University of Essex

LG220-5-SP-CO:
Language and Gender

The details

Year: 2024/25

Department: Language and Linguistics

Campus: Colchester Campus

Term: Spring

Level: Undergraduate: Level 5

Status: Current

Start date: Monday 13 January 2025

End date: Friday 21 March 2025

Credits: 15

Last updated: 15 April 2024

Requisites for this module

Pre-requisites: (none)

Co-requisites: (none)

Pre and / or co-requisites: (none)

Prohibited modules: (none)

Key module (requisite for): (none)

Key module for

(none)

Module description

This module approaches the study of language and gender from a number of different angles. Focusing on linguistic research investigating gender differentiated patterns of language, the representation of gender in language, and the construction of gender identity through language. In particular, we review and critically discuss the findings of research within the quantitative sociolinguistic paradigm, findings from research that focuses on gender differentiation at the level of discourse/conversation and findings from research on language and power.

Module aims

Aims and Objectives
• To introduce the students to some of the major issues in the study of language and gender.
• To review the empirical evidence, and to learn how to interpret data and discern patterns.
• To highlight problems in methodologies and analyses, and how these can influence, or have influenced, our view of the issue.
• To learn to use empirical evidence to construct informed arguments.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of this module you will be able to:
1) critically evaluate different approaches to investigating gendered language use
2) use a range of linguistic tools and techniques in order to investigate how gender identity can be constructed through language use
3) apply an enhanced understanding of sociolinguistic perspectives and principles on language use, change and variation, including language attitudes and ideologies, to studies in language and gender

Module information

No additional information available.

Learning and teaching methods

Weekly 2-hour lecture

Bibliography

Kiesling, S.F. (2019f) Language, gender, and sexuality: an introduction. London: Routledge. Available at: https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/universityofessex-ebooks/detail.action?pq-origsite=primo&docID=5725918.
Romaine, S. (2003a) ‘Variation in Language and Gender’, in J. Holmes and M. Meyerhoff (eds) The Handbook of Language and Gender. Wiley, pp. 98–118. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1002/9780470756942.ch4.
Storage, D. et al. (2016) ‘The Frequency of "Brilliant” and "Genius” in Teaching Evaluations Predicts the Representation of Women and African Americans across Fields’, PLOS ONE, 11(3). Available at: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0150194.
Collister, L.B. (2016) ‘"At least I’m not Chinese, gay, or female”: Marginalized voices in World of Warcraft’, in L. Squires (ed.) English in Computer-Mediated Communication. De Gruyter, pp. 351–376. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110490817-016.
Zimman, L. (2018) ‘Transgender Language, Transgender Moment: Toward a Trans Linguistics’, in K. Hall and R. Barrett (eds) The Oxford Handbook of Language and Sexuality. Oxford University Press. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780190212926.013.45.
Konnelly, L. (2022) ‘Transmedicalism and “trans enough”’, Gender and Language, 16(1). Available at: https://doi.org/10.1558/genl.20230.
Zimman, L. and Hayworth, W. (2020) ‘How we got here: Short-scale change in identity labels for trans, cis, and non-binary people in the 2000s’, Proceedings of the Linguistic Society of America, 5(1). Available at: https://doi.org/10.3765/plsa.v5i1.4728.
Lawson, R. (2013) ‘The construction of “tough” masculinity: Negotiation, alignment and rejection’, Gender and Language, 7(3), pp. 369–395. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1558/genl.v7i3.369.
Slobe, T. (2018) ‘Style, stance, and social meaning in mock white girl’, Language in Society, 47(4), pp. 541–567. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1017/S004740451800060X.
Ilbury, C. (2020) ‘“Sassy Queens”: Stylistic orthographic variation in Twitter and the enregisterment of AAVE’, Journal of Sociolinguistics, 24(2), pp. 245–264. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1111/josl.12366.
Calder, J. (2019) ‘The fierceness of fronted /s/: Linguistic rhematization through visual transformation’, Language in Society, 48(1), pp. 31–64. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1017/S004740451800115X.
Levon, E. and Holmes-Elliot, S. (2013) ‘East End Boys and West End Girls: /s/-Fronting in Southeast England’, University of Pennsylvania Working Papers in Linguistics, 19(2). Available at: https://repository.upenn.edu/pwpl/vol19/iss2/13/.
Milroy, L. and Llamas, C. (2013) ‘Social Networks’, in J.K. Chambers and N. Schilling (eds) The Handbook of Language Variation and Change. Wiley, pp. 407–427. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118335598.ch19.
Pyle, K. (2018) ‘Naming and Claiming’, TSQ: Transgender Studies Quarterly, 5(4), pp. 574–588. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1215/23289252-7090045.

The above list is indicative of the essential reading for the course.
The library makes provision for all reading list items, with digital provision where possible, and these resources are shared between students.
Further reading can be obtained from this module's reading list.

Assessment items, weightings and deadlines

Coursework / exam	Description	Deadline	Coursework weighting
Coursework	Assignment 1	10/02/2025	30%
Coursework	Assignment 2	08/04/2025	70%

Exam format definitions

Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary, for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.

Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.

Overall assessment

Coursework	Exam
100%	0%

Reassessment

Coursework	Exam
100%	0%

Module supervisor and teaching staff

Supervisor: Dr Ella Jeffries, email: e.jeffries@essex.ac.uk.

Teaching staff: Dr Ella Jeffries

Contact details: Ella Jeffries, e.jeffries@essex.ac.uk, OfficeL 4.207, Number: 3762

Availability

Available to incoming Essex Abroad / Exchange students: No

Available to Outside Option: Yes

Available to Audit: Yes

External examiner

Name: Dr Sam Christian D'Elia

Name: Dr Roxanne Taylor

Institution: University of Huddersfield

Academic role: Lecturer in English

Resources

Teaching materials: Available via Moodle

Lecture recording: Of 20 hours, 20 (100%) hours available to students:
0 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s), module, or event type.

Further information

Department website: Language and Linguistics

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Module Directory

LG220-5-SP-CO:Language and Gender