Mount Kenya University, BLA1217: Sociolinguistics

Course Overview

• Purpose: To expose students to the study of sociolinguistics as a discipline of linguistics.
• Objectives:
    - By the end of the course unit, learners should be able to:
      1. Describe the interrelation between language and society.
      2. Demonstrate the practical application of sociolinguistic concepts.
      3. Explain national and regional language policies.
      4. Discuss variables in language behavior and linguistic variation.

Course Content

1. Lecture 1 – The Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis
      - The Strong Version – Linguistic Determinism
      - The Weak Version – Linguistic Relativity
2. Lecture 2 - Speech Community, Dialect and Idiolect
      - The Speech Community
      - Idiolect
      - Dialect
3. Lecture 3 - Variables in Languages Behavior and Linguistic Variations
      - Regional Variation
      - Social Variation
      - Varieties According To Field Of Discourse
      - Varieties According To Medium
      - Varieties According To Attitude
      - Varieties According To Interference
4. Lecture 4 – Languages in Contact
      - Language Maintenance
      - Language Shift
      - Language Death
5. Lecture 5 – Bilingualism and Multilingualism
      - Bilingualism
      - Multilingualism
6. Interaction of Language and Society, Culture, and Human Interaction
      - Interaction Of Language And Society
      - Interaction Of Language And Culture
      - Language And Human Interaction
7. Language in Developing Nations
      - Language In Developing Nations
      - Language In Kenya (The Sociolinguistic Geography of Kenya)
8. Standard and Official Language
      - Standard Language
      - Official Language
9. Language Policy
      - National Language Policy
      - Regional Language Policy
10. Sociolinguistic Implications of Multilingualism in East Africa
       - Sociolinguistic Implications Of Multilingualism In East Africa

Lecture Highlights

Lecture 1 – The Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis

• Introduction: Discusses worldviews per linguists Benjamin Lee Whorf and Edward Sapir.
• Definition: Hypothesizes that individual thoughts in one language are often incomprehensible to speakers of another.
• Controversy: Although initially criticized, most linguists now accept the weak version: language influences thought but does not determine it.
• History:
    - Introduced by Sapir in 1929, gained popularity in the 1950s via Whorf's works posthumously.
    - Subject of vigorous criticism from proponents of Chomskyan theories.
• Objectives:
     1. Explain linguistic determinism.
     2. Explain linguistic relativity.
• Key Figures:
    - Edward Sapir (1884-1939), an anthropologist-linguist from America, influential in structural linguistics.
    - Benjamin Whorf (1897-1941), known for his studies of Native American languages.
• Linguistic Determinism:
     - Extreme form of Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis; language structure limits cognitive abilities and perceptions.
     - Worldview: Consistent and integral sense of existence; frameworks for knowledge production.
     - Example:
       - Gikuyu Language (Kahĩĩ) vs. English (Boy): Cultural aspects shape beliefs.
• Linguistic Relativity:
     - Asserts no universal grammar exists; languages reflect cultural particularities.
     - Influence on cognition: Linguistic structures influence perceptions of reality.
     - Example: Eskimos have numerous words for snow; Arabs have various terms for camels.
• Activities:
     - Discuss linguistic determinism/relativity, and define culture in language study.

Lecture 2 – Speech Community, Dialect, and Idiolect

• Introduction: Explore speech communities, dialects, and idiolects in real language practices.
• Speech Community:
    - Definition (John Lyons): A group using a common dialect/language.
    - Variations and overlaps, such as in multilingual areas like Kenya; denotes linguistic but not necessarily social cohesion.
• Idiolect:
    - Unique linguistic characteristics defining an individual (pronunciation, grammar, vocabulary).
    - Distinguishes personal dialects.
• Dialect:
    - Varieties of language that may exclude forms considered substandard or informal.
    - Involves a distinction without value judgments.
    - Examples: Different statuses of Hindi and Urdu based on socio-political factors.
• Types of Dialects:
    - Regional Dialect: Specific geographic area.
    - Social Dialect: Associated with specific social groups or classes (education, income, etc.).
• Activities: Define speech community differences in Kenya, examine idiolects, discuss dialect differences.

Lecture 3 – Variables in Languages Behavior and Linguistic Variations

• Introduction: Investigate language changes in various contexts.
• Variables:
    - Social Class: Higher classes tend to use standard forms; lower classes display non-standard forms.
    - Ethnic Identity: Language use shifts to reflect community identity.
    - Stylistic Variation: Choice dictated by formality levels.
• Regional Variation:
    - Considered dialects based on geographic separation.
    - Pronunciation often signifies regional distinctions.
• Social Variation:
    - Illiterate versus educated speech variations.
• Field of Discourse Variation:
    - Specific vocabulary and grammar employed depending on the conversation type (e.g., cooking, legal).
• Medium Variation:
    - Differences between spoken and written forms of language (e.g., brevity in writing).
• Attitudinal Variation:
    - Styles reflect speaker relationships and attitudes (formal vs informal).
• Interference:
    - Influence of learning additional languages on native language constructs.
• Activities: Discuss regional variations, possible mediums of variation, outline varieties by discourse.

