Subject Area: Linguistics

This course builds on theories of language ecology and language planning. It addresses contemporary issues of multilingualism in society. Students develop a critical approach to the social, ideological, attitudinal , power and identity-related factors which impact language use in the broader multicultural society as well as in individual speech communities. The course enhances an understanding of why some languages become endangered, how languages can be revitalised, what factors will impact the choices of language in educational and various other public and private contexts and their affects on language communities. Topics cover a broad range of multilingual settings including immigrant and indigenous communities.