* Class began with a brief description and explanation of the grading procedures for the mid-term exam.
* Two handouts: "Why can't the English?" (from My Fair Lady), &
A tentative schedule for the second half of the semester.
*N.B., During the first part of the semester, there was an emphasis placed on the
chapters in the book (that is to say that the chapters were more important than the
readings). Now, in the second half of the semester, the readings, though they will occur
less frequently in the book (look in library course reserves), will become more
important. Now, the chapters will serve primarily as a general overview of the course.
There will also be emphasis placed on current public and media topics (namely,
'Ebonics'). Then, in chapter 9, we will venture back into the readings in the book.
For the remainder of class on Thursday, we listened to an audio tape, and
watched two excerpts from two different movies on video tape.
* Audio tape: recorded from Weekend Edition on NPR (Feb. 1997)
The tape was useful in two ways: First, we heard someone speak in Scots, and we heard a little bit of the problem about the debate on teaching Scots vs. Standard English in Scottish schools. 70% of Scotland's inhabitants speak Scots in everyday life. It is a direct descendent of Old English (It is related to English like "...Spanish to Italian...").
Discussion topic: "Beauty" of expression through the use of dialectic metaphors.
* Video tape: Scene from Fargo
The dinner-table scene showed the style of speaking in the northern Mid-west.
Discussion topic: "What kinds of differences were noticed in the language of the speakers at the table ?"
* Video tape: Scene from My Fair Lady (see handout)
The scene revolves around three characters: Prof. Henry Higgins, Col. Pickering, and Eliza Doolittle. The character of Prof. Higgins, modeled after a famous linguist (Sweet), sings a song that lashes out against any 'non-standard use' of English.
Discussion topic: Attitudes/Assumptions about language as seen in the movie clip.