Sara E Kimball

Instructor:  Kimball, S            Areas:  IV / G

Unique #:  35580            Flags:  Cultural diversity, Writing

Semester:  Fall 2012            Restrictions:  n/a

Cross-lists:  WGS 345            Computer Instruction:  No

Prerequisites: Nine semester hours of coursework in English or rhetoric and writing.

Description: Who talks more, men or women? Who interrupts more often? Which sex uses more proper speech? How do people signal social attitudes in choosing pronouns to refer to mixed-sex groups? How are gender and sexual orientation constructed in linguistic interaction. For thirty years, sex- and gender-related differences in language and communicative styles have been increasingly examined in linguistic studies. Such research indicates that the answers to these questions are more complicated than you might expect. In this course, we will examine some of the research that show how social expectations and power structures intersect to influence the speech women and men use in particular social situations. We will also look at and discuss current research on how people use language to construct social gender and at how historical, economic, and social situations have shaped the language women and men use.

Texts: Mary Talbot, Language and Gender (2nd ed.)

Readings Packet, possibly to include selections from:

• Bergvall, Victoria L., Janet M. Bing, and Alice F. Freed eds., Rethinking Language and Gender Research. New York: Longman, 1996.
• Mary Bucholtz, A.C. Lang, and Laurel A. Sutton, eds., Reinventing Identities. The Gendered Self in Discourse. Oxford/New York. Oxford University Press. 1999.
• Hall, Kira and Mary Bucholtz, eds., Gender Articulated: Language and the Socially Constructed Self. New York: Routledge. 1995.
• Johnson, Sally and Ulrike Hanna Meinhof, eds., Language and  Masculinity. Oxford: Basil Blackwell. 1997.

Roman, Camille, Suzanne Juhasz, and Cristine Miller, eds., The Women and Language Debate, A Sourcebook. New Brunswick: Rutgers University Press, 1994.

Requirements & Grading: Three short (ca. 5-pages with drafts) papers related to the readings (30% each); Participation in class discussion, occasional informal writing assignments, (10%).

Class attendance is mandatory: If you accumulate more than four (4) unexcused absences your final grade will be lowered.

Instructor:  Kimball, S            Areas:  IV / G

Unique #:  35400            Flags:  Cultural diversity

Semester:  Spring 2012            Restrictions:  n/a

Cross-lists:  WGS 345            Computer Instruction:  No

Prerequisites: Nine semester hours of coursework in English or rhetoric and writing.

Description: Who talks more, men or women? Who interrupts more often? Which sex uses more proper speech? How do people signal social attitudes in choosing pronouns to refer to mixed-sex groups? How are gender and sexual orientation constructed in linguistic interaction. For thirty years, sex- and gender-related differences in language and communicative styles have been increasingly examined in linguistic studies. Such research indicates that the answers to these questions are more complicated than you might expect. In this course, we will examine some of the research that show how social expectations and power structures intersect to influence the speech women and men use in particular social situations. We will also look at and discuss current research on how people use language to construct social gender and at how historical, economic, and social situations have shaped the language women and men use.

Texts: Textbook: TBA. 

Readings Packet, possibly to include selections from:

• Bergvall, Victoria L., Janet M. Bing, and Alice F. Freed eds., Rethinking Language and Gender Research. New York: Longman, 1996.
• Mary Bucholtz, A.C. Lang, and Laurel A. Sutton, eds., Reinventing Identities. The Gendered Self in Discourse. Oxford/New York. Oxford University Press. 1999.
• Hall, Kira and Mary Bucholtz, eds., Gender Articulated: Language and the Socially Constructed Self. New York: Routledge. 1995.
• Johnson, Sally and Ulrike Hanna Meinhof, eds., Language and  Masculinity. Oxford: Basil Blackwell. 1997.

Roman, Camille, Suzanne Juhasz, and Cristine Miller, eds., The Women and Language Debate, A Sourcebook. New Brunswick: Rutgers University Press, 1994.

Requirements & Grading: Three short (ca. 5-pages with drafts) papers related to the readings (30% each); Participation in class discussion, occasional informal writing assignments, (10%).

Class attendance is mandatory: If you accumulate more than four (4) unexcused absences your final grade will be lowered.

Prerequisites: Nine semester hours of coursework in English or rhetoric and writing.

Course Description: Who talks more, men or women? Who interrupts more often? Which sex uses more proper speech? How do people signal social attitudes in choosing pronouns to refer to mixed-sex groups? How are gender and sexual orientation constructed in linguistic interaction. For thirty years, sex- and gender-related differences in language and communicative styles have been increasingly examined in linguistic studies. Such research indicates that the answers to these questions are more complicated than you might expect. In this course, we will examine some of the research that show how social expectations and power structures intersect to influence the speech women and men use in particular social situations. We will also look at and discuss current research on how people use language to construct social gender and at how historical, economic, and social situations have shaped the language women and men use.

Texts: Textbook: TBA.

Readings Packet, possibly to include selections from:

• Bergvall, Victoria L., Janet M. Bing, and Alice F. Freed eds., Rethinking Language and Gender Research. New York: Longman, 1996.
• Mary Bucholtz, A.C. Lang, and Laurel A. Sutton, eds., Reinventing Identities. The Gendered Self in Discourse. Oxford/New York. Oxford University Press. 1999.
• Hall, Kira and Mary Bucholtz, eds., Gender Articulated: Language and the Socially Constructed Self. New York: Routledge. 1995.
• Johnson, Sally and Ulrike Hanna Meinhof, eds., Language and  Masculinity. Oxford: Basil Blackwell. 1997.

Roman, Camille, Suzanne Juhasz, and Cristine Miller, eds., The Women and Language Debate, A Sourcebook. New Brunswick: Rutgers University Press, 1994.

Grading: Two 3-5-page papers related to the readings (20% each); Final 8-10-page paper (50%); Participation in class discussion, occasional informal writing assignments, (10%).

Class attendance is mandatory: If you accumulate more than four (4) unexcused absences your final grade will be lowered.