AQA ‘A’ Level English Language: Language Varieties – Idiolect and ethnolect.

Unit of work for 4.2 Language diversity and change

Full unit of 60 slides and 22 resources over eleven lessons which include activities, essays, theorists and language investigations into the core concepts of sociolect, idiolect and ethnolect. All of the resources address the study of diversity.

A range of examples of language in use and research data to inform their study of diversity and change:

• texts using different sociolects (to include social and occupational groups, gender and ethnicity)
• texts using different dialects (to include regional, national and international varieties of English)
• texts that use language to represent different groups
• how language varies because of personal, social, geographical and temporal contexts
• why language varies and changes, developing critical knowledge and understanding of different views and explanations
• attitudes to language variation and change
• the use of language according to audience, purpose, genre and mode

• The exploration of language diversity includes:

• methods of language analysis
• how identity is constructed through language
• how audiences are addressed and positioned