Lecture 4 – Languages in Contact

• Introduction: Language interactions in multilingual societies.
• Language Maintenance:
    - The practice of retaining a language among speakers of different languages; contrast to language shift.
• Language Shift:
    - Process by which a community abandons its language in favor of another.
• Language Death:
    - Results when a language becomes extinct and no fluent speakers remain.
• Factors Influencing Maintenance:
    - Demographics, social class, education, settlement patterns, policy, identity factors.
• Effects of Language Shift:
    - Can lead to cultural disintegration and social issues, though may facilitate integration.
• Language Death Processes:
    - Mechanisms include bottom-to-top (home language loss), top-to-bottom (institutional ban), and linguicide (genocide).
• Cultural Transmission: Importance of passing down languages across generations.
• Activities: Outline death processes, discuss language maintenance reasons, consider shifts.

Lecture 5 – Bilingualism and Multilingualism

• Introduction: Explore bilingualism and multilingualism phenomena.
• Bilingualism:
    - Ability to speak two languages; can occur through simultaneous learning or exposure after first language.
• Types:
    - Societal Bilingualism: Community use of two languages.
    - Individual Bilingualism: Personal language ability across several modalities.
• Importance:
    - Cognitive development, cultural identity, job market advantages.
• Official Bilingualism Example:
    - Canada maintains equality between English and French.
• Multilingualism:
    - Refers generally to multiple languages used by individuals or communities; often linked to globalization.
• Competence Types:
    - Compound Bilinguals: Shared concepts across languages.
    - Coordinate Bilinguals: Unique associations in each language.
    - Receptive Multilingualism: Understanding without active use.
• Activities: Discuss bilingualism transitions, advantages, competence types.

Lecture 6 – Interaction of Language and Society, Culture, and Human Interaction

• Introduction: Examine language’s interactions with society and culture.
• Sociolinguistics: Study of language’s societal impacts and vice versa.
• Language and Society: Importance in social structure, dialect representation.
• Language and Culture: Societal assumptions acquired through language learning; categories defined by language.
• Human Interaction: Unique human language characteristics, symbol communication, cultural transmission through social interactions.
• Activities: Explore language and culture relationships, discuss communication essentials.

Lecture 7 – Language in Developing Nations

• Introduction: Discuss language use in developing countries; effects of colonization.
• Language Contact Outcomes: Language death vs. maintenance. The rise of pidgins and creoles.
• Language in Kenya: Historical context of language policies from colonial times to present.
• Current Policies:
    - English as the official language; progressive elevation of Kiswahili; constitutional protections for indigenous languages.
• Activities: Discuss colonial impacts on language; outline English's prominence in Kenya.

Lecture 8 – Standard and Official Language

• Introduction: Define and explain standard and official languages.
• Standard Language: Dialect used by educated classes; functions across communities and includes codification of norms.
• Factors for Standardization: Historical, social class influence, economic importance of languages.
• Official Language: Used in government operations; may not reflect societal language use; tied to sovereignty and rights.
• Activities: Define standard and official languages, outline standardization levels.

Lecture 9 – Language Policy

• Introduction: Explore government role in language use regulation.
• National Language Policy: Detailing government decisions favoring language use and rights for language groups.
• Regional Language Policy: Focuses on language use within geographic areas for development and unity.
• Impact Factors: Population size, speaker proportions, attitudes, and language transmission issues.
• Activities: Discuss implications of language policy; outline effective regional policy characteristics.

Lecture 10 – Sociolinguistic Implications of Multilingualism in East Africa

• Introduction: Investigate effects of multilingualism on social and cultural life in East Africa.
• Cultural Effects: Achieving national unity through a common language (e.g., Tanzania’s Swahili).
• Kenya’s Multilingualism: Role of English, Swahili, and ethnic languages in societal structure.
• Uganda’s Language Context: English and local languages functioning together with historical and political sensitivities.
• Activities: Explain multilinguism in Africa, evaluate Tanzania's model for unity.

References

1. Romaine, S. (1994); Language in Society: An Introduction to Sociolinguistics; Oxford: Oxford University Press.
2. Chaika, E. (1982); Language: The Social Mirror Rowley MA Newbury House.
3. Hudson, R. A. (1980); Pidgin and Creole Languages London & New York Longman.
4. Radford (2007); Linguistics: An Introduction; Foundation Books Private Limited.
5. James J. (2005); Learning Another Language Actions; Sky Oaks Production.
6. Fishman, J. (1972); Sociolinguistics: A Brief Introduction; Rowley, M.A. Newbury House.