Language, Politics, and Identity (222-0-20)

Instructors

Elisabeth Elliott
847/491-8082
Kresge Hall, 3-305, 1880 Campus Dr.

Meeting Info

Fisk Hall 217: Tues, Thurs 12:30PM - 1:50PM

Overview of class

In LING 222 - SLAVIC 222 Language, Politics, and Identity (co-listed classes) students will examine and analyze political and identity issues in terms of the languages and dialects of the Balkans (particularly: Albanian, Bosnian, Bulgarian, Croatian, Macedonian, Romani, and Serbian). Topics to be covered include: linguistic nationalism, language laws, rights of minority languages, language discrimination, language and religion, alphabet issues, language and dialect as ethnic identity, standard language, and others. This course will introduce the student to some of the key issues that have plagued the Balkans in the past and continue to shape its future.
This course fulfills either an Area IV, Historical Studies, Distribution Requirement or Area V, Ethics and Values, Distribution Requirement, students may choose with Distribution Requirement.

Registration Requirements

WCAS Distribution Requirement: Ethics & Values Distro Area
Historical Studies

Learning Objectives

Describe the major historical events and figures within the Balkans, relevant to our sociolinguistic lens, from antiquity to modernity that have shaped key arguments about nationalism, language, and language-related social practices.
Intercept secondary sources (written histories, historical atlases of the Balkans, and other scholarly works) to acquire knowledge of the impact of historical developments and factors on the emergence and development of literary languages.
Apply a sociolinguistic social justice lens to these historical developments and factors, including the ancient civilizations (Illyria and Thrace) and major empires in the Balkans (Roman, Greek, Habsburg, and especially Ottoman), the decline of the Ottoman Empire and influx of Romantic nationalism, Communism, the Yugoslav Wars, and the rise of the European Union.
Analyze primary sources to discover the forms, effects, and causes of linguistic nationalism through the historical context. Primary texts include the 1850 Literary Agreement in Vienna, the 1954 Novi Sad Agreement, the 1967 Declaration on the Name and Position of the Croatian Literary Language, the 1974 revised Yugoslav Constitution, the 2017 Declaration on the Common Language, the 1944 Presidium of Anti-fascist Assembly of the National Liberation of Macedonia Announcement of Instruction in Schools in the Macedonian Language, the 1945 Foundation of the Macedonian Literary Language, and the 1945 People's Government of Macedonia Decree on the Macedonian Alphabet.
Reflect on the historical construction of ethnicity and nationalism and the roles these play in attitudes towards and policies concerning linguistic varieties (languages and dialects) and how they have changed over time. Particular attention will be given to the Ottoman Empire's administrative community structure, millet, in contrast to the Western Romantic nationalism entering the Balkans in the 19th century through external Western powers. Students will examine how these competing frameworks shaped and reshaped ethnicity and nationalism, ultimately contributing to forms of linguistic prejudice that have characterized the Balkans since the nineteenth century.
Recognize the significant symbolic role that language plays in politics and identity by describing and critiquing models of language policy within the Balkans ranging from total support and flourishing to attempting to kill and erase languages (and, consequently, peoples and cultures). Recognize the complexity of ethical issues associated with language politics and describe possible improvements to linguistic policy models based on the Balkan cases.
Identify linguistic prejudice through the myths and presuppositions about language (e.g., "speakers of African American English are verbally deprived"; "some languages are not good enough"; "everyone has an accent except me;" "French is a logical language"; "the meanings of words should not be allowed to change").
Discuss ways to prevent the perpetuation of linguistic prejudice and to promote linguistic justice and diversity within societies, particularly in contexts involving minority languages, colonization, genocide, and war.
Define foundational concepts of sociolinguistics/linguistic anthropology, using the Balkans as our primary case study and drawing comparisons with parallel US situations. Concepts include dialect continuum, language and identity, diglossia, alphabet reform, polycentric language models, language loss, language codification, language planning, and models of minority languages.
Discuss the vast and complex diachronic and synchronic multilayered diversity of the Balkans. Learn the countries and regions (historical, current, and non-existent, e.g., Greater Albania, non-territorial communities of Roma and Jews), major peoples and religions, and the names and genetic classifications of the major linguistic varieties (languages and dialects) while examining how these categories and systems of thought and speech have been constructed over time and space.
Communicate effectively about language policy and language politics in the Balkans and their historical development, expressing ideas thoughtfully and clearly in both oral and written forms.
Practice and improve group-work skills, including developing intercultural competence, sharing and supporting expertise, managing conflict within groups, planning and managing time effectively, giving and receiving constructive feedback, strengthening communication and listening skills, improving turn-taking practices, and holding oneself and others accountable.

Teaching Method

Lecture; some group-work during classes with class discussions

Evaluation Method

Exam, mid-term
Class participation
Group work
Quizzes
Readings

Class Materials (Required)

Readings provided on Canvas

Class Attributes

Ethical and Evaluative Thinking Foundational Disci
Global Perspectives on Power, Justice, and Equity
SoC Individual and Social Behavior Distro