LING 1030 - Introduction to English Language Analysis

Credits: 3
Hours/Week: Lecture None Lab None
Course Description: This course examines how languages operate and how to analyze language. Students will analyze language patterns and variations by comparing standard American English to non-standard varieties. Students will examine factors that affect language choice and factors that influence the perceived message, including attitude, identity, and social status. This course includes an overview of basic linguistic and sociolinguistic topics, terminology, and methods.
MnTC Goals
5 History/Social/Behavioral Science, 7 Human Diversity

Prerequisite(s): Course placement into college-level English and Reading OR completion of ENGL 0950  with a grade of C or higher OR completion of RDNG 0940  with a grade of C or higher and qualifying English Placement Exam OR completion of RDNG 0950  with a grade of C or higher and ENGL 0090  with a grade of C or higher OR completion of ESOL 0051  with a grade of C or higher and ESOL 0052  with a grade of C or higher.
Corequisite(s): None
Recommendation: None

Major Content

1. Acculturation and its impact on language acquisition
   1. Identity politics
   2. Voluntary vs. involuntary minorities (Ogbus typology)
   3. Identity formation
   4. Informal vs. school-based acquisition
2. Applying syntactic knowledge to editing
3. Code switching
   1. Written language
   2. Oral language
4. Contrastive analysis of academic English and other varieties of English
   1. Written: grammar and syntax
   2. Lexical choice
5. Contrastive analysis of academic English and varieties of English
   1. Oral: The accents and pronunciation of English
   2. Dialectal variations in phonemes and morphemes
6. Dialects based on profession, economic status, gender etc.
   1. Perceptions based on language variety
   2. Language and power
7. Language Context
   1. High-low varieties
   2. Code switching
   3. Content area language
8. Language and Identity
   1. History of immigration
   2. Immigrants: first generation, generation 1.5, generation 2.0
   3. Ethnic and community identities
   4. Linguistic identity
   5. Links between individual/cultural/social identity and language.
   6. Language identity and society
      1. Institutionalized racism, discrimination, classism etc.
9. Methodology of contrastive analysis of language varieties
10. Overview of language dialect and accent; lexical, phonological, syntactic, and pragmatic variation.
11. Overview of language varieties by region, gender, socio-economic groups, age etc.
12. Overview of language varieties by region, gender, socio-economic groups, age etc.
13. Overview of linguistic definitions and meta-language
14. Register and stylistic variation
15. Rules of standard academic register of American English and rules of various English dialects
16. Transcribing individual language varieties for analysis
17. Variations: regional and social dialects
    1. Community dialects such as African American Vernacular English and Creolized English

1. Demonstrate examples of successful code-switching in written and spoken English.
2. Articulate the rules for a non-standard variety of English.
3. Articulate ways language choices affect how the speaker or writer is perceived.
4. Articulate the rules for Standard Academic American English.
5. Use contrastive analysis to identify patterns and variations between a non-standard variety of English and standard academic American English.
6. Describe the social significance of English language varieties.
7. Describe links between identity and language.
8. Define the concepts of dialects, language dominance, and code switching

05. 02. Examine social institutions and processes across a range of historical periods and cultures.

05. 04. Develop and communicate alternative explanations or solutions for contemporary social issues.
Competency 2 (7-10)
07. 01. Understand the development of and the changing meanings of group identities in the United States’ history and culture.

07. 02. Demonstrate an awareness of the individual and institutional dynamics of unequal power relations between groups in contemporary society.

07. 03. Analyze their own attitudes, behaviors, concepts and beliefs regarding diversity, racism, and bigotry.

07. 05. Demonstrate communication skills necessary for living and working effectively in a society with great population diversity.

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