ENGL 263 - Black English and Voice: An Introduction to Sociolinguistics

Semester Offered: Second Semester
Full Course
Credits: 4 credits
Attribute: 4HU, CD, WINT

Sociolinguistics studies the relationship between language and society and/or language variation by group and location. Given that it is a highly developed ‘dialect’ that was central to definition of the field, this course examines regularities of Black English (sometimes called Ebonics, to indicate both speaker and sound). Along the way, students will be introduced to key concepts of sociolinguistics (e.g., speech community and speech act as well as semantics, morphology, and phonetics/phonology). The course also re-visits the 1997 debates involving Oakland’s intention to feature Ebonics in English education and culminates with consideration of differently stylized ‘literary’ renderings of Black speech. Field trips possible.

Enrollment Limit: 40
Instructor: G. Johns

Prerequisites & Notes: AAST 101, one 200-level English course, or equivalent.
Cross List Information: Cross-listed with AAST 263
This course may also count for the major in (consult the program or department major requirements) :
Comparative American Studies; The Linguistics Concentration