LING 083. Decolonization and Inclusion in Linguistics (LCS)

As Charity Hudely, Mallinson and Bucholtz (2024) assert, “Sentiment is not enough to challenge longstanding ideologies, to disrupt structural inequities, and to ensure full inclusion and participation: Transformative change requires hard work.”

This course is based around the brand new volumes Decolonizing Linguistics and Inclusion in Linguistics (Charity Hudley, Mallinson & Bucholtz, eds.). Using these texts we critically examine the field of Linguistics from the perspective of knowledge production and social justice and what this means for our practice as linguists. Topics include the colonial foundations of linguistics, what linguistics is today, and a series of case studies drawn from the course texts. This course focuses on reading and discussion, with guest lectures. We will create our own action plans, based on our own positionalities, for taking this work forward.

Assignments will consist of regular reading responses, engagement with guest speakers, and a scaffolded final project on a topic of the student’s choice, selected in consultation with course instructors.

Prerequisite: Recommended prerequisites: Two courses in linguistics: one in language, culture and society, and one in field methods, phon, syntax, semantics, or intro linguistics. Or permission of the instructors.
Social Sciences.
1 credit.
Eligible for ESCH.
Spring 2024. Dockum. Fuller Medina.
Department website: Linguistics

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