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English 329 Topics in the English Language: Southern Englishes Kirk Hazen Fall, 2001 Home
Topics in the English Language:
Southern Englishes

Instructor: Dr. Kirk Hazen
Office: 331 Stansbury
Office Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday 1-3
Email: Kirk.Hazen@mail.wvu.edu; http://www.as.wvu.edu/~khazen/
Phone: 293-3107x414

Purpose: The purpose of this course is to direct you in rigorously studying the workings of the English language and the social function of English in the United States. If things go well, we should examine sociolinguistic interviews, literature, and popular media. We will focus on language varieties in the Southern United States and will cover the following five topics:

* Introduction to Language and Language Varieties
* The Roots of Southern Englishes
* AAVE
* Appalachian English

Course Objectives:

* To confront the assumptions of traditional prescriptivism.
* To develop respect for human language.
* To develop a non-patronizing respect for diachronic and synchronic language variation.
* To explore the modern concepts of the mental grammar.
* To follow the process of scientific inquiry with respect to language.
* To demonstrate the nature of linguistic argumentation.
* To acquire skills in phonetic transcription
* To acquire analytical skill in morphology, phonology, syntax, historical linguistics, and sociolinguistics as they relate to literature, creative writing, and professional writing and editing.

Learning Outcomes:

* Students will be able to analyze natural language and make descriptive accounts of its structure
* Students will account for the complex history of language development in dialects of English.
* Students will examine and explain the intensive social pressures associated with vernacular varieties in the United States.
* Students will demonstrate their knowledge of current theories about language variation and change.
* Students will evaluate the complex debate about the role of language in primary education.
* Students will be able to debate the role of correct English in the socio-educational context of modern America.

Sources:
Wolfram, Walt and Natalie Schilling-Estes. 1998. American English. Cambridge, MA: Blackwell.
Lippi-Green, Rosina. 1997. English with an Accent. New York: Routledge
Other materials will be given as handouts.

Attendance: There is no attendance policy for this course. I believe that the course, the exams, and the material will be interesting and difficult enough to keep you in class in order to learn and pass.

Advice: If you feel lost or even the slightest bit confused, contact me. Email me or come by during office hours. If you cannot make office hours, we can set up a time to talk. The quicker you get your questions straightened out, the better off you will be.

Web Assistance: This course has supplemental material linked through the student portal site at http://www.as.wvu.edu/~khazen/. The course is listed on the WebCT page. Every student will receive a user name and a password. This site should be used for discussion of homework problems, quizzes, and useful linguistic links. The system gathers for me what pages you look at, how long you spent on each page, your quiz grades, and your discussions. I expect you to use these resources.

Grades:

Homework: The homework will either be online quizzes about the reading or short response papers where you react to the stance taken by the authors we have read. Homework assignments are due on their due date. Your grade will be adversely affected if you turn your homework in late.

Exams: There will be four exams in this class. The first three will be during the semester and will not be cumulative. The final exam will be cumulative. Each one will probably consist of identifications (i.e. define and give an example), problems to solve, short answer questions, and maybe an essay. There will be no quizzes in this class.

Research Paper: There will be a semester-long research project which involves both library research and data analysis. The research will be conducted on a Southern variety of English.

The Numbers:
Homework (cumulative) 15%
First Exam 10%
Second Exam 10%
Third Exam 10%
Final Exam 20%
Research Paper 35%

In this class I assign pluses and minuses. The official percentages are 100-97 = A+; 96-93 = A; 92-90 = A-; 89-87 = B+; 86-83 = B; 82-80 = B-; 79-77 = C+; 76-73 = C; 72-70 = C-; 69-67 = D+. Although I hope all of you get As, I have no personal misgivings about flunking people, and neither should you see a bad grade as a personal affront.

Workload: I expect everyone to have the reading done for each class period. I also expect you to complete the assigned exercises. The workload may appear unwieldy at times, but the time involved will greatly benefit your education in this class.

Plagiarism: As noted in the Undergraduate Catalog, "West Virginia University expects that every member of its academic community shares the historic and traditional commitment to honesty, integrity, and the search for truth" (p. 52). As a professional academic and as a member of this university I concur with this statement, and accordingly, plagiarism will not be tolerated in this course. Please note the University definition of plagiarism, as explained in the Undergraduate Catalog: "To take or pass off as one s own the ideas, writings, artistic products, etc. of someone else; for example, submitting, without appropriate acknowledgment, a report, notebook, speech, outline theme, thesis, dissertation, or other written, visual, or oral material that has been knowingly obtained or copied in whole or in part, from the work of others, whether such source is published, including (but not limited to) another individual's academic composition, compilation, or other product, or commercially prepared paper" (p. 52). If you have any questions regarding plagiarism, collaborative projects, documentation of your sources, or related issues, please feel free to ask.

Social Justice Policy: West Virginia University is committed to social justice. I concur with that commitment and expect to foster a nurturing environment based upon open communication, mutual respect, and non-discrimination. Our university does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, age, disability, veteran status, religion, sexual orientation, color or National origin. Any suggestions as to how to further such a positive and open environment in this class will be appreciated and given serious consideration.

If you are a person with a disability and anticipate needing any type of accommodation in order to participate in this class, please advise me and make appropriate arrangements with Disability Services (293-6700).

 

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