LINGUIS 55AC
The American Languages
A linguistic view of the history, society, and culture of the United States. The diversity of languages spoken in this country and the issues surrounding them: language and ethnicity; politics of linguistic pluralism vs. societal monolingualism; language shift, maintenance, and revitalization; language and education. The course will pay particular attention to the history and diversification of American English dialects, the historical and current situation of Native American language communities, and the development and structure of African-American English, examining its origins and its role in American society today.
Topics
- By successfully completing the course, students will - develop an understanding and appreciation of the diversity of language varieties and styles in the United States; - use linguistics as a tool to engage in informed, critical discussions about society and challenge the main myths about languages; and - interpret how language ideologies shape attitudes, practices, and policies in the United States, including our own individual language identities. In addition, students will gain experience researching, reflecting on, and writing about American history and culture from a social scientific perspective. These are skills which are useful in linguistics but also transferable to many other disciplines.
Official catalogue course objectives and student learning outcomes
Sources
- Course catalogue ↗2026-2027