E 323L, English as a World Language (35860; 41435)

Spring 2014, TTR 3:30-5, WAG 112

Dr. Lars Hinrichs, larshinrichs@utexas.edu, Parlin 219, hours: Mon. 10-11 a.m. and by appointment

Description. This course is designed to provide students with an understanding of the different 'Englishes' that are spoken around the world: major standard varieties such as British and American English, emerging standard varieties such as those found in many postcolonial societies, and second-language varieties such as those of continental Europe and other parts of the world where English is not a first or official language. The course will begin with a historical overview of the causes of the spread of English throughout the world and its rise to world language status. We will then look at a number of different varieties of English in detail, using real language data and attempting to describe them in terms of their structure and their social context.

Requirements & grading. Grades will be calculated according to the following metric:

- Two in-class exams, 25% each 60%

- Semester project

a) Interview 10%

b) Phonetic measurements 8%

c) Analysis 10%

- Quizzes 12%

Adjustments of up to 3% may be made to the final grade based on in-class participation.

Schedule

Date	Topic	Reading
1/14	What is a 'world language?'	-
1/21	Sound description: consonants	Sound description guide: Consonants
1/23	Sound description: vowels	Sound description guide: Vowels; Ladefoged (2000)
1/28	Sound description: transcription	-
1/30	Semester project workshop I[LH1]	-
2/4	Global Englishes vs. World Englishes	Jenkins (2009: 2-9); Pennycook (2003)
2/6	The spread of English: British and American English	Pennycook (2000)
2/11	Variation in New York City English	Labov (2006[1966])
2/13	Variation in Texas English	Bailey et al. (1991); Underwood (1988)
2/18	Ongoing change in Texas English	Hinrichs, Bohmann & Gorman (ms.)
2/20	Dialect leveling in other parts of the world	Kerswill & Williams (2000)
2/25	Postcolonialism	Jenkins (2009: 56-61; 104-111)
2/27	English in India	Gargesh (2008)
3/4	English in India	-
3/6	English in New Zealand	Bauer & Warren (2008)
3/18	Semester project workshop II[LH2]	-
3/20	English in South Africa	Bowerman (2008); van Rooy (2008)
3/25	Exam I	-
3/27	Pidginization and creolization	Jenkins (2009: 9-15; 62-66)
4/1	Semester project workshop III[LH3]	-
4/3	Jamaican Creole	Devonish & Harry (2008[HL4] )
4/8	Jamaican Creole	-
4/10	Jamaican English	-
4/15	Diasporic Englishes: Jamaican Creole in the UK	Jenkins (2009: 112-114)
4/17	Diasporic Englishes: Jamaican Creole in the UK	Cheshire et al. (2011)
4/22	Diasporic Englishes: Jamaican Creole in Canada	Hinrichs (in press)
4/24	New Englishes online	Blommaert (2012); Seargeant & Tagg (2011)
4/29	Review	-
5/1	Exam II	-

Policies

Attendance. Attendance is mandatory. The first three unexcused absences will affect the participation grade. Each absence beyond the third lowers the final grade by 8%. Three latenesses count as one absence. By UT Austin policy, you must notify me of your pending absence at least fourteen days prior to the date of observance of a religious holy day. If you must miss a class, examination, or work assignment in order to observe a religious holy day, I will give you an opportunity to complete the missed work within a reasonable time after the absence.

Electronic devices in class. With the exception of teaching media, the classroom is an electronics-free zone. Laptops, cell phones, PDAs, or any other electronic devices are not allowed except when turned off and stowed in your bag or pocket.

E-mailing the instructor. I am happy to answer questions via e-mail, though if you need to discuss complex matters, you should come to office hours. As a rule of thumb, e-mail is for yes/no-questions only. When e-mailing, please observe the rules of common courtesy. That includes using a proper form of address and closing. To e-mail me, please use this address: larshinrichs@utexas.edu.

Excused absences. By UT Austin policy, you must notify me of your pending absence at least fourteen days prior to the date of observance of a religious holy day. If you must miss a class, an examination, a work assignment, or a project in order to observe a religious holy day, I will give you an opportunity to complete the missed work within a reasonable time after the absence. For any other absence to be excused, you must supply written proof of the reason, such as a doctor's note. Supply this in class please.

Documented Disability. The University of Texas at Austin provides upon request appropriate academic accommodations for qualified students with disabilities. For more information, contact Services for Students with Disabilities at 471-6259 (voice) or 232-2937 (video phone) or http://www.utexas.edu/diversity/ddce/ssd.