Course info

This Weird Language We Call English: Have you ever noticed that language is a funny thing? Even when we speak the same language, is it actually the same? For example, do you drink soda or pop? Do you eat a sub or a hoagie (or even a grinder or a hero)? While English might seem to have stable vocabulary and rules, if we look closely, we can see that that is not necessarily true. In fact, it is more like an ever-changing mixture of words and structures (old and new, originating from many different sources) seemingly thrown together in a blender and then poured out all over the place. In this section, we will use our readings, writings, and conversations to investigate where our strange and amusing language comes from, the impact of linguistic variation on communication, and the ways in which we use language and its varieties for expressions of self and of power.