semester 2 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 30,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
166 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
The course will be assessed 100% by coursework. Two pieces of assessment will be submitted: (1) review of literature counting for 40% of the final mark (1,500 words) and (2) a final project (research proposal) counting for 60% of final mark (2,500 words). |
| Feedback |
Not entered |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- describe patterns of language choice in bilingual communities both synchronically and diachronically
- collect and analyse bilingual interactional data
- demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between language choice and the construction and expression of social identities
- demonstrate an understanding of the role of language choice in the organization of bilingual conversation
- demonstrate an understanding of the role of language choice in the accomplishment of various institutional goals
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Reading List
An up-to-date list of readings week-by-week will be provided at the beginning of the course.
Some general textbooks
Wei, Li (2000) (ed.) The Bilingualism Reader. London: Routledge (available online)
Myers-Scotton, C. (2006) Multiple Voices: An Introduction to Bilingualism. Oxford: Blackwell.
Auer, P. and Wei, Li (2007) (eds.) Handbook of Multilingualism and Multilingual Communication. Berlin: Mouton de gruyter.
Gafaranga, J. (2007) Talk in Two Languages. Basingstoke, Hampshire: Palgrave Mcmillan (e-book available).
Some relevant Journals:
International Journal of Bilingualism
International Journal of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism
Journal of Multilingual of Multicultural development
Journal of Sociolinguistics
Language in Society
Language Problems and Planning
Current Issues in Language Policy and Planning
Multilingua |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Critical reading and thinking, clarity of expression, evidence-based argumentation, academic report writing |
| Keywords | bi/multilingualism,diglossia,code-switching,language policy,language shift/maintenance |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Joseph Gafaranga
Tel: (0131 6)50 3496
Email: |
Course secretary | Ms Sasha Wood
Tel:
Email: |
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