FAS Undergraduate:
New Course
Course Number:
Course Title:
Credit:
Semester to take effect:
Abbreviation:
Co/Pre-requisite:
01:013:285
Language and Globalization
3 credits
Spring 2013
Lang & Glblztn
None
Special Notation:
Catalog description:
Meets Core Curriculum Goals (21st Century Challenges)
This course explores the intersection and intersectionality of language and globalization. It answers
questions like: What is globalization? What dimensions does it include? How has globalization changed the world
around? Since the concept of globalization has been examined by scholars across academic disciplines, the
course has a multidisciplinary approach. It is divided into three parts. PART 1 introduces the students to
the concept of “globalization” along its diverse but inter-related dimensions, including economic,
political, and socio-cultural. PART 2 introduces the students to the “linguistic” and “sociolinguistic”
dimensions of globalization and the current debates surrounding language and globalization. It covers
theories of functionalism, neo-Marxism, and post-modernism. PART 3 examines the linguistic
implications of globalization in various parts of the world. The geographic focus of the course is as global
as its central topic. Yet, special attention will be paid to selected cases in Asia, the European Union,
African, Latin America and the US depending on students’ geographical interests.
Method of assessment for
Embedded Assignment with Core Generic Rubrics
Permanent Core Curriculum
Type of meetings weekly:
Lecture:
Recitation:
Laboratory:
Other:
Will this course require additional resources? If yes, explain. NO
Has this course been discussed with and consented to by officers of those department(s) which offer
courses with which it might overlap or which offer pre-requisite courses? If yes, name the
department(s) and explain. No
Originated by (name of department or program officer):
Title (Chair, Undergraduate Director, or Program Director):
Department:
Date:
Syllabus and Assessment Plans are enclosed.
1
Maryam Borjian
Program Director
AMESALL
October 2, 2012
01-013-285-01 Language and Globalization
Department of African, Middle Eastern, and South Asian Languages and Literatures
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
New Brunswick Campus
Course Number: 01-013-285-01
Course Title: Language and Globalization
Instructor: Maryam Borjian
Office: Lucy Stone Hall Room B319 (B-Wing), Livingston
Office Hours: M/W 12:30-1:30 (by Appointment Only)
Email: mborjian@rci.rutgers.edu
The limits of my language are the limits of my world.
Ludwig Wittgenstein
Course Description
This course examines “globalization” and its impact upon the world’s languages from a critical
perspective. It answers questions like: What is globalization? How has globalization changed the world around
us economically, politically, socio-culturally, and above all, linguistically? What are the roles of the world’s
language(s) in our today’s information- and market-driven world of the 21st century? What have been the positive
and negative implications of globalization upon the world’s languages?
The concept of globalization has been examined by scholars across disciplines. As such, the course has a
multidisciplinary nature. It is divided into three parts. PART 1 introduces the students to the concept of
“globalization” along its diverse but inter-related dimensions, including economic, political, and sociocultural. Topics covered include: globalization a contested term, global economic orders, regulated vs.
unregulated capitalism (Keynesianism vs. Neoliberalism); policy privatization and decentralization, the
international trade and finance organizations, including the World Bank and IMF, the rise of nation-state
and its demise, global governance, the role of media, among others.
PART 2 introduces the students to the “linguistic” and “sociolinguistic” dimensions of globalization and
the current debates surrounding the global language(s) and its implications upon world’s languages. It
introduces the students to three major theories from the field of linguistics on the topic of language and
globalization, including: Functionalism, Neo-Marxism, and Post-Modernism. Topics covered include:
linguistic
imperialism,
linguistic
hybridity,
linguistic
implications
of
policy
privatization/decentralization, international trade and finance organizations and their visible/invisible
language policies, the global language for the global citizens, monolingualism vs. bi/multilingualism,
globalization, language shift and decline, language and mass media, etc.
PART 3 examines the linguistic implications of globalization in various parts of the world. The
geographic focus of the course is as global as its central topic. Yet, special attention will be paid to
selected cases in Asia, the European Union, African, Latin America and the US depending on students’
geographical interests.
Core Curriculum Goals Met By this Course (21st Century Challenges)
By the end of the semester, students will be able to:
Ib Analyze political, economic, socio-cultural dimensions of language as a global issue from a
multidisciplinary perspective.
Id Analyze issues of linguistic social justice across local and global contexts.
