3 Credits

Variation in language is inevitable in any society, especially one as
large as the United States and one composed of numerous social and
ethnic groups. In this course, we consider the significance of this
variation in determining dialect boundaries in general, examining the
situation in Indiana within the broader American dialect setting.
Topics include the myths, attitudes, and realities surrounding the
concept of dialect,  standard and non-standard dialects, dialects of
American English, dialects in Indiana, and methods of gathering and
analyzing dialect data. Readings include case studies of variation
and its ramifications in society.

Format:  Mixed lecture/discussion plus small discussion sections
Text: Readings packet
Recommended: American English. Walt Wolfram and Natalie Schilling-
Estes