L700   "The Professional Responsibility of Linguists"

Unlike most linguistics courses, whose goal is to train students in
how to "do linguistics," this seminar will be concerned with what is
involved in "being a linguist," i.e., the seminar will focus on
professional, political, social, and ethical matters that scholars
face in their careers as linguists.

Since this is intended to be a true seminar rather than a lecture
course, the specific matters to be covered will depend on the
students' interests and concerns. However, to provide an idea about
what I have in mind, here is a list of topics that I personally feel
would be worth dealing with (most of which relate to real issues
that have come up in recent years): the endangered languages issue
as a moral imperative; the intellectual property rights of
indigenous peoples; anti-sexist language (appropriate social
planning or political correctness?); the LSA's contemplated boycott
of the State of Illinois because of the University of Illinois's use
of an Indian chief as its football mascot; the blackballing of
scholars from pariah countries; the role of missionary linguists in
the linguistics profession; controversies surrounding Ebonics and
the English-only movements; copyright as a barrier to academic
freedom; the linguist as an expert witness in a legal setting; and
the pro's and con's of accepting "tainted" money for research.

Students will be expected to participate actively in class
discussions and to prepare a thoughtful term paper, a summary of
which will be presented orally to the other members of the
seminar.