Linguistic Inequality, Mobility and Critical Ethnography

Module title	Linguistic Inequality, Mobility and Critical Ethnography
Module code	SMLM093
Academic year	2023/4
Credits	15
Module staff	Dr Birgul Yilmaz (Convenor)

Duration: Term	1	2	3
Duration: Weeks		11

Number students taking module (anticipated)	15

Module description

This module explores the intersections of language, mobility, inequality and ethnography from a critical and interdisciplinary lens. You will gain in-depth understanding of formulating research questions, designing, collecting and analysing ethnographic material. You will conduct ethnographic fieldwork in Exeter and use video cameras, smart phones, photography and gain skills in writing multisensory fieldnotes and vignettes. You will analyse textual data such as international conventions, reports, policy papers and legal documents – as well as collecting and analysing your own data. You will be able to do ethnographies in the areas of language education, forced displacement, international law, im-mobility, labour, medicine, securitisation and gender.

Module aims - intentions of the module

This module explores the relationship between language, communication, mobility and inequality. It examines how language and inequality shape each other in legal, medical, security, and educational settings - some pressing concerns of the 21^st century. The module investigates how these issues could be explored ethnographically and how applying a critical lens to real life data gathered in settings such as schools, hospitals, charities, non-governmental organisations could foster dialogue through ethnography.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

1. Critically apply theoretical and analytical frameworks in the study of language, inequality and mobility
2. Develop authentic research projects using critical ethnographic approaches

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

3. Critically evaluate language, inequality and mobility related to contemporary social issues
4. Apply theoretical concepts to ethnographic material

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

5. Design, collect and analyse ethnographic material
6. Apply knowledge to educational, migratory, legal and labour related settings
7. Conduct and team ethnography

Syllabus plan

Introduction to language, mobility and critical ethnography
Critical sociolinguistic ethnography: research methods and ethics
Formulating research questions and generating ethnographic data
Communicative justice and inequality
Working with ethnographic material: photography, vignettes, fieldnotes, audio/video recordings
Language, communication and discourse
Language and labour
Language and law
Language and medical communication
Language and education
Analysing textual data: international conventions, medical reports, policy documents

N.B. The list is indicative, and it is subject to change

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	Guided independent study	Placement / study abroad
16	134

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Scheduled Learning and Teaching	15	10 x 90 minute lectures and workshops
Scheduled Learning and Teaching	1	Revision/workshop
Guided Independent Study	134	Private study and preparation for lectures & workshops via reading and research

Formative assessment

Form of assessment	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Project plan: design, data, analysis	300 words	1-6	Oral and written
Research Diary/ Reflexive Journal	750 words	1-7	Oral and written

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Coursework	Written exams	Practical exams
100	0	0

Details of summative assessment

Form of assessment	% of credit	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Project Report	75	3000 words	1-7	Written feedback
Podcast (research diary/reflexive journal)	25	5 minutes (each student)	1-7	Written feedback

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Original form of assessment	Form of re-assessment	ILOs re-assessed	Timescale for re-assessment
Project Report	Project Report	1-7	Referral/ Deferral period
Podcast (research Diary/ Reflexive Journal	Podcast (research Diary/ Reflexive Journal	1-7	Referral/ Deferral period

Re-assessment notes

Deferral- if you miss an assessment for certified reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.

Referral- if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 50%) you will be required to submit a further assessment as necessary. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of referral will be capped at 50%.

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Angouri, J., Kerekes, J. and Suni, M. (2023). Language, Migration and In/Exclusion in the Workplace, Multilingual Matters.

Blommaert, J. (2005). Language and inequality. In Discourse: A Critical Introduction (Key Topics in Sociolinguistics, pp. 68-97). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Charalambous, C., Charalambous, P. and Khan, Kamran. (2022). “Sociolinguistics and Everyday (In)securitisation”. Linguistic Practice in Changing Conditions, Bristol, Blue Ridge Summit: Multilingual Matters. pp. 179-199.

Cooke, M. and Peutrell, R. (2019). Brokering Britain, Educating Citizens: Exploring ESOL and Citizenship, Bristol, Blue Ridge Summit: Multilingual Matters.

De Fina, A. and Mazzaferro, G. (2022). Exploring (Im)mobilities: Language Practices, Discourses and Imaginaries, Bristol, Blue Ridge Summit: Multilingual Matters.

Duchêne, A., Moyer, M. and Roberts, C. (2013). Language, Migration and Social Inequalities: A Critical Sociolinguistic Perspective on Institutions and Work, Bristol, Blue Ridge Summit: Multilingual Matters.

Eades, D. (2010). Sociolinguistics and the Legal Process. Multilingual Matters.

Gardner, S., & Martin-Jones, M. (Eds.). (2012). Multilingualism, Discourse, and Ethnography (1st ed.). Routledge.

Foucault, Michel (2007). Security, Territory, Population: Lectures at the Collège De France, 1977-1978. Palgrave Macmillan.

Heller, M., Pietikäinen, S., & Pujolar, J. (2017). Critical Sociolinguistic Research Methods: Studying Language Issues That Matter (1st ed.). Routledge.

Heller, M. (2011). “Critical Ethnographic Sociolinguistics”, Paths to Post-Nationalism: A Critical Ethnography of Language and Identity, Oxford Studies in Sociolinguistics. pp. 31-51.

Kaushalya P. and S. Makoni. (2019). The Securitization of Language Education, Applied Linguistics40: 5 pp. 859–863.

Moyer, M. (2018) Language, mobility and work, Language and Intercultural Communication, 18:4, 357-361.

Pennycook, Alastair. Language and Mobility: Unexpected Places, Bristol, Blue Ridge Summit: Multilingual Matters, 2012.

Rheindorf, M. and Wodak, R. Sociolinguistic Perspectives on Migration Control: Language Policy, Identity and Belonging, Bristol, Blue Ridge Summit: Multilingual Matters, 2020.

Sabaté i Dalmau, M. (2014). Migrant Communication Enterprises: Regimentation and Resistance, Bristol, Blue Ridge Summit: Multilingual Matters.

Key words search

Language, mobility, inequality, critical ethnography, research design, education, health, law, securitisation

Credit value	15
Module ECTS	7.5
Module pre-requisites	None
Module co-requisites	None
NQF level (module)	7
Available as distance learning?	No
Origin date	12.04.2023
Last revision date	20/06/2023