Topics in Chinese Sociolinguistics
Postgraduate course
- ECTS credits
- 10
- Teaching semesters
- Spring
- Course code
- KIN303
- Number of semesters
- 1
- Teaching language
- English and Chinese
- Resources
- Schedule
Course description
Objectives and Content
Sociolinguistics concerns the interactions between language and society and is extended to include sociology of language in the era of globalization. Therefore, the course brings the two together, i.e., both the Chinese society reflected in Chinese language (i.e., traditional sociolinguistics) and the use of Chinese language in Chinese society (i.e., sociology of language) with a focus on the latter. Students will be trained to acquire adequate knowledge to understand the complex linguistic situation in China and topics on language management of the Chinese language on the Chinese mainland and to describe issues concerning divergence and convergence of language use in Chinese speaking polities through an interdisciplinary perspective.
Like many dynamic systems, language undergoes constant change over time. The course provides a thorough insight into a broad array of factors such as social class and national or geographical affiliation that drive the change in language and study their impact on linguistic communities of Chinese speakers. Specifically, on this course, students will be introduced to the socio-political dimensions of Chinese language development and character modernization and phonetic standardization. It equips students with advanced knowledge that is central to Chinese sociolinguistics as a field of research, and helps them to learn how Chinese sociolinguists explore the relationship between language/script and the expression of class, power, and political/regional identity
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the course:
Knowledge
The student
- will develop advanced understanding of the socio-political aspects of the developing trajectory of Chinese language
- will acquire advanced knowledge about the dynamic interaction between social changes and language evolution
- will be introduced with the latest literature and analytic approaches in studying language as a social phenomenon
Skills
The student
- can apply theoretical knowledge and methodological skills in interpreting language development and official policies in the context of modern China
- can critically reflect on the socio-political implications of the causes and goals of language planning and management
- can analyze and deal critically with various sources of information and use them to structure and formulate scholarly arguments in the field of Chinese sociolinguistics
General competence
The student
- can develop a strong multicultural awareness of social status and use of language forms and linguistic devices thus to enhance the proficiency of intercultural communication
- can apply his/her acquired knowledge and skills to problematize the variation of language from sociolinguistic perspectives
- can communicate about academic issues, analyses and conclusions in the field of sociology of Chinese language, both with specialists and the general public
ECTS Credits
Level of Study
Semester of Instruction
Place of Instruction
Required Previous Knowledge
Recommended Previous Knowledge
Credit Reduction due to Course Overlap
Access to the Course
Teaching and learning methods
The main teaching methods are lectures and seminars (and occasional guest lectures): altogether 12 weeks, 24 hours. The main learning activities may include participation in discussion, student-led discussion, group assignment, etc..
The course is taught in English, with considerable analytical examples and texts in Chinese. In the lectures, selected topics in Chinese sociolinguistics such as language politics in character standardization and alphabetization are taught by the instructor. In the seminars, student-led discussions will be conducted.
For students to test theory against real-world situations in an interactive way, problem-based study is adopted in which groups are presented with a real-life problem or scenario and students will need to work as a team to investigate potential solutions while identifying what skills or knowledge they need to effectively manage the situation.
Compulsory Assignments and Attendance
Students have to attend at least 75% of the classes and pass two compulsory written assignments in order to be qualified for the final exam.
Compulsory assignments are valid for one semester following the semester of instructions, and all compulsory assignments must be completed in the same semester.
Forms of Assessment
Course assessment consists of a four-hour written examination. The exam will be in English.
To make the exam align with course objectives (i.e., learning results), exam paper mainly consists of subjective, or open-ended questions that require answers in the form of explanations and argumentations, including basic concept (terminology and definition) explanation, short answer and essay/opinion questions. As these questions (particularly the essay questions) require students to organize and present original answers, they are constructed with an aim to evaluate the student¿s in-depth understanding of the subject matter and practical ability to solve problems. The students are required to demonstrate their reasoning and analysis skills through critically comparing and contrasting an issue taught during the study.
Grading Scale
Assessment Semester
Reading List
A tailored collection of state-of-the-art articles in the field will be provided digitally.
Content may vary slightly from semester to semester, in accordance with the development of the core discipline and its academic circles in different geographical-cultural contexts.
The reading list will be available by 1 December for the Spring semester.