APLN 582_01SP14/LNGN 450-01: LANGUAGE & MOBILE COMMUNICATION
Instructor: Susana Sotillo, Ph.D.
Cell #:
201-341-0319 (Send text messages only.) I do not read my email on a daily basis. If
you need to reach me, please text me.
Meeting Time: For our face-to-face (F2F) session: 5:30-6:45 p.m.
Place: University Hall 2006
Asynchronous Session: Blackboard Discussion Board Posts – Fridays 5:30 – 6:45 p.m.
Synchronous session: TBA as needed via Blackboard Collaborate tentatively once a month or
in case of a snowstorm/dangerous ice on campus and roads. Copy this link to your browser in
order to access our virtual classroom: http://tiny.cc/Caprica (This is a shorter version of the link
below)
https://sas.elluminate.com/m.jnlp?password=M.59FEA4D980C396CAC2B1794A1B4568&sid=
2009113 We will be able to interact using the microphone and web-cam.
Course Description: This course will provide an overview of recent research that focuses on
the language of “mobile communication technology and social networks.” Tools used in the
construction of digital discourse or cyber language include mobile phones, Instant Messaging,
blogging, Heyku, Twittering, Instagram, Facebook chatting, and several others. The focus will be
on the linguistic, discursive, and pragmatic aspects of SMS text messaging, instant messaging,
blogging, and social networking on the go. Students will be asked to collect data for analysis
from various sources of mobile communication. We will examine mobile communication
jargon, linguistic structures, stylistic and linguistic creativity, and the pragmatics of language on
the go. Additionally, mobile technologies will be investigated for language learning purposes.
Cultural practices that influence the language and functions of SMS text messaging and other
forms of digital communication will be investigated, as well as the impact of mobile telephony
on community, schooling, language and content learning, and social relationships in the
workplace.
Office: Schmitt Hall 240E
973-655-7377
Office hours: Wednesdays 2:30 – 3:30 and online by appointment only via Blackboard
Collaborate http://tiny.cc/Caprica or FaceTime (cassandra8@comcast.net).
Required Textbooks:
Mobile Communication: Bringing Us Together and Tearing Us Apart. Edited by R. Ling &
Scott W. Campbell (2012). Transaction Publishers. ISBN:1-4128-4955-1
Language Online. David Barton & Carmen Lee. Routledge. ISBN: 978-0-415-52495-7
On Reserve at Sprague: Handbook of Research on Discourse Behavior and Digital
Communication: Language Structures and Social Interaction (Volumes I & II). Recommended
reading: Chapters 1, 6, 7, 16, 22, and 29.
Evaluation: The following scheme will be used to evaluate student work and participation:
Discussion Forum Postings – Assignment (First
Draft - Lit. Review & Research Questions)
Seminar Leader Assignments
Mid-Term Quiz
Final Research Project
30
20
20
30
Attendance and F2F and online participation are greatly appreciated as this class will be
conducted in a seminar fashion.
Schedule of Topics and Assignments
This syllabus is subject to modification based on student needs and time constraints.
Week of
Assignments/Readings
Discussion Forum Posts
st
th
January 21 -24
Goals and objectives of the
Asynchronous Session: Read
course –
Chomsky vs. Labov article.
Basic Concepts and Goals
Where does our work fit in?
PP Presentation
Post your reaction to the
Let’s decide on the best time
Discussion Forum.
and day for a synchronous
online session when needed.
th
st
January 28 – 31
Classroom discussion of the
Asynchronous online session:
Chomsky vs. Labov article in
Please read Language Online,
so far as it affects applied
pp.42-106; 164-183. Prepare
linguists. I. Language
questions for F2F session.
Online: Start reading
What approach would you use
Language Online, pp. 1-41.
to analyze digital discourse or
social networking language?
February 4th – 7th
Asynchronous Session: Post to
Cyber language:
Read Laura Christopherson’s
the Discussion Forum your
dissertation (Literature Review evaluation of Laura’s
and Methodology Sections).
methodology and data analysis.
