Module manager: Chiara La Sala
Email: m.c.lasala@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2026/27
This module is not approved as a discovery module
Nation-states have a complex and evolving linguistic situation, in which local, regional or nonstandard language varieties co-exist and increasingly compete with dominant standard forms. This module offers a critical, interdisciplinary introduction to the study of minoritised languages and cultures across global and local contexts. Drawing on perspectives from sociolinguistics, history and socio‑cultural studies, it explores how language relates to identity, power, inequality and cultural heritage, and invites students to consider the social, political and historical forces that shape the status of minoritised linguistic communities. Please note this is an optional module and runs subject to enrolments. If a low number of students choose this module, then the module may not run and you may be asked to choose another module. Please note this is an optional module and runs subject to enrolments. If a low number of students choose this module, then the module may not run and you may be asked to choose another module
The module aims to develop in students a critically informed and reflective attitude towards minoritised languages, dialects and linguistic varieties. It encourages students to question taken‑for‑granted assumptions about what counts as a “language,” a “dialect,” or a “minority language,” and to recognise how such labels reflect broader social, political and historical forces. Through lectures, seminars and guided qualitative research activities, the module invites students to engage empathetically with the lived experiences of speakers of minoritised varieties and to appreciate the cultural, identity‑based and affective dimensions of linguistic diversity. Working across sociolinguistics, history and socio‑cultural studies, the module aims to equip students to think critically about the processes that minoritise languages (including colonial legacies, nation‑state formation, linguistic discrimination and standardisation) and to evaluate contemporary debates around inclusivity, bias and (de)colonisation. Learning activities are designed to foster curiosity, reflexivity and methodological awareness, enabling students to approach linguistic diversity as a complex social phenomenon and to understand the role of research, ethics and digital media in documenting, analysing and valuing minoritised linguistic communities.
On successful completion of the module students will be able to:
1. Evaluate key ideas and debates about minoritised languages and dialects by drawing on interdisciplinary perspectives from sociolinguistics, history and cultural studies
2. Apply relevant interdisciplinary theories to qualitative evidence to analyse the lived experiences of minoritised language speakers and communities.
3. Collect and analyse qualitative data, reflecting critically on and complying with the principles of research ethics
4. Develop an evidence-based and well-structured argument, complying with the standards of academic integrity
5. Communicate clearly and effectively complex ideas and information through different media
6. Reflect critically on their own learning process
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lectures | 10 | 1 | 10 |
| Seminar | 10 | 1 | 10 |
| Private study hours | 180 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 20 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200 | ||
Preparation for lectures (3.5 hours per taught week, 70 hours)
Preparation for seminars (2 hours per week in alternate week, 20 hours)
Completion of non-assessed formative assignments (30 hours)
Preparation for Independent research project (2000 words) (30 hours)
Preparation for group podcasting project (30 hours)
Regular formative feedback will be provided at lectures and seminars. Students receive feedback on their outlines for the group podcast and ethics forms; they must receive approval from the module leaders before carrying out interviews. The module provides structured formative feedback through scheduled workshops and a formal formative submission. Students submit a short project outline, research questions and a completed ethics proforma, both of which receive written feedback. Completion and approval of the ethics proforma, under the module’s block ethical approval are mandatory before students may undertake interviews or any data collection.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | Independent Project | 50 |
| Coursework | Group Podcast Project | 50 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
Check the module area in Minerva for your reading list
Last updated: 30/04/2026
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