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Language and Race
Language and Race focuses on language as a social construct and its importance and constitutive function in culture, appropriation, and performance within and across traditional racial and national lines. The purpose of this area is to study, analyze and critique theories concerning the discursive construction of identity(s) and forms of representation of cultures. In particular, this area focuses on how language and identity are constructed and mediated in literature, film and other media. |
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This seminar is concerned with the ways in which African American English mediates identity across cultural and social contexts and examines significant theories and arguments concerning its genesis, maintenance, and social function. The course will explore and analyze language ideology and current linguistic, educational, and historical arguments concerning AAE innovations and continuities, including the Ebonics debate. Innovative research on discourse styles, age, and gender will also be reviewed. Students will critique the state of AAE research and its success or failure to describe the changing and diverse character of urban African-American speech communities. |
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