Course Description, Purpose, and Objectives

From the catalog: English 4720 is study of regional and social varieties of American English from sociolinguistic perspectives, focusing on the forces that influence different types of language variation. Examines issues of linguistic bias and offers a multi-cultural perspective on the role of language in daily life.

Course description, purpose, and objectives: In this course, we will discuss the theories and practices of language variation research, particularly as applied to American English. In doing so, we will consider approaches to the study of language variation, with attention to key figures, studies, and methodologies. We will discuss the functions and effects of dialectal variation, and how factors such as region, ethnicity, gender, social status and other extralinguistic variables interact with language and contribute to variation. We will also explore how popular perceptions and attitudes contribute to the differential valuation of American English varieties and the effects of these valuations. Finally, students will learn the skills and practices of linguistic research and language description and will have the opportunity to apply these skills to their own dialect research projects. Please note that this is an upper-division course in English linguistics, designed for English majors and minors and other interested students. While theories considered in 4720 have applications to education and other disciplines, it is not an education course nor a teaching methods course.

Required Texts (available at campus and University Bookstores; also check online booksellers for affordable used copies):

• Finegan and Rickford, Language in the USA, Cambridge UP, 2004.
• Fee card .

Assignments, Exams, and Grading

Midterm exam	15%
Final exam	20%
Collaborative project	20%
Critical analysis paper	15%
Working-group activities	10%
IPA quiz	10%
Attendance and participation	10%

Grading criteria for all assignments:

This is a 4000-level course and therefore I expect students to be sufficiently prepared to complete all work according to advanced-undergraduate standards. The subject matter specific to this course may be new to you–-that is what you are here to learn, after all–-but you should come in with well developed study habits and sufficient skills in reading, analysis, research, and writing to succeed at the 4000 level. If you have concerns or questions about these requirements, please come to office hours or make an appointment to meet with me early in the semester.

A      = 4.0 points awarded for excellence (not merely good work or effort)
BA   = 3.5 points
B      = 3.0 points
CB   = 2.5 points
C      = 2 points
DC   = 1.5 points
D      = 1 point
F      = 0-.5 for work that does not meet minimum standards; 0 for work not turned in.

All assignments must be completed in order to earn a passing grade in English 4720.

At any time during the semester, you are encouraged to stop by during office hours (or make an appointment) to discuss your progress in the course.

Exams: The midterm and final exams will include phonetic transcriptions, articulatory descriptions, identifications and terminology, and questions covering lecture, discussion, and reading materials.

Collaborative project: Working in small groups, students will design and conduct an original language-variation study, gathering and analyzing linguistic data. Each group will present its results in a 6-8 page research paper, in journal-article format. We will discuss and work on this project extensively in class as you generate ideas, consult scholarly literature, carry out your research, and analyze your results. This project is an opportunity for you to apply the material you learn in class in a hands-on, experiential way.

Critical analysis paper: Each student will produce a 4-6 page paper analyzing a scholarly article from the language variation journal American Speech. I will provide you with guidelines regarding our objectives for this assignment, which calls on advanced (4000-level) research, organization, argumentation, and writing skills.

Working-group activities: Each student will be part of a working group for class activities and the collaborative project. Working-group activities are experiential activities for applying the theories and methods you’re learning in class.

Homework and quizzes will help you apply the skills you are learning, such as IPA transcription and articulatory description, and are designed to keep you on track and up to date.

Attendance and participation: I think that English 4720 is a fun and interesting course, but it requires a solid set of skills and base of knowledge that you will have to master early on, and therefore active participation is a must. This means you need to be present every day to the extent that it is humanly possible. Readings, discussions, and activities complement each other. If you must miss class, my policy is to permit three "freebie" absences. By "freebie," I mean that I ask no questions and do not differentiate between excused and unexcused absences. I also mean that's all you get. Exceptions can only be made in cases of serious illness (such as those requiring hospitalization) and other documentable emergencies. If you miss more than three class meetings, there may be a substantial deduction in your course grade; five or more absences may result in a course grade of E. It is each student’s responsibility to stay on top of all course material and assignments when a class meeting is missed by consulting the updates page online and getting the notes from a classmate. Lectures and discussions cannot be made up in office hours. Leaving at the break is an absence.

Being late to class and leaving early should be avoided. Students who are not in class on time risk missing important course content (such as instructions or quizzes) which may be over by the time the student arrives. Keep in mind that when someone walks in late, it is distracting to other students and the instructor. The same goes for leaving early.If you are late, I recommend that you stay after class to make sure you have been marked present. Absences resulting from uncorrected lates count towards your three allotted absences. Habitual lateness will result in a reduction of your attendance and participation score and hence your course grade. Leaving at the break will be recorded as an absence.

