This course offers an overview of the historical development and
diversification of modern English(es) and how these varieties have been used in
both speech and writing. Through a variety of texts, we will discuss notions
such as register, dialect, pidgin. and creole, and we will examine the varying
degrees of social and political power (and powerlessness) that the use of these
different Englishes encodes. We will also explore language use in terms of
gender, ethnicity, and class, and special emphasis will be given to the
discussion of such problematic issues as grammatical correctness, native
speaker competence, and the relationship between language and nation building.
Assessment: Two Midterms and a Final Examination, Weekly
Postings on Laulima
Required
text: English – One Tongue, Many Voices (Leech and Svartvik)