ANTH 295-01: Ethnography of Communication

Instructor: Brigittine French = &nb= sp; = &nb= sp; =

Office: 306 Good= now Hall &nb= sp; = &nb= sp; =

Office Hours: 9:00-10:00 and 1:00-2:00 M/W/F

and by appointment = &nb= sp; =

E-mail: frenchb@grinnell.edu &= nbsp; &nbs= p;

Phone: 269-4816

Course Description=

This course explores human communication from an ethnographic perspective. It does so from a “discourse-centered” approach that conceptualizes language as meaningful social action situated in particular contexts used strategically= by social actors. Building upon = this framework, we will engage the ethnography of communication as both a partic= ular theoretical orientation and as a specific methodological approach to langua= ge use. Specific areas of emphas= is will include: the relationshi= ps between linguistic forms and social functions, ethnography of speaking, communicative competence, multiple layering of context, performer/audience relationships, intentionality, and ideology.

Readings

1) Duranti, Alessandro. 2001. Linguistic Anthropology: A Read= er. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing Ltd.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>

2) Johnstone, Barbara. 2000. Discourse Analysis. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing<= /o:p>

3) Schieffelin, Bambi. 1990. = The Give and Take of Everyday Life: Language Socialization of Kaluli Children. Cambridge: Cambridge University Pr= ess.

4) Urciuoli, Bonnie 1996. Exp= osing Prejudice: Puerto Rican Exper= iences of Race, Class, and Language. CO: Westview Press.

5) E-reserve materials on Pioneerweb and e-reserves through the library.

Requirements:

Exercises: Five sets of exercises that will f= ocus on linguistic analysis. =

Exams: Two take-home essay exams (6-8 pag= es) will require a synthesis of theoretical materials applied to ethnographic examples. <= /p>

Research Proposal: One research proposal (6-7 pages) = will center on some aspect of language and culture though empirical investigation. Drafts of the proposal will be handed in for feedback and evaluation throughout the semester. A brief presentatio= n of the proposal will be made to the class at the end of the semester. Finished versions of the proposal = will be due during finals week.

Discussion: Attendance and participation are essential to a successful class both individually and collectively. Be attentive and engaged.

Evaluation

Exercises &= nbsp; &nbs= p; 30 percent = 60 points

Synthesis Exams &n= bsp; = ; 20 percent = 40 points &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp;

Final Proposal = ; &n= bsp; 20 percent = 40 points

Drafts of proposal &n= bsp; 10 percent = 20 points

Discussion &= nbsp; &nbs= p; 10 percent = 20 points

Students with Disabilities:

Anyone who has a disability that may require some modification of seating, testing, or other class requirements should inform me so that appropriate arrangements may be made. Please see me after cla= ss or during my office hours. =

Late Assignments=

No late assignme= nts will be accepted without prior approval.&n= bsp;

Conceptual Foundations: The Science of Language

M Jan 22 = Course Introduction

&nb= sp;

W Jan 24 = Duranti, A. “Linguistic Anthropology: History, Ideas, and Issues” pp 1-10 only in Duranti. <= /span>

F Jan 26 &= nbsp; No class (ACM workshop)

M Jan 29 = Boas, F. "Introduction to the Handbook of American Indian Languages" in e-reserves.

W Jan 31&n= bsp; Bloomfield, L. "The Study of Language" pp. 3-20 in E-reserves.

de Saussure, F. “Linguistics of Language and Linguistics of Speaking” and =

&nbs= p; &= nbsp; “Graphic Representation of Language” in E-reserves.

F Feb 2&nb= sp; Phon= etic Transcription Exercise: Be= nd It Like Beckham

M Feb 5&nb= sp; Chomsky, N. "Methodological Preliminaries" pp 3-30 in E-reserves.

<= /o:p>

Ethnography of Speaking: Communities and Competencies

W Feb 7 Hymes, D. “Introduction: The Ethnography of Communication” in E-reserves.=

F Feb 9 &n= bsp; Gumperz, J. “The Speech Community” in Duranti.

M Feb 12&n= bsp; Hymes, D. “On Communicative Competence” in Duranti.<= /p>

W Feb= 14 Philips, S. “ Participant Structures and Communicative Competence: Warm Springs Children in Community and Classroom” in Duranti.

F Feb 16 = Brice Heath, S. “What No Bedtime Story Means: Narrative Skills at Home̶= 1; &= nbsp; in Duranti.

