ANTH 4010 LANGUAGE AND CULTURE University of North Texas Dr. Christina Wasson Spring 2005 MWF 1-1:50 PEB 220

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1 ANTH 4010 LANGUAGE AND CULTURE University of North Texas Dr. Christina Wasson Spring 2005 MWF 1-1:50 PEB 220 COURSE DESCRIPTION This course is an introduction to linguistic anthropology. It is designed to acquaint students with some of the ways in which languages and cultures are connected to each other. In all cultures, people talk as a primary means of accomplishing their goals, whether to develop a friendship or make a business deal. But communication patterns are culturally structured. The course will focus on three broad areas: 1) how language offers resources to individuals to help them accomplish their goals; 2) how language offers resources to institutions and social groups that help them maintain their power; and 3) how language shapes our thought patterns. Students will learn the basic techniques of analyzing conversations by working on a semester-long project. OFFICE HOURS AND COMMUNICATION WITH INSTRUCTOR My office is Chilton 330D. My office hours are MW 2-3. To see me at other times, please make an appointment by calling , or ing cwasson@unt.edu. The syllabus, project instructions, and various other course materials are also available on the web, at There is an list for the class; its address is anth @unt.edu. REQUIRED TEXTS The readings are a group of articles. I have divided them into 3 coursepacks that are available at the Eagle Images Copy Centers. For locations and hours of the copy centers, go to The coursepacks are divided as follows: Weeks 1-4 Weeks 5-8 Weeks 9-14 Readings are not optional. Students will be tested on them and asked to discuss them in class.

2 Page 2 COURSE REQUIREMENTS 1. Attendance and participation in classroom discussions (20%). This course combines lectures with class discussion, so participation is very important. Class participation makes up twenty percent of your final grade. Obviously, if you are absent you cannot contribute to discussions, so a high level of attendance is required for a good grade. If you have more than five unexcused absences, your grade will go down. Attendance will also affect your grades on written assignments, because a good deal of the information you need to get a good grade will only be presented in class. The lectures are designed to supplement, rather than repeat, information contained in the readings. Students are responsible for all materials and announcements presented in class, whether or not they were there. 2. Two quizzes (15% each). There will be two take-home essay quizzes. They will cover lectures, discussions in class, and reading assignments. 3. Research project (50%). Students will conduct a guided research project over the course of the quarter. It involves: identifying a group of people to study; observing and recording two of their meetings or activities; transcribing the recordings; and writing a report. Detailed instructions for the research project will be handed out separately. PLAGIARISM POLICY The department of anthropology does not tolerate plagiarism or any other form of academic dishonesty. Students suspected of academic dishonesty will be given a hearing in which they are informed of the charges. If there is clear evidence in support of the charge, they will automatically fail the course. For more information on the university s policies regarding academic integrity and dishonesty, see the Center for Student Rights and Responsibilities at Plagiarism is defined as misrepresenting the work of others (whether published or not) as your own. It may be inadvertent or intentional. You should always provide references for any facts, statistics, quotations, or paraphrasing of information that are not common knowledge. For more information on writing papers, including how to avoid plagiarism and how to use citations, see the department of anthropology s Writing Guide at NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY It is the policy of the University of North Texas not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability (where reasonable accommodations can be made), disabled veteran status or veteran of the Vietnam era status in its educational programs, activities, admissions or employment policies. In addition to complying with federal and state equal opportunity laws and regulations, the university through its diversity policy declares harassment based on individual differences (including sexual orientation) inconsistent with its mission and education goals. Direct questions and concerns to the Equal Opportunity Office,

3 Page , or the Dean of Students, TDD access is available through Relay Texas, Anthropology does not discriminate on the basis of an individual s disability as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act. The program provides academic adjustments and aid to individuals with disabilities in its programs and activities. If you have a disability, you are strongly advised to contact the Office of Disability Accommodations (UU 318A) or by telephone at It is the responsibility of the student to make the necessary arrangements with the instructors. COURSE SCHEDULE Students are expected to complete each day s assigned readings before class. Readings Topics WEEK ONE January 19 N/A Introduction and Course Objectives January 21 Irvine 1974 Negotiating Relationships and Identities WEEK TWO January 24 Goffman 1959 The Dramaturgical Metaphor January 26 Brown and Levinson 1987 Face and Politeness January 28 Schiffrin 1984 Verbal Conflict Description of Fieldsite Due WEEK THREE January 31 Duranti 1997 Audio and Video Taping February 2 Transcription Conventions Transcripts February 4 Ochs and Taylor 1995 Developing Models from the Transcripts Permission from Fieldsite Due WEEK FOUR February 7 Eder 1990 Verbal Conflict February 9 Bauman 1981 Verbal Art and Performance February 11 Basso 1979 Verbal Art and Performance

4 Page 4 WEEK FIVE February 14 Irvine 1992 Gossip and Social Control Short video: Griottes of the Sahel Annotated Bibliography Due February 16 Start Blom and Gumperz 1972 Code-switching February 18 Finish Blom and Gumperz 1972 Code-switching WEEK SIX February 21 Young 1982 Cross-Cultural Communication Short video: Crosstalk February 23 N/A Discuss Fieldwork Experiences First Fieldnotes Due February 25 N/A Discuss Fieldwork Experiences Receive Quiz #1 Instructions WEEK SEVEN February 28 Wasson 2004 Virtual Meetings March 2 Lippi-Green 1997 The Linguistic Facts of Life March 4 Holborow 1999 The Politics of World English Short video: The Global Tongue: English First Transcript and Recording Due WEEK EIGHT March 7 Spitulnik 1998 Language Ideologies in a Postcolonial State March 9 Zentella 1997 Language, Race and Ethnicity March 11 Morgan 2002 The African- American Speech Community Language, Race and Ethnicity Quiz #1 Due SPRING VACATION WEEK NINE March 21 Morgan 2002 Forms of Language, Race and Ethnicity Speech March 23 Morgan 2002 Language Language, Race and Ethnicity Norms and Practices March 25 N/A GOOD FRIDAY NO CLASS

5 Page 5 WEEK TEN March 28 N/A Language and Gender Video: He Said, She Said March 30 Maltz and Borker 1992 Language and Gender April 1 Keenan 1974 Language and Gender Second Fieldnotes Due WEEK ELEVEN April 4 Kulick 1998 Language and Gender April 6 N/A NO CLASS Wasson at conference April 8 N/A NO CLASS Wasson at conference WEEK TWELVE April 11 Gal 1978 Language and Gender Second Transcript and Recording Due April 13 Gaudio 1998 Language, Gender and Sexuality Receive Quiz #2 Instructions April 15 N/A From Fieldwork to Analysis WEEK THIRTEEN April 18 Conley and O Barr 1990 Language Ideologies in the Courtroom April 20 Fisher 1993 Language Ideologies in Medicine April 22 Whorf 1956 The Whorfian Hypothesis WEEK FOURTEEN April 25 Goodwin and Goodwin 1997 How Language Shapes Perceptions April 27 N/A Student Presentations April 29 N/A Student Presentations Quiz #2 Due WEEK FIFTEEN May 2 N/A Student Presentations May 4 N/A Student Presentations May 6 N/A Student Presentations

6 Page 6 FINALS Wednesday, May 11 Final Report Due (drop it off by 5 p.m. at the anthropology department front desk, Chilton 330)