Title: WOMEN, MEN, AND LANGUAGECourse Description: [Crosslisted as ILAS 434.] Examines the empirical evidence pertaining to language variation by sex and gender identity within the framework of sociolinguistics. Focuses on characteristics of feminine and masculine speech and conversational styles, societalattitudes towards them, and their implications for men and women in society. Also considers biological foundations and sociogenesis of sex differences inlanguage; interaction effects on language variation of other social variables such as age, class, and ethnic identity; and crosscultural differences.
PRQ: |
| Detailed Course Description: This course explores the relation between language and the conception of self and gender, and aims to question the gender-inclusive nature of language from a linguistic perspective. Drawing upon a body of relevant literature in sociolinguistics, feminist theory, anthropology as well as neuro-linguistics on the topic, the students will question the popular conception of sex or gender-based variation in language use, analyze popular texts and the current discourse in media. |
