LING 156(F) Language and Gender (Same as Women's and Gender Studies 156)

This course introduces students to the study of language and gender. We will consider both how language varieties reflect social conditions (e.g., the status of women in society) and how women and men construct gender and gendered identities through their use of language varieties. The relevant aspects of these language varieties may be from any level of language (phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, pragmatics and discourse structure). We will examine various approaches to the study of language and gender (deficiency model, dominance theory, biological difference, socialization/cultural difference, and social constructivist approaches), and we will consider societies around the world. No prior knowledge of linguistics or feminist theory is assumed, but students will be required to attain sufficient command of linguistics and feminist theories during the semester to enable them to conduct a small investigation and original analysis of data.
Format: lecture/discussion. Requirements: participation in discussions, biweekly reading quizzes, midterm exam, final exam, and a group term project.
No prerequisites. Enrollment limit: 40 (expected: 30).

Hour: SANCHEZ