The aim of the course is introducing the students to a range of functions and varieties of language and their social relevance in the context of language teaching. The main focus is on norm formation, emergent attitudes and standard establishment and the manner in which these phenomena influence linguistic behaviour and the society as such.
Topic 1: Basic concepts, speaker identity, socio-pragmatic competence
Topic 2: Language varieties
Topic 3: Regional and social dialects
Topic 4: Gender, politeness and stereotypes
Topic 5: Style, context and register
Topic 6: Language change