Faculty of Arts & Languages

The Islamia University of Bahawalpur

Course Outline

Course Code: ELING-00501

Course Title: Sociolinguistics
Course Instructors: Muhammad Ammar

Course Description

Sociolinguistics explores interrelationship between language and society, is both interesting and

complicated. It helps in developing deeper understanding of society as well as language. This purpose

of this course is to build on the knowledge and understanding of MPhil scholars that they come with.

The outline includes almost all key issues which are deemed important in the field. It also includes

some important nonlinguistic variables which are associated with language and its use. It examines

language in relation to society, with particular reference to the linguistic situation in Pakistan and

investigates the correlation between linguistic variables and non-linguistic variables such as gender,

age and social class.

Course Objectives

The objectives of the course are to enable the students to

1. Understand the core concepts used in the field

2. Reflect upon the crucial issues in Sociolinguistics with particular reference to the relationship

between language and non-linguistic variables such as gender, social class, age, etc.

3. Develop and understanding of the current sociolinguistic situation in Pakistan with particular

reference to bilingualism, multilingualism, language policy, language maintenance and language shift

4. Explore new vistas of research in the field with special reference to Pakistani context.

Weekly Schedule

1|6
 Faculty of Arts & Languages

The Islamia University of Bahawalpur

Course Outline

Topic Source Assessment

Methodology
1 Introduction of Students Ice Breaker
Introduction of Course
2 Introduction to Sociolinguistics Textbook
Sociolinguistics vs Sociology of language
3 Language, Dialect, Idiolect and Varieties Textbook

4 Accent, Register, Style, Speech Communities

5 Pidgin and Creole Textbook Quiz 1

6 Language and Culture
7 Language and Society Textbook
8 Language and Power
9 Presentations Presentations
10 Group Activities
11 Mid Term Exam Textbook

12
Bilingualism and Multilingualism
Code switching and Code Mixing

13 Lingua franca, Vernacular, Standard Textbook Quiz 2

Language

14 Language Shift, Language Maintenance and Textbook Assignment 1

Language Death
15 Accommodation Theory Textbook
16 Language Policy and Planning(LPP) Textbook

2|6
 Faculty of Arts & Languages

The Islamia University of Bahawalpur

Course Outline

TextBooks
1. An Introduction to Sociolinguistics by Ronald Wardough
2. An Introduction to Sociolinguistics by Janet Holmes

Students’ Evaluation Criteria

Attendance 5%
Assignments 3%
Quiz 7%
Class Participation and 5%
Presentation
Mid Term Paper 30%
Final Term Paper 50%
Total 100%

3|6