ANTH 295-03: Ethnography of Communication
Instructor: Brigittine French
Office: 306 Goodnow Hall
Office Hours: 9:45-11:00 /T/TH
and by appointment
E-mail: frenchb@grinnell.edu
Phone: 269-4816
Class: T/TH 12:45-2:05
Room: 105 Goodnow Hall
Course Description
This course explores the anthropological study of communication. It examines
many facets of human discourse as meaningful social activity situated in
particular contexts. Throughout the class, students will engage the ethnography
of communication as both a theoretical orientation and a methodological
approach. Areas of focus include: relationship between linguistic forms and
social functions, ethnography of speaking, layering of context,
performer/audience relations, intentionality, and ideologies.
Readings
1) Duranti, Alessandro. 2001. Linguistic Anthropology: A Reader. Oxford:
Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
2) Johnstone, Barbara. 2000. Discourse Analysis. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing
3) Schieffelin, Bambi. 1990. The Give and Take of Everyday Life: Language
Socialization of Kaluli Children. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
4) Urciuoli, Bonnie 1996. Exposing Prejudice: Puerto Rican Experiences of Race,
Class, and Language. CO: Westview Press.
5) E-reserve materials on Blackboard/Pioneerweb.
Requirements:
Exercises: Five sets of exercises that will focus on linguistic analysis.
Exams: Two take-home essay exams (5-7 pages) will require a synthesis of
theoretical materials applied to ethnographic examples.
Research Proposal: One research proposal (6 pages) will center on some aspect
of language and culture empirical investigation. Drafts of the proposal will be
handed in for feedback and evaluation throughout the semester. A brief
presentation of the proposal will be made to the class at the end of the semester.
Finished versions of the proposal will be due during finals week.
Discussion: Attendance and participation are essential to a successful class both
individually and collectively. Be attentive and engaged. Question your ideas
and those of class members including the professor.
Evaluation
Exercises
Synthesis Exams
Final Proposal
Drafts of proposal
Discussion
30 percent
20 percent
20 percent
10 percent
10 percent
60 points
40 points
40 points
20 points
20 points
Students with Disabilities:
Anyone who has a disability that may require some modification of seating, testing, or
other class requirements should inform me so that appropriate arrangements may be
made. Please see me after class or during my office hours.
Late Assignments
No late assignments will be accepted without prior approval.
Conceptual Foundations: The Science of Language
T Jan 25
Course Introduction
TH Jan 27
Boas, F. "Introduction to the Handbook of American Indian Languages"
in E-reserves.
Bloomfield, L. "The Study of Language" pp. 3-20 in E-reserves.
T Feb 1
de Saussure, F. “Linguistics of Language and Linguistics of Speaking” and
“Graphic Representation of Language” in E-reserves.
TH Feb 3
Phonetic Transcription Exercise: Bend It Like Beckham
T Feb 8
Chomsky, N. "Methodological Preliminaries" pp 3-30 in E-reserves.
Ethnography of Speaking: Communities and Competencies
TH Feb 10 Hymes, D. “Introduction: The Ethnography of Communication” in Ereserves.
T Feb 15
Gumperz, J. “The Speech Community” in Duranti.
Hymes, D. “On Communicative Competence” in Duranti.
TH Feb 17
Philips, S. “ Participant Structures and Communicative Competence:
Warm Springs Children in Community and Classroom” in Duranti.
Brice Heath, S. “What No Bedtime Story Means: Narrative Skills at Home”
in Duranti.
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DRAFT OF LITERATURE REVIEW AND BIBLIOGRAPHY DUE IN
CLASS
Discourse: Language and Culture Nexus
T Feb 22
Johnstone, B. “Introduction” in Johnstone.
TH Feb 24
Exercises 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.8 a,b,c, and d.
T Mar 1
Duranti, A. “Universal and Culture-Specific Properties of Greetings” in
Duranti.
TH Mar 3
Johnstone, B. “Chapter Three: Discourse Structure: Parts and
Sequences” pp. 63-81 only in Johnstone.
CA Transcription Exercise: Bend It Like Beckham
Language Socialization
T Mar 8
Schieffelin, B. Chapters One and Two
TAKE HOME ESSAY EXAM HANDED OUT IN CLASS.
TH Mar 10 Schieffelin, B. Chapter Three
Johnstone, B. Chapter Three: Discourse Structure: Parts and Sequences
pp.
81-97 only.
T Mar 15
Schieffelin, B. Chapters Four and Five
Johnstone, B “Chapter Three: Discourse Structure: Parts and Sequences”
pp. 97-110.
TAKE HOME ESSAY EXAM DUE.
TH Mar 17 Scheieffelin, B. Chapters Six and Eight
SPRING BREAK
Intentionality and Speech Acts
T April 5
Austin, J.L. "How To Do Things With Words: Lectures I and II" in Ereserves.
Johnstone, B. Chapter 7: Discourse and Purpose” pp. 196-218 only.
DRAFT OF OBJECTIVES AND METHODOLOGY DUE.
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TH April 7
Bailey, B. “The Communication of Respect in Interethnic Service
Encounters” in Duranti.
Exercises 3.23 a,b,c in Johnstone p. 105.
T April 12
Rosaldo, M. "The Things We Do With Words: Ilongot Speech Acts and
Speech Act Theory in Philosophy." in E-reserves.
DuBois, J. "Meaning Without Intention: Lessons from Divination" in Ereserves.
TH April 14 Exercises 7.3, 7.4, 7.5, and 7.6 in Johnstone p. 201-203.
Ideologies and Collective Identities
T April 19
Johnstone, B. “Chapter 4: Speakers, Hearers, Audiences”
Baquedano-Lopez, P. “Creating Social Identities through Doctrina
Narratives” in Duranti.
TH April 21 Gal, S. “Language, Gender, and Power: An Anthropological
Review” in Duranti.
Ochs, E. and Carolyn Taylor. “The Father Knows Best” Dynamic in
Dinnertime Narratives” in Duranti.
TAKE HOME EXAM HANDED OUT IN CLASS.
T April 26
Hill, J. “Language, Race, and White Public Space” in Duranti.
Urciuoli, B. “Intro: The Semiotics of Exclusion.”
TH April 28 Urciuoli, B. “Racialization and Language” and “Visions of
Disorder”
TAKE HOME EXAM DUE
T May 3
Urciuoli, B. “The Political Topography of Bilingualism,” “Good
English and Symbolic Capital,” and “The Race/Class/Language
Map.”
TH May 5
Student Presentations
T May 10
Student Presentations
TH May 12 Student Presentations
W May 18
FINAL PROPOSALS DUE IN MY MAILBOX BY 2:00pm.
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