Linguistics 719:Sociolinguistics
Course Expectations

Please feel free to contact me outside of class any time there is something you want to discuss or if there is anything you don't understand.   (209 Hamilton Smith Hall, 862-2783, naomi.nagy@utoronto.ca)

If you will miss class, get the assignment(s) AHEAD OF TIME so that you are not behind when you return, and arrange to get lecture notes from another student.

Reading.   This is a reading and discussion course. There are three types of reading:

• The Wardhaugh book.   This serves as an introduction to most of our topics and is obligatory reading for all students.
• Recent research papers exploring certain topics in more depth, but of general importance.   These are in dark blue the syllabus. You are expected to thoroughly digest the readings that are underlined in the syllabus.
• Recent research papers with more specific focus.   These will be presented to the class by a student.   If it is not your turn to present, you can just skim these readings enough to be able to participate in the discussion.   Check the online syllabus to keep up to date with the schedule for these presentations. These readings are in orange on the online syllabus.

Presentations.   Each student will choose 2 papers from the syllabus to present to the class.   Presentation will include presenting a brief summary of the article and leading the discussion on how the article relates to the appropriate syllabus topic.   To prepare for the presentation, the student will design a handout and go over it with the instructor at least 2 days ahead of time .   Students who presented earlier articles will be expected to show how they connect to later topics.   Choose papers which will be relevant to your research project. These readings are in orange on the online syllabus.

Homework.   You must complete 10 of the 12 written assignments.   Each is due on the Tuesday of the week after it is assigned.   These will include reactions to readings, quantitative analysis of sociolinguistic data, summaries of additional readings, and comprehension-checking questions.   You may work in pairs and hand in just one set of answers.   These will be accepted early, but not late.    

Research project.   This will be a small-scale field work project that you carry out and report on.   There are 2 parts of the paper to write/present.   The first is a social description of the speech community you analyze, focusing on several of the social variables discussed in class. Here you   will also introduce the sociolinguistic issues you choose to examine.   The second part provides a description of some aspects of the linguistic variation found in the community, showing how they correlate to the social variables presented in your first paper.   Both will include quantitative and qualitative descriptions.   You will turn in either a final paper or a poster that is appropriate for a conference presentation.   More information will be provided in handouts and in class.

Final exam. There will be a final exam. The registrar has scheduled it for Friday, Dec. 18, 1:00-3:00 pm.  

Grading :   Grades for the semester will be calculated as follows: