LIN 6601
SOCIOLINGUISTICS
Dr. Robert Trammell in GCS 226 at (561) 297-3867 E-Mail:
Trammell@fau.edu
DEPARTMENT WEBSITES: www.linguistics.fau.edu and
www.language.fau.edu
COURSE DESCRIPTION: A seminar on
sociolinguistics with particular emphasis on an examination of the history,
structure (sounds, grammar and vocabulary), and educational implications of
Black English, also known as African American Vernacular English (AAVE).
COURSE
OBJECTIVES:
Ÿ Introduce students to linguistic variation between different languages, dialects, and local varieties or accents along geo-political, regional, social, economic and stylistic parameters
Ÿ Introduce students to the notions of linguistic equality between different languages, dialects, and local varieties or accents in spite of different non-linguistic values assigned along geo-political, regional, social, economic and stylistic parameters
Ÿ Familiarize students with the linguistic definitions of pidgins and creoles and their natural birth and evolution through the processes of pidginization, creolization, and decreolization under circumstances of contact between groups speaking two different languages
Ÿ Provide students with an appreciation of the linguistic equality between established pidgins and/or creoles and the languages of technologically and socio-economically superior groups speaking national dialects
Ÿ Introduce students to the technical notions of codes and code switching, including diglossia, bilingualism, and multilingualism
Ÿ Have students appreciate the different speech communities, networks, and repertoires in their own language(s)
Ÿ Review with students the social and educational implications of non-standard dialects
Ÿ Introduce students to the phonological and grammatical features of African American English (also known as Ebonics)
Ÿ Familiarize students with the concept of ethnicity as a sociolinguistic boundary and a cause of style-shifting
PREREQUISITE: None. However, an introductory course in linguistics is recommended.
GRADING:
Quizzes (10%), Test 1 (20%), Midterm (25%), Final (30%),
Formal Class Presentation with bibliography and handouts on a pre-approved
topic or a 12-14 page Term Paper (15%). The final will be in part
comprehensive, because the second half of the course is built on the first. Your
attendance and class participation are intangibles but may figure in your final
grade if you are near a cut-off point in grading. The TURNITIN plagiarism
detection program may be used on any papers or presentation
materials.
93-100% = A, 90-02% = A-, 87-89%=B+, 83-87%=B, 80-82%=B-
77-79%=C+, 73-77%=C, 70-72%=C-, 67-69%=D+, 63-67%=D,
60-62%=D-, below 60%=F.
ATTENDANCE:
More than two absences will require official excuses. Incompletes
will only be given for official reasons to students with a
C average or better.
The last day to drop the course with a W
instead of an F is
Friday February 27.
TEXTS:
Required: R. Wardhaugh’s An Introduction to Sociolinguistics, 4th
ed. 2002 [RW], and J. Rickford’s
African American Vernacular English, 1999 [JR].
Sample COURSE CALENDAR:
Jan 13 Introduction to sociolinguistics, dialect diversity, and education in America [RW Introduction; JR Preface, Forward]
20 Languages, Dialects, and Varieties—Regional, Social, and Stylistic; and Pidgins and Creoles [RW 2-3]
27 Codes and Code Switching—Diglossia, Bilingualism, and Multilingualism; and Speech Communities, Networks, and Repertoires [RW 4-5]
Feb 3 Language Variation and Change [RW 6, 8]
10 Words and Culture; Ethnographies [RW 9-10]
17 Test on Wardhaugh; and Dialects and Disadvantages—Social and Educational [RW 14]
24 Phonological and Grammatical Features of
African American Vernacular English [JR 1, 4 and W. Wolfram’s Appendix on
Vernacular Structures (1999)]; Term paper topics are
due.
Mar 2 Ethnicity as a Sociolinguistic Boundary and Style-Shifting [JR Ch 5, 6] Spring Break 9th
16 Linguistic Diffusion, Variability, Pidgins and Creoles [JR Ch 8-10]
23 Dialectal Divergence and Variability [JR 11, 12]
30 Midterm Examination
Apr 6 Educational Implications [JR 13-15]
Apr 13 Using the Vernacular to Teach the Standard [JR 16]
20 Language Variation and Reading Instruction and Dialect Awareness [WW 7, 8]; Term papers due (no excuses)
27 FINAL EXAM; Grades will appear on Owl Link as soon as I submit them electronically. If you would like to know your final and term paper grades, send me an e-mail with subject line: Grade for Sociolinguistics
Bibliography
Arends, J., P. Muysken, and N. Smith (eds) (1995). Pidgins and Creoles: An Introduction. Amsterdamn: John Benjamins.
Auer, P. (ed) (1998). Code-switching in Conversation: Language, Interaction and Identity. London: Routledge.
Coulmas, F. (ed) (1997). The Handbook of Sociolinguistics. Oxford: Blackwell.
Fasold, R. (1990). The Sociolinguistics of Language. Oxford: Blackwell.
Galindo, D. and M. Gonzales (eds) (1999). Speaking Chicana : Voice, Power, and Identity. Tucson : University of Arizona Press.
Garrett, P., N. Coupland, and A. Williams (2003). Investigating Language Attitudes: Social Meanings of Dialect, Ethnicity and Performance. Cardiff: University of Wales Press.
Johnstone, B. (2000). Qualitative Methods in Sociolinguistics. New York: Oxford University Press.
Labov, W. (1994). Principles of Linguistic Change: I: Internal Factors. Oxford: Blackwell.
_____. (2001). Principles of Linguistic Change, II: Social Factors. Oxford: Blackwell.
Leith, D. (1997). A Social History of English. 2nd edn. London: Routledge.
Linn, M.D. (ed.) (1998). Handbook of Dialects and Language Variation. 2nd edn. San Diego: Academic Press.
Lippi-Green, R. (1997). English with an Accent: Language, Ideology, and Discrimination in the United States. London: Routledge.
McWhorter, J. (1998). The Word on the Steet: Fact and Fable about American English. New York: Plenum.
Milroy, J. and L. Milroy (1999). Authority in Language. 3rd edn. London: Routledge.
Mufwene, S.S., J.R. Rickford, G. Baily, and J. Baugh (eds) (1998). African-American English: Structure, History and Use. London: Routledge.
Murray, S.O. (1998). American Sociolinguistics: Theorists and Theory Groups. Amsterdamn: John Benjamins.
Myers-Scotton, C. (1993). Social Motivation for Code Switching. Oxford: Clarendon.
Romaine, S. (2001). Language in Society: An Introduction to Sociolinguistics. 2nd edn. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Sankoff, D. (1985). Statistics in Linguistics. Encyclopedia of Statistical Sciences, vol. 5. New York: John Wiley.
Sebba, M. (1997). Contact Languages: Pidgins and Creoles. London: Macmillan.
Spolsky, B. (1998). Sociolinguistics. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Sutcliffe, D. (1982). British Black English. Oxford: Blackwell.
Tannen, B. (1994). Gender and Discourse. New York: Oxford University Press.
Trudgill, P. (1999). The Dialects of England. 2nd edn. Oxford: Blackwell.
Trudgill, P. and J. Cheshire (eds) (1998). The Sociolinguistics Reader, vol. 1, Multilingualism and Variation. vol. 2: Gender and Discourse. London: Arnold.
Wardhaugh, R. (1987). Languages in Competition. Oxford: Blackwell.
_____. (1999). Proper English: Myths and Misunderstandings about Language. Oxford: Blackwell.