Course Description
An examination of the role of language in the construction of social identities, the formation of language ideologies, language management activities, and the politics of language from a sociolinguistic perspective.
Athena Title
Language, Politics, Identity
Prerequisite
LING 2100 or LING 2100H or LING 2100E
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
Students will acquire an understanding of both language and identity as social constructs. They will analyze beliefs about language from a critical perspective and will explore the ways that language is used to construct identities and the ways that groups of speakers attempt to manage language, set language policies, and use language as a tool of political power. Through readings in the sociolinguistic literature, students will become acquainted with fundamental theoretical concepts and will apply them to the study of specific selected cases, such as the “English only” movement in the U.S., the Ebonics controversy, debates over “political correctness,” attempts to preserve/revive individual Native American languages, the creation of “new” national languages in the Balkans and the role of language in ethnic conflict, minority languages and policies of multilingualism in the E.U., signed languages and deaf culture, etc. Students will be evaluated on the basis of short reaction papers on the assigned readings, participation in class discussions, written tests, and a final research paper.
Topical Outline
Language practices, ideologies, and beliefs Language and identity National languages Language policy and language planning Language standards and authority in language Language in education Language in the media Political discourse, language, and power Linguistic ecology, endangered languages, language death, and language revival