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AND
a) Understand and analyze the concept of “globalization” from a multidisciplinary perspective,
reflecting upon its economic, political, socio-cultural, and linguistic dimensions and implications
for the world community (Core Curriculum Goal Ib);
b) Identify, compare, contrast and critically reflect upon major theoretical perspectives/approaches
in the field of linguistics to the issues surrounding language and globalization (Core Curriculum
Goal Ib);
c) Identify and explain the causes of linguistic in/equalities and in/justices in local & global
contexts and evaluate the ways to advance linguistic justice in the 21 st century (Core Curriculum
Goal Id).
Required Readings
Course Readings on Sakai;
AND
Books on the politics, economics, and sociology of globalization
Steger, Manfred (2009). Globalization: A Very Short Introduction (2nd edition). Oxford: Oxford University
press. (
Stiglitz, Joseph (2003). Globalization and its discontents. W. W. Norton & Company.
Books on the linguistic dimension of globalization
Blommaert, Jan (2010). The Sociolinguistics of globalization. Cambridge University Press.
Brutt-Griffler, G. (2004). World English. A Study of its development. Clevedon, Avon: Multilingual Matters.
Crystal, David (2003). English as a Global Language. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Mazrui, Alamin (2004). English in Africa after the Cold War. Clevedon and Philadelphia: Multilingual
Matters.
Phillipson, Robert (2003). Linguistic Imperialism. Oxford : Oxford University Press.
Course Requirements and Grading
(Grade Definition Quality Points from Rutgers University Catalog)
92-100 = A (4.0) 88-91 = B+ (3.5) 82-87 = B (3.0)
77-81 = C+ (2.5) 70-76 = C (2.0) 60-69 = D (1.0) below 60 = F
To pass this course, students must complete all required assignments. Students must also follow the
attendance requirements. Please contact the instructor at your earliest convenience if there is a problem
with either the assignments or the attendance—exceptions can always be made at instructor’s discretion.
Grading:
-- Attendance 10%
-- Preparation and Participation 20%
-- Exam 20%
-- Student Presentation 20%
-- Research Paper 30%
Attendance, Preparation and Participation 30%
Attendance is a requirement for this course and up to two absences are allowed per semester. Due to the
participatory nature of the class, you will miss 5 points (5%) for each class you miss over two. In other
words, an A student who misses four classes (two more over the two) will drop to a B. Absences will be
excused only if you submit proper documentation or in the case of a religious holiday (of which you must
notify the instructor in advance). You are still responsible for any homework scheduled for the day/s you
are absent. Exceptions will be made in extraordinary circumstances at the instructor’s discretion. You are
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also expected to attend the class on time as coming late will be highly disruptive to the flow of the course
and to your peers. Two late arrivals to the class will be counted as one absence. If you are ill or anticipate
a problem to be absent from class, you are encouraged to work with another student to borrow their
notes or have them fill you in on what you missed. If possible, please discuss with the instructor any
classes you anticipate missing before any assignment is due. Incompletes are very strongly discouraged.
This course has been designed to provide ample opportunities for students’ participation. To facilitate
discussion, students are expected to come to class prepared to talk about all of the required readings.
Students are encouraged to contribute to class discussion and diverse views are desired. Announced and
unannounced quizzes as well as homework and in-call activities and assignments will be given to ensure
preparation on the part of all students.
Exam 20%
This exam covers readings in the first part of the course: Globalization and its Economics, Political, and
Socio-Cultural Dimensions.
Research Paper 30%
This paper should contrast the positions taken by various linguists on the topic of language and
globalization. Please choose 4 scholars. Your paper should have three parts: (1) Part one describes the
theoretical frameworks of the four scholars (functionalism, neo-Marxism, post-modernism). Give specific
evidence of the data they give to support their position. The first part of the paper should be descriptive,
rather than analytical. (2) Part Two provides careful critical analysis that explicates and assesses the
advantages/scope & disadvantages/ limits of each perspective. (3) Part three of paper should be a
reflection of the student’s individual position vis-a-vis language and globalization. The reflection part of
the paper should also be linked to readings from the first part of the course (globalization and its multiple
dimensions). The paper should be 7 to 10 double-spaced pages.
