Course overview
This course will advance students' understanding of the diversity of language, language use and language change as a result of human mobility and contact. In this course students will develop a critical understanding of how language use changes and diversifies as a result of human mobility and contact. They will research and analyse the socio-economic, educational and political consequences of language change, language loss and multilingualism. They will apply this analysis to 21st century concerns for health, safety, social justice, inclusion and wellbeing.
Course learning outcomes
- explore in depth the relationship between human mobility, language change and diversity at micro- and macro-levels of society
- critically evaluate the influence of the use of different varieties (including monolingual, bilingual and multilingual) on people's opportunities and world views
- apply knowledge of the factors which lead speakers (and thus communities) to continue to speak a language, shift to another language, or use more than one language
- critically analyse the impact of contemporary human mobility on linguistic diversity and apply this to pressing socio-political, economic and educational concerns.