MDST4559/ENMC4559 (Schedule #18572)
University of Virginia
Spring 2010
MW 5-6:15pm :: 132 New Cabell Hall
Mr. David Golumbia
Office: 419 New Cabell Hall
Spring 2010 Office Hours: MW 2-3:15pm

Vernaculars

This class explores the role of so-called nonstandard or vernacular languages in contemporary worldwide texts and media, largely from the US and locations outside the US where English is one of the spoken languages. Vernaculars include languages and "dialects" that are widespread in culture but usually not taught in schools. Examples of vernaculars that we will touch on include African-American English, Appalachian English, Hawaiian "Creole" English, Haitian Creole, Taglish, and others. In many cases, these practices, while full and complete languages in every diagnostic and linguistic sense, remain the target of intense cultural prejudice. We will explore commonalities and differences in the presentation of these linguistic practices across several genres and places, using the fault lines between languages as a way to see in to the stakes of other cultural and political divisions. Short theoretical readings by Bakhtin, Labov, Ngugi, Lott and others; novels by writers such as Lois-Ann Yamanaka, R. Zamora Linmark, Toni Morrison, Alan Warner, Irvine Welsh, Patricia Powell, and Ken Saro-wiwa; and television and film such as The Wire, Havoc, Chan Is Missing, Clockers, and Boyz n the Hood. This class is conducted primarily through vigorous student discussion that reflects thorough preparation before class sessions. Two short response/review papers and a final research paper. Intended for advanced English, Media Studies, or Linguistics majors, though others with appropriate background will be admitted.

Books

1. Junot Diaz,The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao (novel, US, 2007)
2. Uzodinma Iweala, Beasts of No Nation (novel, US, 2005)
3. K'Wan, Gangsta (novel, US, 2002)
4. R. Zamora Linmark, Rolling the R's (experimental fiction, Philippines,1995)
5. Ken Saro-Wiwa, Sozaboy (novel, Nigeria, 1985)

Movies & Other Media

1. Danny Boyle, dir., Trainspotting (film, UK, 1996)
2. Barbara Kopple, dir., Havoc (film, US, 2005)
3. New Media: Phua Chu Kang (tv series, Singapore, 1996-2006) & nonstandard languages on YouTube
4. Music: Lil' Wayne, MIA, other music & music videos on YouTube (esp. hip-hop in US & other countries)
5. The Wire (tv series, US, 2002-08)

Assignments and Evaluation

Evaluation will be based on written exercises and course participation as follows:

• Two 3-5 page papers (40%; 2 papers of 20% each)
  Two short papers on media or texts we use in class or another text or media object chosen in consultation with the instructor. Students are encouraged to explore works outside the syllabus for at least one of their three course papers (short or long).
• Final 8-10 page paper (40%)
  The final paper will be on a topic of your choosing that relates to the course subject chosen in consultation with the instructor.
• Participation (20%)
  All in-class work including presentations, your attendance and participation in discussion. Every class member will give a short presentation on one topic during the semester; this presentation is not separately graded but is included as part of the general participation grade.
  

Policies

• This course is taught primarily via discussion. Your attendance and participation are vital to its success. A significant portion of your grade (20%) depends on your class participation. Because the class meets only once a week, more than one unexcused absence will count against your final course grade. 3 unexcused absences results in automatic failure of the course, in accordance with College guidelines.
• Papers for this class will be accepted in printed form only (ie, not emailed or posted online) unless otherwise arranged with instructor.
• No late work is accepted in this class. Work handed in late is automatically marked down one-third grade (e.g., a B becomes a B-) for each day it is late, and after one week becomes a failing grade for the assignment.
• You are expected to have done the primary reading and any other primary course assignments before the beginning of course each week.
• All work in this course is subject to the University's Honor Code. You may work in teams for some assignments, but all written work must be solely your own, and any reliance on published work must be properly cited.
• Final grades for the course will not be released until the entire class has submitted online course evaluations.

Week-by-Week Syllabus

Week 1. Introduction

• Weds Jan 20. Introduction; no reading

Week 2. Language Politics

• Mon Jan 25. Labov, "Logic of Nonstandard English"
  
• Weds Jan 27. Ngugi, "Language of African Literature"; Achebe, "English and the African Writer"

Week 3. Rolling the R's

• Mon Feb 1. Linmark, Rolling the R's, pages 1-71
  
• Weds Feb 3. Linmark, Rolling the R's, pages 72-end

Week 4. Trainspotting

• Mon Feb 8.
  
• Weds Feb 10.

Week 5. Heteroglossia

• Mon Feb 15. No class (instructor away)
  
• Weds Feb 17. Bakhtin selections

Week 6. Sozaboy

• Mon Feb 22. Saro-Wiwa, Sozaboy, pages 1-85
  
• Weds Feb 24. Saro-Wiwa, Sozaboy, pages 86-end

Week 7. The Wire

• Mon Mar 1. The Wire, Season 1, Episode 1: "The Target." (on reserve, RMC Video .DVD15255 pt.1)
  
• Weds Mar 3. The Wire, Season 4, Episode 9: "Know Your Place." (on reserve, RMC Video .DVD15258 pt. 3) First short paper due at beginning of class

Week 8. Spring Break

• Mon Mar 8. No class
  
• Weds Mar 10. No class

Week 9. New Media

• Mon Mar 15. Phua Chu Kang and Singlish Media (see list of New Media materials)
  
• Weds Mar 17. Vernaculars in New Media (see list of New Media materials)

Week 10. Beasts of No Nation

• Mon Mar 22. Iweala, Beasts of No Nation, pages 1-73
  
• Weds Mar 24. Iweala, Beasts of No Nation, pages 74-end

Week 11. Havoc

• Mon Mar 29.
  
• Weds Mar 31.

Week 12. Blackface and Mimicry

• Mon Apr 5. No class (instructor away)
  
• Weds Apr 7. Lott, Bhabha. Second short paper due at beginning of class

Week 13.Gangsta

• Mon Apr 12. K'wan, Gangsta, pages 1-102
  
• Weds Apr 14. K'wan, Gangsta, pages 103-end

Week 14. Music

• Mon Apr 19.
  
• Weds Apr 21.

Week 15. Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao

• Mon Apr 26. Diaz, Brief Wondrous Life, pages 1-165
• Weds Apr 28. Diaz, Brief Wondrous Life, pages 167-end

Week 16. Final Class

• Mon May 3.

Final paper due in my English Dept mailbox (Faculty Lounge, 2nd floor, Bryan Hall) by 5pm, Tuesday, May 11, 2010. There is no final exam for the course.

Last updated  March 17, 2010 .