Arabic Sociolinguistics
NEAR E 432/539
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
AUTUMN 2023
Class Time: Wednesday 1:30 pm – 3:20 pm
Location: Denny 211
Instructor: Hussein M. Elkhafaifi
Office: Denny M 220C
Phone: (206) 543-9596
E-mail: hme3@uw.edu
Course Description
This course surveys several areas of research in sociolinguistics: multilingualism in its various forms (e.g., language choice, diglossia, and code-switching), language identity, geographical and social variation, language change, ethnicity, religion, urbanization, digital media, heritage, language, and gender. These topics are discussed in light of the major findings of sociolinguists who have examined these issues. In this course, we will study the contributions of these findings to our understanding of language use by focusing on the Arabic‐speaking countries of the Middle East and North Africa. The course will be organized as a seminar. We’ll have a brief lecture on the day’s topic, followed by a discussion of the readings (all of which are available on Canvas). The course is taught in English.
Learning Goals
This course introduces students to the main principles of sociolinguistics. Upon completion of this course, students will be able to do the following:
- Explain the linguistic situation in the Arab World, including diglossia.
- Define codeswitching and analyze codeswitching data phonologically and morphosyntactically.
- Determine the social variables and common language attitudes that influence linguistic choices made by individuals and communities.
- Recognize variation as a natural part of language. Develop skills for finding the linguistic variation in all levels of the grammar.
- Gain familiarity with the terminology, methods, and literature of sociolinguistics.
- Develop skills for critiquing sociolinguistic literature.
- Gain hands-on experience working with sociolinguistic data, including analysis of variation in a small corpus of data.
- Recognize key features in the design and collection of sociolinguistic research.
Canvas
This course uses Canvas LMS, an online learning management system at the University of Washington. The course website is https://canvas.uw.edu/courses/1582951 . If you have any problems using Canvas, you can get help at help@uw.edu.
Textbook
Albirini, Abdulkafi. Modern Arabic Sociolinguistics: Diglossia, variation, codeswitching, attitudes and identity. New York: Routledge, 2016. The text is available on Canvas.
Other materials may also be posted on Canvas.
Student Assessment
|
Reading Responses |
35% |
|
Class Participation |
15% |
|
Canvas Discussion Board |
35% |
|
Class Discussion Questions |
15% |
|
TOTAL: |
100% |
Grading Policy
Refer to the Grading Scale at the end of this syllabus.
This course is a seminar, with a considerable amount of weekly reading and heavy emphasis on preparation and discussion. Attendance and participation are essential.
Course Requirements
Effort Required
The policy of the UW curriculum committee is that each credit multiplied by 3 is the amount of time a course should take per week. Thus, this course requires 15 hours per week of work, including time spent attending class, studying, and doing homework.
Reading Responses
You will submit a 2-3 page typed overview of the readings & videos, identifying the major substantive issues. This should not be a summary of the readings/videos; it should highlight the key analytical issues raised in the readings & videos.
Class Discussion Questions
For each class, you will prepare one or two questions for discussion on specific sections of the readings and videos. Upload your questions on Canvas on Tuesday, the day before class. During the class, each student will be responsible for leading the discussion around their questions.
Class Attendance & Participation
I expect you to attend every class unless you let me know in advance. Keep in mind that 15 percent of your course grade is based on class participation, and that the only way to participate in class discussions and activities is to be there for them. Active participation in class is essential. Students cannot participate if they are not in class. There is no substitute or “make-up” for class participation. If you miss class (for any reason), you will not receive participation credit for that day. You are expected to attend all classes and to arrive on time. Class participation includes doing the assigned readings/viewings PRIOR to class, posing and answering questions in class, as well as taking part in class discussion in a substantive way each week.
Discussion Board
Your active discussion of the class readings and videos, and lecture content is part of your class participation requirement. You must submit at least two comments, and pose at least one question to the group, via the Canvas discussion board $CANVAS_COURSE_REFERENCE$/discussion_topics and contribute to classroom discussion in a substantive way each week. Please use the discussion board to pose course-related questions for your classmates concerning the assignments, readings, videos, or lectures. The discussion board is also a place for you to ask specific questions, such as “what is pidgin,” or “I don’t know what is meant by “diglossia.” Please observe common courtesy and respect with postings just as you practice these in class. I’ll read the postings, but mostly be quiet. I want this to be a place where you can think out loud together about course content, without intrusion from me.
No late discussion board postings will be accepted. Posting is designed to generate an exchange of opinion, so while the “due date” might be 11:59 pm, posting something at 11:50 means very little or no discussion can take place. Late postings will not receive full credit.
INFORMATION REQUIRED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
Student Conduct
The University of Washington Student Conduct Code (WAC 478-121) defines prohibited academic and behavioral conduct and describes how the University holds students accountable as they pursue their academic goals. Allegations of misconduct by students may be referred to the appropriate campus office for investigation and resolution. More information can be found online at https://www.washington.edu/admin/rules/policies/WAC/478-121TOC.html.
Inclusion
UW strives to create a welcoming environment for all students. Please speak to or email the professor for assistance related to inclusion in the classroom learning community. Examples are personal pronouns, disability, neurodiversity, accommodations, privacy, disclosure, religious observance schedules, and learning preferences. When there is a safe and open atmosphere for discussing our diversity, it creates a better learning environment for all.
Access and Accommodations
Your experience in this class is important to me. If you have already established accommodations with Disability Resources for Students (DRS), please communicate your approved accommodations to me at your earliest convenience so we can discuss your needs in this course.
If you have not yet established services through DRS, but have a temporary health condition or permanent disability that requires accommodations (conditions include but not limited to; mental health, attention-related, learning, vision, hearing, physical or health impacts), you are welcome to contact DRS at 206-543-8924 or uwdrs@uw.edu or disability.uw.edu.(Links to an external site.) DRS offers resources and coordinates reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities and/or temporary health conditions. Reasonable accommodations are established through an interactive process between you, your instructor(s) and DRS. It is the policy and practice of the University of Washington to create inclusive and accessible learning environments consistent with federal and state law.
Religious Accommodations
Washington state law requires that UW develop a policy for accommodation of student absences or significant hardship due to reasons of faith or conscience, or for organized religious activities. The UW’s policy, including more information about how to request an accommodation, is available at: https://registrar.washington.edu/staffandfaculty/religious-accommodations-policy/
|
I wish you all success! |
Accommodations must be requested within the first two weeks of this course using the Religious Accommodation Request Form: https://registrar.washington.edu/students/religious-accommodations-request/
Grading Scale
|
% |
GRADE |
% |
GRADE |
% |
GRADE |
|
≥ 95 |
4.0 |
84 |
2.9 |
73 |
1.8 |
|
94 |
3.9 |
83 |
2.8 |
72 |
1.7 |
|
93 |
3.8 |
82 |
2.7 |
71 |
1.6 |
|
92 |
3.7 |
81 |
2.6 |
70 |
1.5 |
|
91 |
3.6 |
80 |
2.5 |
69 |
1.4 |
|
90 |
3.5 |
79 |
2.4 |
68 |
1.3 |
|
89 |
3.4 |
78 |
2.3 |
67 |
1.2 |
|
88 |
3.3 |
77 |
2.2 |
66 |
1.1 |
|
87 |
3.2 |
76 |
2.1 |
65 |
1.0 |
|
86 |
3.1 |
75 |
2.0 |
64 |
.9 |
|
85 |
3.0 |
74 |
1.9 |
63 |
.8 |
|
62 |
.7 |
Per UW policy I cannot discuss grades via email. Please make an appointment to talk in my office if you have concerns.