Sociolinguistics Discussion Questions for Seminar Two:

• Answer the questions at the end of SAM chapters 2, 4, 5, and 6.

• Tannen, Deborah. “New York Style. It’s Not What You Say, It’s the Way That You Say It,” from the PBS special on sociolinguistics, MacNeil/Lehrer productions (2005). http://www.pbs.org/speak/seatosea/americanvarieties/newyorkcity/ (accessed 3/27/2007)

1. Why do New Yorkers like to talk?

2. Why do New Yorkers like to complain?

3. How do New Yorkers ask questions?

4. Why do New Yorkers interrupt in a conversation?

5. How is the way a New Yorker talks different or similar to YOUR culture’s way of speaking?

• Varfolomeyev, Oleg. “Inconsistent language policy creates problems in Ukraine.” from the Jamestown Foundation website. http://www.jamestown.org/publications_details.php?volume_id=414&issue_id=3737&article_id=2371110 (accessed 3/27/2007)

1. Why does the PRU want regional-language status for Russian?

2. What has been the Ukrainian government’s response? Why do they say regional-language status for Russian is a “threat to national security”?

3. The Justice Ministry was instructed to come up with amendments to language laws and regulations in order to toughen penalties for violations, why?

4. What does the author say is the source of the language problem in Ukraine?

5. What do you think is the solution to the language problem in Ukraine?

• Sterling, Polly. “Identity in Language: An Exploration into the Social Implications of Linguistic Variation.” TAMU press (2000) www.tamu.edu/chr/agora/winter00/sterling.pdf (accessed 3/27/2007)

1. How is language used in society?

2. How do we show solidarity in language?

3. How do we show power in language?

4. How does a speaker construct his/her identity?

5. Why is this story of Emmett Till important for the study of sociolinguistics?

6. What does Sterling say about language standardization? What does she say about Standard American English?

7. What happened to James Kahakua?

8. What was one of the linguistic causes of the war of 1812?

• Johnson, Paul. “We are the world. Not Everyone is Thrilled.” Forbes Magazine. Wednesday, May 24, 2006. http://www.forbes.com/columnists/free_forbes/2004/1129/039.html (accessed 3/27/2007)

1. Why do people in France want to keep French free from English words?

2. What has France done to preserve the French language?

3. Why does the author say legislation against English will not work in France?

• Kottack, Conrad Phillip, “In the News: Using Modern Technology to Preserve Linguistic Diversity.” From Anthropology: the Exploration of Human Diversity, Ch. 21 “Language.” McGraw Hill, Inc. 6^th ed. (1994) pp. 438-439.

1. Why are world languages in danger of being lost?

2. What are some anthropologists doing to preserve these languages?

3. How is bilingualism a sensitive political issue, according to the author?

• The International Association for the Promotion of Co-operation with Scientists from the New Independent States (NIS) of the Former Soviet Union, “INTAS Project: Language Policy in Ukraine.” University of Vienna website. http://forschung.univie.ac.at/en/portal/aktuelles/sprachenpolitik/ (accessed 3/27/2007)

1. What are the aims of the INTAS project?

2. Is this a sociolinguistics project?

3. Does this look like a well-designed project or not?

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