SPOKEN AND WRITTEN TRADITIONS OF AMERICAN
ENGLISH DIALECTS
ENG 325 (3 credit hrs.)
Spring 2016
Tompkins G126
3:30-4:45 Tu/Th
Instructor: Caroline Myrick
Email: cmmyrick@ncsu.edu
Office: Tompkins 206
Office Hours: Weds 10:00-12:00
I am happy to meet outside of office hours with prior notice.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
We will use literature and spoken language to gain an understanding of the structured variation and diversity of
the English language, with a focus on American English dialects. We will explore the connection between
linguistic diversity and social structure. After developing an understanding of this connection, we will apply this
knowledge to the analysis of literature. By combining linguistic knowledge with literary analysis techniques, the
students will gain a richer understanding of the texts, the authors’ choices while writing the texts, and the social
contexts which surround the texts.
GEP fulfillment: None
Prerequisite: Freshman English (ENG 101, 111, 112, or 112H)
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
By the end of this course, students should be able to
• define what dialect is, and understand its connections to region, ethnicity, class, and gender
• contrast “folk ideologies” about language vs. conclusions based on authentic data
• recognize and explain features of American English dialects
• understand ways in which language is used to create identities
• identify potential social motivations for employing non-standard features in written literature
• contrast eye-dialect with orthographic choices which represent spoken linguistic structures
• and finally, recognize the complexity of all forms of human communication
REQUIRED TEXTS
Wolfram, Walt, & Schilling, Natalie (2015) American English: Dialects and Variation, 3rd edition
(ISBN # 9781118390221)
Oates, ed. (2012) Oxford Book of American Short Stories, 2nd edition
(ISBN # 9780199744398)
All other readings will be available online via Moodle.
CLASSROOM EXPECTATIONS
Students are expected to show respect to their classmates and instructor by
• arriving to class on time
• reading the assigned reading prior to class
• bringing the assigned reading to class in paper form
• refraining from the use of electronic devices
• being mindful of different backgrounds and points of view
ATTENDANCE
The instructor follows university policies regarding excused absences.
See: https://policies.ncsu.edu/regulation/reg-02-20-03
Students with excused absences should contact the instructor as soon as possible. Work missed due to an
excused absence is due within 7 days of the original due date. After 4 unexcused absences, your class
participation grade will be lowered 10 points for each additional unexcused absence. Students who arrive more
than 5 minutes late to class will be marked absent.
GRADING (1000 pts. total)
200 pts. – Assignments and pop quizzes
All homework is due at the start of class on the day it is due. Late work will receive half-credit. Pop quizzes
regarding the assigned reading will be given at the beginning of class and will have a time limit. You cannot
makeup quizzes that you miss or are late to (unless prior arrangements are made, or absence is excused).
100 pts. – Class presentation
During the literature section of the class, you will be required to signup to become an “expert” on one of the
assigned readings. Your responsibilities for that day include researching either or both the author’s life and the
piece of literature, and coming up with a few questions to initiate discussion. You will turn in your notes/
research for evaluation. More info will be provided about this assignment on a separate assignment sheet.
200 pts. – Midterm exam
Assessment of sociolinguistics and spoken dialects.
200 pts. – Final exam
Assessment mainly of the course’s literature component, but will necessarily draw on the information in the
spoken dialects part of the course.
250 pts. – Two Papers
• Paper 1 (100 pts) a 4-5 page paper that engages two academic articles on a dialects. You are to engage the
ideas presented in the articles, as well as make connections between course content and the articles you
select. Specific instructions will be posted on Moodle. Due February 23.
• Paper 2, (150 pts) a 7-8 page paper on the use of dialect in a “local color” short story that is not covered
in class. You are to discuss the ways this dialect functions in the story in relation to such themes as race,
ethnicity, gender, class, and/or region. Specific instructions will be posted on Moodle. Due April 17.
50 pts. – Class participation
This is a discussion-based course. Class participation is evaluated based on your contributions to class
discussions. Factors affecting participation include the following: attending class, arriving on time, being
prepared for class, and contributing frequently to our discussions in meaningful ways, e.g., making insightful
comments, raising important questions. [See also attendance policy re. absences and participation pts.]
Date
Topic
Reading/Assignment Due
PART I: Analyzing Spoken Dialect
Thur, Jan. 7
Course introduction
Tues, Jan. 12
Course introduction
No Class [instructor is at a conference]
*View video online*
Assignment #1 due
Thur, Jan. 14
Language diversity & dialects
Chapter 1, American English (AE)
Tues, Jan. 19
Chapter 2, pp.27-40, AE
Tues, Feb. 9
Why are there dialects?
Social & historical reasons
Why are there dialects?
