LING 220 - Language and Discrimination in the United States

Linguistic discrimination is one of the last socially acceptable forms of discrimination, in large part because it serves as a proxy for other forms of discrimination (i.e., attitudes about language, like “The Southern accent sounds slow and lazy,” actually function as attitudes about speakers). In this class, we will engage with the myths and language ideologies active in the current U.S. context, from standard language ideology to the myth of monolingualism, to frame our study of individuals and speech communities who experience discrimination. Students will acquire knowledge of key aspects of the linguistic system that support a positive perspective on linguistic diversity. In addition, specific varieties, including African American language and Latinx English, as well as social groups and styles, from young people’s speech to code-switching, will be spotlighted, as will a range of contexts for discrimination, from the law to the workplace to the college classroom. Student work will focus on community engagement and application, with final products that directly relate to linguistic social justice in our local community.

Unit(s): 1
Group Distribution Requirement(s): Distribution Group II
Prerequisite(s): Sophomore standing.
Instructional Method: Conference
Grading Mode: Letter grading (A-F)
Group Distribution Learning Outcome(s):

Evaluate data and/or sources.
Analyze institutions, formations, languages, structures, or processes, whether social, political, religious, economic, cultural, intellectual or other.
Think in sophisticated ways about causation, social and/or historical change, human cognition, or the relationship between individuals and society, or engage with social, political, religious or economic theory in other areas.