H 714 Language and Culture Fall 2006 Instructor: Kendra Winner

Agenda 1) Dialogue Analysis 2) Overview of course 3) Why study language variation?

Dialogue Analysis 1) What do you believe the language of the speaker quoted tells you about him or her? 2) What particular aspects of the speakers’ language do you believe conveys information about him or her to you?

Well, the night of November 21, I was comin’ in from the woods with a load o’ kindlin’ and just as I got to the fence I heard Mayella screamin’ like a stuck hog inside the house. … Just ‘fore sundown. Well, I was sayin’ Mayella was screamin’ fit to beat Jesus -. Well, Mayella was raisin’ this holy racket so I dropped m’load and run as fast as I could but I run into th’fence, but when I got distangled I run up to th’window and I seen – I seen ….

 Jem Ewell  To Kill A Mocking Bird Harper Lee 1960

Course Overview – Major Themes  Language Variation  Language Socialization  Language and Identity  Language and the organization of knowledge

Course Overview  Language Variation Dialects Speech Acts Conversational Interaction Speech Events  Language Socialization Childhood socialization Acquiring Discourse Styles Acquiring Literacy

Course Overview  Language and Identity Gender Social Class African American English Bilingualism and Multilingualism  Language and the Organization of Knowledge Language and Thought Academic Language Language, Culture and Education

What will I learn?  Familiarity with the major theoretical issues, research literature and methodologies in a variety of fields concerned with language and culture  How to critique and synthesize findings and view points from the literature  Understanding of the implications of language and culture research for instruction, student education, and teacher education

What’s the course format?  Weekly meetings  Seminar style; multi-method Lecture Transcript & Text Analysis Video viewing and analysis Whole and Small Group Discussions  Student lead discussion

What work is required  Course readings and class participation (10%)  Discussion preparation and facilitation (20%)  Four two-page critical response papers (5% each)  Two sets of take-home essays (25% each)

When and where does the course meet?  Tuesdays  1 to 4 pm  Longfellow 208 (tentatively)

How do you find Kendra?  Office: Larsen 322   Office hours: Wednesdays 9:30 to 11:00 am  Administrative Assistant: Alicia Redemske Larsen 317

Why study language variation?

The fate of the earth depends on cross- cultural communication (Tannen, 1986).