This semester you have learned about many different culturally conditioned uses of language, as well as some basic techniques for investigating how society effects language use. This final project will ask you to gather additional examples of the phenomena we have discussed in class. The goal of this assignment is to expand your understanding of these phenomena from the few examples we discussed in class to the wider world.
Provide an example of each of the following:
A diglossic situation
A register
An overtly prestigious feature
A covertly prestigious feature
A creole
A pidgin
Your example cannot be something that was discussed in lecture, a discussion section, or one of the assigned readings. Your example can come from a scholarly source (ex: book or journal article) or from your own personal experience. It may be based on any language or country you choose. Include a 1-2 page explanation for why your example demonstrates the phenomenon. (Explanations over 2 pages will be disregarded.)
As this is a research assignment, you MUST include citations and a bibliography. Please use MLA formatting. If your example comes from personal experience or talking to someone, cite it either as “personal experience” or as “personal communication with Person X on x/x/2015.”
This assignment will be graded on:
How well your choice of examples demonstrate the phenomena.
Whether your explanations exhibit an understanding of the phenomena.
How accurately you cite sources for your examples.
In other words, to do well on this project, be sure to:
Choose solid examples that definitely fit the category.
Argue thoroughly for why your examples fit the category.
In your explanations/arguments, define the phenomena.
Cite!
Paper Formatting:
Times New Roman, 12 pt, double spacing
You do not need an introduction/conclusion for the paper as a whole, but can treat each phenomenon as a separate section. For example, you can put a number (1) at the top of the section on your example of a diglossic situation, and then start a new page with a number (2) for your example of a register. Your examples do not need to be related.
Do not bullet point within your explanations, but use full sentences and paragraphs. Remember that your explanations should be persuasive.
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