School of International Letters and Cultures at ASU

Master of Arts Degree with Concentration in Linguistics

Sociolinguistics is the study of the relationship between language practices and social structure. The field of sociolinguistics encompasses the areas of pragmatics (or the study of the meaning of language in use in specific contexts), conversation and discourse analysis, and the analysis of language variation and change at all levels (phonetic, phonological, lexical, morphological, syntactic). In addition, sociolinguistics interacts with neighboring disciplines such as sociology, anthropology and education in order to examine the use of language in specific domains, for example language policy and language planning, language in the media, and language in the classroom.

All living languages vary and change, and Spanish is no exception. As it is spoken as a native language in such a large number of countries, and as a second language by people around the world, Spanish is a fascinating language to study in its social context.
Arizona State University’s location in the diverse and fast-growing Phoenix metropolitan area in the Southwest of the United States, approximately 175 miles from the Mexican border, offers students a unique living laboratory in which to study Spanish in contact with English, bilingualism, language maintenance and shift, pragmatic variation and code switching, among other topics of interest.

The MA in Spanish Sociolinguistics at ASU is appropriate for students wishing to acquire a deep and broad understanding of the field in preparation for doctoral level study in sociolinguistics and/or teach Spanish at the university or community college level. Candidates must complete a minimum of 30 semester hours of graduate level work (24 hours of coursework, 6 hours of Thesis [SPA 599]). At least 15 out of 24 hours of coursework must be taken in Spanish under the SPA rubric.

After completion of coursework, which includes a variety of required and elective courses, students are required to write a thesis based on their original research. Thesis topics in this area could include such themes as language maintenance and shift or code-switching in language contact situations, a sociolinguistic study of phonological, morphological or syntactic variables, language attitudes and ideologies, pidgins and creoles, language and gender issues, (im)politeness and Spanish oral discourse, political discourse, small talk, and pragmatic variation.

PROGRAM OF STUDY (Sociolinguistics)(30 hours)

Prerequisites

SPA 400/598 Introduction to Hispanic Linguistics (or approved equivalent, e.g. FLA 400/598).
SPA 412 Advanced Conversation and Composition (or equivalent)

Requirements (18 hours)

SLC 598: Research Methods
(or approved equivalent, e.g. LIN 500: Bibliography and Research Methods for Linguists) (3)
SPA 544: Spanish Phonology (3)
SPA 543: Structure of Spanish (3)
SLC 598 Sociolinguistics (3)
SPA 598: Spanish Oral Discourse (3), or SPA 598: Spanish Pragmatics (3)
SPA 541: Spanish Language in America (3), or SPA 542: Spanish in the Southwest (3)

Electives (6 hours)
Chosen in consultation with the student’s advisor, may include

SPA 540: History of Spanish (3)
SPA 598: Spanish Oral Discourse (3)
SPA 598: Spanish Pragmatics (3)
SLC 598: Advanced Topics in Sociolinguistics (3)
SPA 541: Spanish Language in America (3)
SPA 542: Spanish in the Southwest (3)

Thesis (6 hours)

SPA 599: Thesis (6)

Upon completing their coursework, students will have a Portfolio Review.

The Portfolio for the MA in Spanish Linguistics shall contain:

A narrative/statement (2-4 pages) contextualizing the selected papers within your broader program of study and your development as a scholar.
Two high quality research papers (10-25 pages) that:

are revised final papers from two of your Program of Study classes.
are original, empirical works.
substantially incorporate professor’s comments and suggestions for development.
contain thorough, relevant literature review, discussion of theoretical framework, description and justification of methodology, analysis of data, and discussion of results.

Transcript/Program of Study including courses taken toward degree and MA committee membership

The Oral Defense for the MA in Spanish Linguistics will:

be scheduled roughly two weeks after the portfolio is submitted.
cover the papers in the portfolio as well as general knowledge related to Sociolinguistics.
be attended by you and your committee, the members of which will ask questions.