Student Presentation 20%
Choose a Case Study on language and globalization. You have the option to select a case study that is
most interesting/relevant to you or one out of the various case studies included in the syllabus or been
recommended by the instructor. Your class presentation is an analysis that focuses on the following four
components: (1) Provide a short description of the selected context/nation and its language policy. (2)
Critically analyze in detail what “linguistic hierarchy” and “linguistic social justice/injustice”
means/might mean in that particular context and offer a critical assessment of existing policies and
practices. (3) Identify and provide thoughtful analysis of roots of the causes of the linguistic hierarchies
and linguistics social justice/injustice, exploring its larger implications and connections to other issues
(economic, political, ideological, cultural aspects of globalization) from a macro perspective. (4) Critically
and thoughtfully evaluate ways to advance linguistic social justice in the 21st century and identify
who/what would need to change to achieve linguistic social justice and equality in the selected context.
Plan your presentation for 60 minutes, of which the first 40 minutes is to be devoted to the presentation
and 20 minutes for questions-answers. For this presentation, students have the option to create a
PowerPoint file or bring handout(s) for other members of the class. In both cases, the power point file or
handouts(s) should be sent to the instructors at least 24 hours prior to the presentation.
Academic Integrity Policy of Rutgers University: Rutgers University regards acts of dishonesty (e.g.
plagiarism, cheating on examinations, obtaining unfair advantage, and falsification of records and official
documents) as serious offenses against the values of intellectual honesty. See the link here for details:
http://academicintegrity.rutgers.edu/integrity.shtml
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Reading Schedule:
(Please note that readings and readings schedule are provisional)
PART I: GLOBALIZATION AND ITS DIMENTIONS
Week 1
Course Introduction
Week 2
J. Stiglitz, 2003, Ch. 1 (Globalization and its discontents)
M. Steger, 2009, Ch. 1 & Ch. 2 (A historical overview)
Week 3
M. Steger, 2009, Ch. 4 (Political dimension of globalization)
M. Steger, 2009, Ch. 3 & J. Stiglitz, 2003, Ch. 1 (Economic dimension of globalization)
Week 4
M. Steger, 2009, Ch. 5 (Socio-Cultural dimension of globalization)
Exam
PART II: LINGUISTIC DIMENTION OF GLOBALIZATION: THEORIES
Week 5
D. Crystal, Ch. 1 (English as a Global Language)
D. Crystal, Ch. 3 & 4 (Why a global language)
Week 6
R. Phillipson, 2003. Ch. 1 (Linguistic Imperialism)
R. Phillipson, 2001 (English for globalization)
Week 7
J. Tollefson, 2000 (Policy and ideology in the spread of English)
J. Gray, 2002 (The global language textbook)
Week 8
G. Brutt-Grifler , 2002, Ch. 3 (World English)
A. Pennycook, 2004 (Myth of English as an international language)
Week 9
A. M. Mazrui, 2004, Ch. 1 (Post-Cold War English in Africa)
A. M. Mazrui, 2004, Ch. 3 (English and the Pan-African)
Week 10
J. Blommaert, 2010, (Sociolinguistics of Globalization)
J. Blommaert, 2010, (Sociolinguistics of Globalization)
PART III: CASE STUDIES : LANGUAGE AND GLOBALIZATION
Student Presentations
Week 11
Research Paper One Due
Language and Globalization: The Case of Korea
Language and Globalization: The Case of China
Week 12
Language and Globalization: The Case of Post-Colonial Africa
Language and Globalization: The Case of Malaysia
Week 13
Language and Globalization: The Case of Philippines
Language and Globalization: The Case of the U.S.
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Week 14
Language and Globalization: The Case of Pakistan
Language and Globalization: The Case of India
Week 15
Language and Globalization: The Case of Middle East
Language and Globalization: The Case of Latin America
01-013-285-01 Language and Globalization
Assessment Plans
Assessment of learning goals will be an on-going and cumulative process throughout the semester. The
assessment rubric, however, will be based on two assignments: the research paper and the student
presentation. The research paper requires students to identify, compare, contrast and critically reflect
upon major theoretical perspectives/approaches in the field of linguistics to the issues surrounding
language and globalization (Core Curriculum Goal Ib). It also requires students to understand and
analyze the concept of “globalization” from a multidisciplinary perspective, reflecting upon its economic,
political, socio-cultural dimensions and implications for the world community (Core Curriculum Goal
Ib). The student presentation requires the student to identify and explain the causes of linguistic
in/equalities and in/justices in local & global contexts and evaluate the ways to advance linguistic justice
in the 21st century (Core Curriculum Goal Id).
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