Experimental Sociolinguistics (312-0-20)
Instructors
Annette Kumsun D'onofrio
847/491-8052
2016 Sheridan Rd,, Room 106
Office Hours: By appt.
Jennifer Dibbern
Meeting Info
Cresap Laboratory 101: Mon, Wed 2:00PM - 3:20PM
Overview of class
This course will explore how experimental methods can help us examine new questions about the social meaning of language. We will begin by discussing current theoretical work on socially meaningful linguistic variation, finding research questions that are suited to the use of experimental methods. We will then turn to the growing body of experimental research in sociolinguistics to understand the theoretical and methodological contributions of this work. We will discuss questions such as: How do we infer who someone is from the way that they speak? How do our social expectations influence our linguistic perceptions? How do our social experiences, stereotypes, and attitudes mediate how we speak and how we listen? And how much control do we have over these processes? Students will gain both a theoretical understanding of research in these areas, as well as practical knowledge related to formulating research questions and constructing experimental studies on sociolinguistic topics.
Registration Requirements
Prerequisite: one of the following: Ling 220, 221, 222, 223, 250, OR graduate standing or consent of instructor
Learning Objectives
Through successfully completing this course, you will:
-gain a theoretical understanding of how social knowledge and linguistic perception are intertwined.
-write clear critical analyses of the relation between social factors and linguistic variation as tested through experimental methods.
-learn to formulate research questions rooted in theoretical sociolinguistic work.
-learn about a variety of experimental methods.
-gain experience designing experimental studies.
-gain experience presenting and discussing proposals for original research.
Evaluation Method
Participation, response papers, final project proposal
Class Materials (Required)
Course materials are free, distributed by the class Canvas site and in print-outs handed out in class.
Class Materials (Suggested)
N/A
Class Attributes
Social and Behavioral Science Foundational Discipl
U.S. Perspectives on Power, Justice, and Equity
Social & Behavioral Sciences Distro Area
Enrollment Requirements
Enrollment Requirements: Students must either be Linguistic Grads or have completed a LING200 lvl course