February 11th – 14th
Assignment #1: Prepare an
Asynchronous Session:
outline of a research
Read Language Online, pp.
topic/project related to an
124-163.
aspect of digital discourse
Prepare at least five PP slides
(e.g., the culture of cyber
describing the project you
language) or mobile
intend to undertake and upload
communication (structure and these to the Discussion Forum.
function). Include a
Use the APA Style Manual for
preliminary literature review
your References.
and explain how you would go
about collecting authentic
data. Present in class.
th
st
February 18 – 21
Guest Speaker: Julie Dalley, February 21st Synchronous
Acting Director of The
Session: Select an article from
Teaching Academy.
either Mobile Communication,
Read: Beyond Classroom
any of the articles and book
Settings.
chapters uploaded to BB under
II. Mobile Communication
and Social Networks:
Read Mobile Communication,
pp. 1-87; 127-149.
Identification of seminar
leaders for the next two F2F
sessions.
February 25th – 28th
March 4th – 7th
March 18th – 21st
March 25th – 28th
April 1st – 4th
Seminar Leaders: TBA
Each participant should lead
a discussion for 15 minutes.
Read Ling & Campbell (Eds.),
pp. 181-209; 229-247.
Issues of individual
addressability, interlacing, and
the spillover of mobile
communication.
Class Discussion.
Seminar Leaders: TBA
March 10th – 16th Spring Recess
Tools for Analyzing Texts:
Corpus Linguistics and
Critical Discourse Analysis
Read: Neff-van Artselaer ‘s
Dialogic Turbulance and
Sotillo’s Communicating
Ideologies
III. Mobile Technologies
and Language Learning
Read the following articles
and discuss in class: Text
Messaging and School
Literacy; Vocabulary
Activities and Cell Phones
(articles by Glenn Stockwell);
Language on the Fly; and
Using Cell Phones for
Listening Skills. Class
Discussion.
Seminar Leaders TBA for
Documents, or a scholarly
article you have chosen from
MSU’s databases that addresses
one of your research questions.
Email me the topic(s) you
have chosen as a Seminar
Leader to begin the week of
March 4th before our
synchronous session.
Asynchronous Session: Read
Thurlow & Poff’s article
(Documents - PP Slides ).
According to Thurlow & Poff,
what are the most salient
characteristics of SMS texting?
What are some of the functions
of SMSs? Post your answers
and concerns about the
methodology to the Discussion
Forum.
Asynchronous Session: Post
your PP slides and summaries
to the Discussion Forum.
Mid-Term Quiz: General
questions about language,
mobile technologies, linguistic
and sociological approaches to
the study of language.
Asynchronous Session: Post
your evaluation of one or two of
the articles you have read
concerning the use of mobile
technologies and language
learning.
Synchronous Session – Friday
Mobile Technologies and
Language Learners
April 8th – 11th
April 15th –
April 22nd – 25th
Everyone: Visit Language
Learning & Technology and
explore current and past
issues.
Progress Reports Presentation of Research
Topics and Preliminary
Results
Continuation of Progress
Reports
PP Presentation: What
Conclusions Have We
Reached?
April 29th – May 2nd
Course Overview and
Discussion of Research
Projects.
May 6th
Designated as Friday
5:30 to 6:30 p.m.: Prepare one
or two slides with
ideas/suggestions concerning
the use of one mobile
technology for helping learners
of English or other languages.
Asynchronous Session: Upload
your preliminary progress
report to the Discussion Forum
(Three pages maximum.)
Easter Holiday (April 18-20th)
Asynchronous Session: Post to
the Discussion Forum your
assessment of what you have
learned in this course. Which
topics piqued your intellectual
curiosity? Which ones would
you leave out?
Asynchronous Session: Short
study guide for final quiz based
on readings and discussions.
Contribute questions for MC
quiz.
Please work on your Research
Project. Remember to text me
if you need to reach me.
Week of Finals
Your Research Project is due Tuesday – May 13th by 5:30 p.m., Conrad Schmitt Hall 240E