This course will introduce you to ways of analysing and describing ‘language in use’ in relation to contemporary English from a sociolinguistic perspective. We will explore the various dimensions of variation in language, i.e. regional (standard variety vs. dialect), functional (situational), or social varieties (based on social class, age, gender, etc.) with the aim to encourage you to develop a critical approach to basic concepts in sociolinguistics. This course will also take into account the historical dimension of language change through language contact and language policy.