Linguistic reasons & processes
Levels of dialect:
Lexical & phonological variation
Levels of dialect:
Lexical & phonological variation
Levels of dialect:
Grammatical variation
Levels of dialect:
Grammatical variation
Language variation in the U.S.
Thur, Feb. 11
Regional varieties
Chapter 5, AE
Tues, Feb. 16
Social varieties
Chapter 6, AE
Thur, Feb. 18
Chapter 7, pp.183-199, AE
Tues, March 1
Ethnic varieties:
Latino English, Cajun English
Ethnic varieties:
Lumbee, Jewish, and Asian English
Ethnic varieties:
African American English
Language and gender
Thur, March 3
Language and style
Chapter 10, AE
Thur, Jan. 21
Tues, Jan. 26
Thur, Jan. 28
Tues, Feb. 2
Thur, Feb. 4
Tues, Feb. 23
Thur, Feb. 25
Tues, March 8
Thur, March 11
Tues, March 15
Thur, March 17
Chapter 2, pp.40-57, AE
Study pp. xiv-xv
Chapter 3, pp.61-79, AE
Start studying appendix
Chapter 3, pp.61-79, AE
Study appendix
Chapter 3, pp.79-93, AE
Study appendix
Chapter 3, pp.79-93, AE
Study appendix
Chapter 4, AE
Chapter 7, pp.199-210 AE
Chapter 8, AE
Chapter 9, AE
Spring Break: No Classes
Catch up & Exam review
MIDTERM EXAM
PT. II: ANALIZING WRITTEN DIALECT
Tues, March 22
Introduction to Literary Dialects
“Regionalism and Local Color”
[expect pop quizzes during the rest of the
semester]
http://public.wsu.edu/~campbelld/amlit/lc olor.html
Thur, March 24
The South
Tues, March 29
African Americans
Thur, March 31
African Americans
OBASS: “The Sherriff’s Children” (Chestnutt)
OBASS: “A Late Encounter with the Enemy”
(O’Connor) & “Where Is the Voice Coming
from?” (Welty)
OBASS, “The Man Who was Almost a Man”
(Wright) & “Red-Headed Baby” (Hughes)
On Moodle: “Sweat” (Hurston)
& “Uncle Remus Stories” (Harris)
OBASS: “Old Woman Magoun” (Freeman) &
“A White Heron” (Jewett)
OBASS: “The Storm” (Chopin)
“The Praline Woman” (Nelson)
Tues, April 5
New England
Thur, April 7
New Orleans
Tues, April 12
The West
OBASS: “An Ingénue of the Sierras” (Harte)
Thur, April 14
Tues, April 19
Thur, April 21
Tues, April 26
Immigrants
Immigrants
Catch up & Exam Review
Reading Day: No Class
OBASS: (Tan) & (Cisneros)
OBASS: (Mukherjee)
TBA
Thur, April 28
FINAL EXAM
@ 1:00 PM
www.readbookonline.net/readOnLine/4287/
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
Reasonable accommodations will be made for students with verifiable disabilities. In order to take advantage of
available accommodations, students must register with Disability Services for Students at 1900 Student Health
Center, Campus Box 7509, 515-7653. For more information on NC State's policy on working with students with
disabilities, please see the following website: http://policies.ncsu.edu/regulation/reg-02-20-01
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
It is the instructors’ understanding and expectation that the student’s signature, typed, or written name on any
assignment means that the student pledges, “I have neither given nor received unauthorized aid on this test or
assignment.” The students in this class are expected to adhere to the student code of conduct at all time. More
information can be found at: http://policies.ncsu.edu/policy/pol-11-35-01
The student code of conduct defines cheating as:
“…the giving, taking, or presenting of information or material by a student that unethically or
fraudulently aids oneself or another person on any work which is to be considered in the determination
of a grade or the completion of academic requirements or the enhancement of that student’s record or
academic career.” (Student code of conduct 8.2)
The instructor will uphold the student code of conduct. Violations of the code of conduct will be reported
immediately to Judicial Programs, as is required of instructors by the NCSU system, and can result in failure of
the course and suspension for the academic semester for first time violations. Violations may appear on a
permanent record which can adversely affect your chances at future employment and/or ability to get into
graduate programs. Other possible consequences include: a) a failing grade b) suspension for at least one
semester c) educational assignment regarding the violation. Students may only collaborate on homework when
expressed written permission is included by the instructor in the assignment, and collaborators must be
identified. Any work used that is not produced by the student must be cited. Students are NOT permitted to
collaborate on exams. Students may not receive assistance of any kind during exams without the consent of the
instructor. Students must report all resources used to complete assignments, even if not directly quoted,
using appropriate citation in a works cited page at the end of the assignment.
Plus/minus grading will be used: A+ 97-100; A 93-96.99; A- 90-92.99; B+ 87-89.99, etc.