Academic Integrity

All work you turn in for this class must be your own, with all outside reference sources properly cited and acknowledged. Plagiarism, unauthorized collaboration, any kind of falsification or forgery, computer misuse, multiple submission, complicity, and any other type of academic dishonesty on any exams or work assigned for this course, will not be tolerated in any form. You are required to read and comply fully with the policies and definitions outlined in the Western Michigan University statement on academic integrity, available in the undergraduate and graduate student catalogs and online at http://www.osc.wmich.edu/academicintegrity/catalog.html/. If there is reason to believe any student has been involved in academic dishonesty, he or she will be referred to the Office of Student Conduct. The student will be given the opportunity to review the charge(s) and have the opportunity for a hearing. Please consult with me if you are in doubt about how to cite a source in your paper, whether a source is appropriate, whether a citation is needed, if you are not sure what constitutes an inappropriate level of help on an assignment, or with any other academic integrity questions. As I am also required to uphold the standards of academic integrity, my policy is zero tolerance for any type of deception, and I do not want for any of you to find out the hard way how seriously I take this.

Students with Disabilities should contact Ms. Beth Denhartigh at the beginning of the semester at 387-2116 or by email at beth.denhartigh@wmich.edu so that any physical, learning, vision, hearing, psychiatric or other disability can be documented and accommodations arranged. Please note that a disability determination must be made by Ms. Denhartigh's office before accommodations can be made.

Late work is generally frowned upon in college and elsewhere, and this class is no exception. Arrangements should be made in advance (and you'll need a documentable explanation). Unexplained late work (or excuses after the fact) will not be accepted and a grade of zero will be assessed for the assignment.

Makeups: Daily assignments, exercises, quizzes, presentations, and in-class activities cannot be made up if missed because of lateness or absence. Makeups on major assignments, such as exams, presentations, or papers, must be arranged with me in advance of due dates in order to avoid penalties, and students will have to make a pretty strong case in order to be granted an extension.

Classroom etiquette: Classroom etiquette: You are not required to agree with everything you read or everything that is said during discussions in this class. You are encouraged to read and think critically. An open dialogue is encouraged, and all thoughtful contributions are welcome. I ask only that everyone be respectful during class discussions. The goal is for our classroom to be safe places for flexing your intellectual muscles, where everyone feels comfortable generating, expressing, and challenging ideas. Your help in reaching this goal is essential. Also, please familiarize yourself with and be prepared to abide by WMU's code of student conduct, available in the catalog and linked here. Students who are not willing or able to respect the rights of everyone to a comfortable learning and teaching environment will be asked to leave.

Other etiquette and classroom civility issues: Sleeping, eating, grooming, reading non-course materials, doing homework, having conversations, surfing the web on your laptop, using any kind of electronic communication device, and other such activities are prohibited because of their disruptive and impolite nature, and because they keep students from fully participating. Your active participation is part of your course grade, of course, and also, nothing interesting will happen in class without your input. That is, the class will be as interesting as you make it. Showing up on time and prepared (that means completing all reading assignments and other homework and being ready to work when you get here) will help your grade as well as enhance your learning experience.

No recording of any kind – audio, video, photographic, or otherwise – is permitted in this class without the informed consent of all students and the instructor. Everyone in this class has a right not to have their voices and/or likenesses recorded without their knowledge and permission, including the instructor.


Other Things to Remember:

Electronic copies of assignments will not be accepted in lieu of hard copies. Plan ahead to make sure your printing needs can be met in time for due dates.

If you would like extra help with course material, you are always welcome in my office. Let me know you would like to meet and we can set up a time. Email any time if you have questions or concerns. During the week, I try to respond within 24 hours to emails that need a response; on weekends, it may be a few days before I am able to get back to you. If you are ever not completely clear on what is being asked of you, please check with me.

Workload: The workload is substantial, with challenging (and plentiful) reading and written assignments. Keep up with all readings and other deadlines as assigned to be fully prepared to participate in class discussions and to succeed on exams and assignments.

Note: Learning the discipline of linguistics is a cumulative process. Gaps in your knowledge early on can cause problems later. Let me know as soon as you can if you feel like you’re getting behind. This is especially crucial during the accelerated summer session!

A word to the wise: If you are ever not completely clear on what is being asked of you, please check with me either in person or via email.

Graded assignments, papers, and exams will generally be returned within one to two weeks.

English 4720 Schedule of Reading and Writing Assignments

I reserve the right to make minor adjustments or massive changes to this syllabus as a result of interference from reality. You are also encouraged to check our class updates page (linked here) regularly for news, schedule changes, and announcements.

Class lectures and discussions will not be linear recapitulations of readings; lectures and readings complement each other. Therefore, please come to class having read all assignments in advance of class discussions so that you can participate fully.

Week 1: Introduction to course; what is language variation? Introduction to linguistics and the International Phonetic Alphabet.

Monday, May 07

▪Introduction to course
▪What is language variation?
▪Approaches to the study of language variation.

Tuesday, May 08: Come to class having read Foreword to Language in the USA.

