Deborah Tannen

Post your response to Deborah Tannen below.

Toni Morrison

Answer a total of three questions on the class blog: two can be short answer (one or two sentences) and one should be developed into a full paragraph (100-150 words). Additionally, respond to one of your classmate's comments. 

"Politics and the English Language"

Choose one passage from Orwell's "Politics and the English Language" that is the most meaningful to you. Write 250-300 words in response to this extract, explaining what it means to you in the context of this essay and/or in the context of contemporary society, and whether or not you agree with Orwell's claim(s). Post to the class blog. 

Mark Turin in South Africa

1. Post below the most remarkable piece of the BBC story that you wrote in your notes; it could easily take the form of a comment or a question.
2. Is there any intersection between a piece of this story and your own research on dying/extinct languages (similarities or differences)?

National Language

Do you believe that a country should have a national official language? Does it depend on the country? What might the implications of such a government decision be? What are the practical effects in countries that already have such a policy in place? What would sticklers and snoots say about this possibility? Would they be more likely to support this decision for a national language or no?

DFW

Choose one of the following three question groups and respond in a post below.

1. Is DFW's "spiel" about SWE (Standard Written English) in schools "racially insensitive," as some of his colleagues/students argue? What is his response to this accusation? Do you agree?
2. Explain DFW's claim that PCE (Politically Correct English) is a form of censorship. Whom does it serve? Do you agree?
3. Explain DFW's claim that AE (Academic English) is driven by concealment and fear. What is being concealed? What is feared? Do you agree?

"Broken" English

Reread Amy Tan's writing on the term "broken English." How do you respond to her concern or discomfort? Is "broken English" a fair/accurate/offensive term? Is there some internalized judgement or bias or commentary that allows for the perpetuation of language-based discrimination? Or is it just a term?