This module introduces students to major scholarship on the politics of language which includes historical, cultural and linguistic issues. We will consider a broad inter- and transdisciplinary body of research from a global perspective. The relationship between language and culture, identity politics, as well as power dynamics of inclusion and exclusion, social class stratification, ethnicity, race, and gender will be considered. We focus on the politics of English as a global language and academic lingua franca and its ambiguous role in the ex-British colonies. Theories and methodologies of language planning and policy will be examined, and students will have a chance to develop critical thinking skills. Some texts will focus on theoretical aspects while others will be rich in empirical data or cultural content. One of the primary goals of this course is to encourage students to engage in analytical thinking, to personally reflect on their individual language histories and challenges and to work on an empirical research question of value for their postgraduate studies.
- Učitel: Stephanie Inge Rudwick