Course Description :

This course addresses linguistic gender in its sociocultural context. It examines communication between the sexes with a focus on determining whether communication styles reflect difference and/or dominance. This course also covers sexism in language and how gender affects the way in which children acquire language in various cultures. Participants will be required to investigate language use in their own community.

Objectives:
the end of this course, you should be able to refer in detail to specific research/ speakers/communities to:

• explain the relationship between sex and gender in language;
• understand and illustrate the main differences between variationist, social networks and ethnographic approaches to the analysis of the language and gender interface;
• evaluate the research that has been done on gender differences in language use.
• compare and evaluate some of the cultural explanations presented for the differences in conversational practice between single-sex and mixed sex interlocutors;
• explain what is meant by linguistic gender, and how this is marked in English, Creole languages and Romance languages;
• examine the ways in which sexism is expressed in various languages, and critique the gender-related reforms which have been proposed and/or instituted;
• explain and illustrate how children learn gendered language in different cultures.

You should also be able to code and transcribe oral interaction and do original research to clarify, verify, build on, and/or otherwise contribute to research on gender differences

Course Assessment

In-course assessment (40%) and a final examination (60%).
i) Seminar/Tutorial attendance, participation and presentation 5%
ii) Group Work – data collection and transcription 15% (deadline: Tuesday, October 17, 2006)
iii) Individual Research Paper 20% (deadline: Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2006)
iii) Final Examination (2 hours) 60% (Dec. 4-21, 2006)

Policies

There will be no make-up for graded seminar work/exercises/presentation nor will there be extra credit work given out to make up for poor assignment grades.
Late assignments will not be accepted. The deadline given represents the last possible time for submission. Students who do not make the deadline will be assigned zero (0) in accordance with the policies of the department (please see department handbook, pg. 16). Individual extensions will be granted only in cases of properly documented health and personal emergencies, which should be brought to the lecturer’s attention as soon as possible.

Other course requirements:

1. Seminar/Tutorial Attendance - is compulsory. If you miss more than four tutorials, you may be dropped from the course without notice (disbarred from taking the end of semester examinations). If you must miss a tutorial, please consult with your tutor or make arrangements to attend another tutorial group for that week.

Seminar/Tutorial participation - preparation for and participation in seminars required. Group or individual tasks will be assigned for preparation. Remember Tutorial Attendance, Participation and Presentation marked out of 5%.

2. Regular attendance at lectures.
3. Cell phones are disruptive. Turn off your cell phones while in class. If you turn to vibrate and feel you absolutely must take a call, please leave the lecture/seminar room. Failure to comply may result in the student being asked to leave the lecture or tutorial room.
4. Students are expected to do at least 4 hours per week of out-of-class preparation.