Language & Sexuality (327-0-20)

Instructors

Gregory Ward
847/491-8055
2016 Sheridan Rd., Room 203
Office Hours: after class and by appt

Meeting Info

Cresap Laboratory 101: Tues, Thurs 2:00PM - 3:20PM

Overview of class

This course will explore the ways in which language is used to construct, negotiate, present, and/or conceal the sexual identity/ies and orientation/s of its speakers. The approach to the course will be primarily linguistic; we will investigate various aspects of language as used by members of various sexual identies, focusing on the language of and about gay men and lesbians. Among the topics to be covered will be "reclaimed epithets" (e.g. "dyke" and "queer"), gender vs. sexuality vs. sex, coming-out stories as gay genre, the sexual lexicon, cross-cultural sexual diversity, and the general role of language in creating, reifying, and reproducing sexual categories, identities, and intimacy.

Registration Requirements

Instructor consent is required, contact the instructor for a permission number.
Attendance at first class mandatory.

Learning Objectives

In this class, students will be taught: how to think critically about sexual identity and language - and the relations between them; some of the ways in which language is used to construct, negotiate, present, and/or conceal the sexual identity/ies of its speakers both in the US English context and cross-linguistically; and, more generally, the crucial role that language plays in creating, reifying, and reproducing sexual categories, identities, and intimacy.

Teaching Method

Discussion format with some lecture. Class presentations. Research paper.

Evaluation Method

Weekly reaction papers, a language journal, class participation, and a term paper.

Class Materials (Required)

All course materials will be provided on Canvas.