▪What every 4720 student needs to know about linguistics.
▪Linguistic features and independent variables.
▪Working groups established; presentations assigned.
▪Working-group activity #1: Your linguistic profile (due Monday, May 14).

Wednesday, May 09: Algeo and Pyles, "The Sounds of Current English."

▪Places and manners of sound articulation.
▪The International Phonetic Alphabet.
▪IPA homework assigned (due Tuesday, May 15).

Thursday, May 10: Continue to work through Algeo and Pyles.

▪Fun with IPA: Learning phonetic transcription.
▪Understanding articulatory descriptions.
▪Critical analysis paper assigned (due Monday, June 11).

Week 2: What is American English? Regional influences on language variation; the Northern Cities Shift.

Monday, May 14: Come to class having read USA Ch. 1, “American English: Its Origins and History.”

▪Continue work on IPA and articulatory phonetics.
▪The history and diversity of American English.
▪Completed working-group activity #1 (linguistic profile) due for class discussion.

Tuesday, May 15: Come to class having read USA Ch. 3: “Regional Dialects.”

▪IPA homework due at class time.
▪Language variation and dialect geography.

Wednesday, May 16: Online readings on the Northern Cities Shift, linked at 4720updates.

▪What is the Northern Cities Shift?
▪Working group activity #2 (begin): Eliciting, documenting, and analyzing the NCS.

Thursday, May 17: Meet in 2308 Kohrman. Complete working group activity #2: Eliciting, documenting, and analyzing the NCS.

▪Working group activity #2 (complete): Field reports due at end of period.

Week 3: IPA quiz on Monday. Also, social variation; language attitudes and perceptual dialectology. Language variation in the African American community.

Monday, May 21: USA Ch. 4: “Social Varieties of American English.” IPA quiz.

▪IPA quiz (beginning of class).
▪Social and ethnic variation.
▪Independent variables and how they interact with language.

Tuesday, May 22: USA Ch. 26: “Language Attitudes to Speech”

▪Perceptual dialectology and language attitudes.
▪Language attitudes and ideology.
▪Collaborative projects assigned (due Monday, June 25).

Wednesday, May 23: USA Ch. 5: “African American English” and Lippi-Green,“The Real Trouble with Black English.”

▪African American English, features and history.
▪The linguistic and cultural significance of AAE.

Thursday, May 24: USA Ch. 16: “Ebonics and Its Controversy.”

▪The Ann Arbor case and the Oakland Resolution.
▪AAVE in the classroom and beyond.
▪Bridge readers and other experimental methods.

Week 4: Complete discussion of African American English. Midterm exam Wednesday. Stylistic variation.

Monday, May 28: No school! Memorial Day observed.

Tuesday, May 29: Complete discussion of African American English and review for midterm exam.

Wednesday, May 30: Midterm exam.

Thursday, May 31: Wolfram and Schilling-Estes, “Dialects and Style.”

▪Intraspeaker variation.
▪Stylistic variation in theory and practice.

Week 5: Stylistic variation; language and gender.

Monday, June 04: Continue to work through Wolfram and Schilling-Estes, “Dialects and Style.”

▪Style shifting and “linguistic repertoire.”
▪Measuring stylistic variation.
▪Complete discussion of stylistic variation.

Tuesday, June 05: Readings on language and gender, to be announced.

▪Theoretical approaches to language and gender.

Wednesday, June 06-Thursday, June 07: Cameron, "Performing Gender Identity."

▪Other approaches to language and gender.

Week 6: Critical analysis papers due Monday. Begin work on collaborative projects. Introduction to protocols for empirical research in the social sciences.

Monday, June 11: Critical analysis papers due. Handout on research protocols.

▪Introduction to research protocols.
▪Research questions, hypotheses, and methodologies: the structure of a linguistic field project.
▪Ethical research protocols and informed consent.
▪Principles of experimental design and participant selection.

Tuesday, June 12: Conducting original language variation research.

▪Establishing research questions.
▪Developing project methodologies to answer your research question and prove your hypothesis.
▪Developing and refining your research proposal ideas.
▪Working group activity #3 (begin): Developing and articulating your research question.

Wednesday, June 13: Complete working-group activity #3.

▪Working group activity #3 (complete): Developing and articulating your research question.
Proposals due at end of class period.

Thursday, June 14: Work on collaborative projects.

▪Developing data collection instruments and analysis methods.
▪Gathering and analyzing data.

Week 7: Work on collaborative projects.

Monday, June 18-Thursday, June 21: Work on collaborative projects: analyzing data and preparing your article.

Week 8: Meet in 2308 Kohrman all week! Present and discuss collaborative projects. Final exam.

Monday, June 25: Meet in 2308 Kohrman. Collaborative projects due. Begin presentations.

Tuesday, June 26: Meet in 2308 Kohrman. Complete presentation of projects; review for final exam.

Wednesday, June 27: Meet in 2308 Kohrman. Final exam at class time.

back to top