Utilization of Neologisms in Teaching and Assessment of Advanced Persian: A Sociolinguistic Approach

Using neologisms in foreign language classrooms is a well-established practice which has been universally focused on slang and idioms and restricted to the domain of oral/street language. In Persian, the existence of the Persian Academy and its output of word lists, is an untapped resource in the Advanced Persian instruction and assessment. A history of the Academy, its sociolinguistic issues (including language policy, language standardization, official language), and a sample lesson plan, exercises and assessment using the neologisms coined by the Academy will be covered. The sociolinguistic importance of slang and argot in advanced language instruction will be discussed.