Discourse: The Language and Culture Nexus

M Feb 19 &= nbsp; Johnstone, B. “Introduction” in Johnstone.

DRAFT OF LITERAT= URE REVIEW AND BIBLIOGRAPHY DUE IN CLASS

W Feb 21 &= nbsp; Exercises 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.8 a,b,c, and d.

F Feb 23 &= nbsp; Duranti, A. “Universal and Culture-Specific Properties of Greetings” in Duranti.

&= nbsp; &nbs= p;

M Feb 26 Johnstone, B. “Chapter Three: Disc= ourse Structure: Parts and Sequences” pp. 63-81 only in Johnstone.

W Feb 28 CA Transcription Exercise/Discussion: Conversation and Speech Communities

Language Socialization

F Mar 2 &= nbsp; Schieffelin, B. Introduction and Chapter 2 “Language as a Resource for Social Theory

&nbs= p; &= nbsp; TAKE HOME ESSAY EXAM HANDED OUT IN CLASS.

M Mar 5 = Schieffelin, B. Chapter Three “Kaluli Children: Ideology and Everyd= ay Life”

W Mar 7 = Johnstone, B. Chapter Three: “Disc= ourse Structure: Parts and Sequences”

&nbs= p; &= nbsp;

F Mar 9&nb= sp; TAKE HOME ESSAY EXAM DUE

SPRING BREAK

M Mar 26 Schie= ffelin, B. Chapter Four: “Elema as a Socializing Practice” and F= ive: “Socialization of Appeal and the Ade Relationship”<= /o:p>

&nbs= p; &= nbsp;

W Mar 28 Schei= effelin, B. Chapter Six: “Socializing Reciprocity and Creating Relationships” and Eight: “The Socialization of Gender-Appropri= ate Behaviors”

&nbs= p; &= nbsp;

Intentionality and Speech Acts

F Mar 30 = Austin, J.L. "How To Do Things W= ith Words: Lectures I and II"= ; in E-reserves.

&= nbsp; &nbs= p; Johnstone, B. Chapter 7: “Discourse and Purpose”= ;

M Apr 2 Bailey, B. “The Communication of Respect in Interethnic Service Encounters” in Duranti.

DRAFT OF OBJECTIVES AND METHODOLOGY DUE. <= o:p>

W Apr 4 Exercises = 3.23 a,b,c in Johnstone p. 105.

F Apr 6 &n= bsp; Rosaldo, M. "The Things We Do With Words:= Ilongot Speech Acts and Speech Act Theory in Philosophy." in E-reserves.

&= nbsp; &nbs= p;

M Apr 9 &n= bsp; DuBois, J. "Meaning Without Intention: Lessons from Divination" in E-eserves.

W Apr 11 Exercises 7.3, 7.4, 7.5, and 7.6 in Johnstone p. 201-203.

Ideologies and Identities

F Apr 13 &= nbsp; Johnstone, B. “Chapter 4: Speakers, Hearers, and Audiences”

M Apr 16 &= nbsp; Baq= uedano-Lopez, P. “Creating Social Identities through Doctrina Narratives” in Duranti.

W Apr 18 Gal, S. “Language, Gender, and Power: An Anthropological Review” in Duranti.

F Apr 20 TAKE HOME EXAM HANDED OUT IN CLASS.

M Apr 23 Ochs, E. and Carolyn Taylor. “The Father Knows Best” Dynamic in Dinnertime Narratives” in Duranti.

W Apr 25 Hill, J. “Language, Race, and White Public Space” in Duranti.

&= nbsp; &nbs= p;

F Apr 27 = Urciuoli, B. “Intro: The Semiotics of Exclusion” and “Racialization and Language”

M Apr 30 Urciuoli, B. “Visions of Disorder” and “The Political Topography of Bilingualism”<= o:p>

&= nbsp; &nbs= p;

W May 2 Urciuoli, B. “Good English and Symbolic Capital,” and “The Race/Class/Language Map.”

&= nbsp; &nbs= p; TAKE HOME EXAM DUE

F May 4 &n= bsp; Student Proposal Presentations

M May 7 &n= bsp; Student Proposal Presentations

W May 9 &n= bsp; Student Proposal Presentations

F May 11 &= nbsp; Student Proposal Presentations &nb= sp;

W May 16 FINAL PROPOSALS DUE IN MY MAILBOX BY 9:00 am