Language and Identity

Subject LING30012 (2010)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2010.

Credit Points:

12.50

Level:

3 (Undergraduate)

Dates & Locations:

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2010:

Semester 1, Parkville - Taught on campus.

Pre-teaching Period Start	not applicable
Teaching Period	not applicable
Assessment Period End	not applicable
Last date to Self-Enrol	not applicable
Census Date	not applicable
Last date to Withdraw without fail	not applicable

Timetable can be viewed here. For information about these dates, click here.

Time Commitment:

Contact Hours: 2 x 1-hour lectures and 1 x 1-hour tutorial per week - no tutorials in the first and last week of semester
Total Time Commitment: 3 contact hours/week, 5.5 additional hours/week. Total of 8.5 hours per week.

Prerequisites:

Completion of at least 12.5 points at first year in Linguistics and Applied Linguistics or one of the Faculty of Arts’ Interdisciplinary Foundation (IDF) subjects

Corequisites:

None

Recommended Background Knowledge:

None

Non Allowed Subjects:

Students who have completed 175-212 Language and Identity are not allowed to enrol in this subject.

Core Participation Requirements:

For the purposes of considering requests for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements for this entry.

The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

Coordinator

Prof Tim Mcnamara

Contact

tfmcna@unimelb.edu.au

Subject Overview:	This subject introduces students to the ways in which language indexes and constructs identities in social contexts. It introduces students to a range of theoretical approaches, and the distinctive research methodologies associated with each. These include language socialization. studies of language in social interaction using the techniques of Conversation Analysis and discourse analysis (including critical discourse analysis). and poststructuralist approaches to language and subjectivity. Topics covered will include gender-related language use, language and racism, language and sexuality, the negotiation and deployment of identities in face-to-face interaction, and the way language and discourse construct and maintain a sense of "otherness". On completion of the subject, students should be able to recognise ways in which language and discourse construct particular social identities of relevance to themselves, and critically analyse ways of thinking about the complex phenomenon of language and identity.
Objectives:	think in theoretical terms about possible relationships between language and identity. analyse and critically evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of a variety of approaches to investigating such relationships. recognise and explain possible relationships between language and the construction of a particular social identity relevant to themselves or their own interests.
Assessment:	Two 2000-word essays, 50% each (one due mid-semester, one due at the end of the semester).
Prescribed Texts:	A reader will be available.
Recommended Texts:	Benwell, Betham and Elizabeth Stokoe (2006). Discourse and Identity. Edinburgh: Edinburgh
Breadth Options:	This subject potentially can be taken as a breadth subject component for the following courses: Bachelor of Biomedicine Bachelor of Commerce Bachelor of Environments Bachelor of Music Bachelor of Science Bachelor of Engineering You should visit learn more about breadth subjects and read the breadth requirements for your degree, and should discuss your choice with your student adviser, before deciding on your subjects.
Fees Information:	Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Generic Skills:	communicate intelligibly and economically their understanding of debates within this area. understand the social and cultural context of the construction of identities in and through language.
Related Majors/Minors/Specialisations:	Cross Cultural Communication Cross Cultural Communication English Language Studies English Language Studies Major European Studies Linguistics && Applied Linguistics Linguistics && Applied Linguistics Major Linguistics and Applied Linguistics Linguistics and Applied Linguistics

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