Language & linguistics in real world contexts

What do linguists do?

Linguists study language; gather information about particular languages

in order to understand the generalities or

the universals of that language.

(Barry, chapter 1, 2008)

Linguist Anthropologists…

….study learners across the life span in non-formal environments of learning…including the ways in which speakers learn the structures and uses of language as well as the attitudes, gestures, and interactional ways called for in learning environments of all types.

Reflect for a moment • Think back to you own upbringing; what language(s) were you

exposed to growing up? Who were the language models in your young life?

• What messages about language and language interactions were shared with you & reinforced for you?

Listen when you are spoken to; Listen, watch & learn; Wait for your elders to finish before you begin speaking? Look someone in the eyes when they speak to you; Don’t look someone in the eyes when they speak to you-it is disrespectful! Make sure you can tell a good story that holds others’ attention – embellish if you must! Don’t stretch the truth-it will get you in trouble in the long run!

• What is the history of the area where you grew up? How did the community perceive school? How did you know?

Ways With Words:Language, life, and work in Communities and classrooms

by Shirley Brice Heath, A Linguist Anthropologist

An ethnographic study grounding our work in LCRT 5810: Workshop in Language Acquisition and Development at CU Denver

Ways With Wordsby Shirley Brice Heath

Shirley Brice Heath

• Shirley Brice Heath, linguistic anthropologist, has studied how different kinds of social and cultural learning environments support children's early and later language development.

• Heath has taught at universities throughout the world, most notably Stanford University and Brown University, and as Visiting Research Professor at King's College, University of London.

• Heath’s ethnographic study is a seminal work that continues to hold important significance today.

Why Heath Wrote Ways with Words

Pressures at the time included: desegregation, condemnation of the Carolinas’ low performance in public education, and shifting of social and work opportunities brought on by Civil Rights Movement

• Communication was a central concern of black and white teachers, parents, and mill personnel;

• A central concern included why habitual ways of talking and listening did not always seem to work.

Brice Heath’s central question was: What were the effects of preschool home and community environment on the learning of those language structures and uses needed in classroom and job settings?

“Roadville” and “Trackton”

Roadville and Trackton are two communities that are located only a few miles a part in the Piedmont Carolinas. Both communities are closely tied to the textile mills which employ members of both communities.

“Roadville”

Roadville is a white working-class community of families steeped for generations in the life of the textile mills.

“Trackton”

Trackton is a black working-class community whose older generations grew up farming

the land but whose current members work in the textile mills.

The Children of Roadville and Trackton

Roadville Children Trackton Children

“The Townspeople”

The Townspeople are the ‘mainstream’ blacks and whites who hold power in the school and workplaces of the region.

The children of Roadville and Trackton go to school in town.

Why You Will Read Ways with Words:

• For nearly a decade (1969-1978) Heath lived, worked, and played with the children of Roadville and Trackton.

• This ethnography of communication records the natural flow of classroom and community.

• This is not a study of different racial memberships. (Heath reminds us that the “townspeople” Blacks and Whites had far more in common with each other than with the populations in Roadville or Trackton).

• You will consider how the experiences educators face with students from Roadville and Trackton mirror your experiences as an educator.

Shirley Brice Heath is the author of the classic Ways with Words: Language, life, and work in communities and classrooms

(Cambridge University Press, 1983/1996).

+ Roadville & Trackton Groups

• We will work in groups of four for our in-class ethnography exploration of Roadville and Trackton.

• In your group of four, two people will follow and read about Trackton, and two people will follow and read about Roadville.

• Today, make a group of four and determine who will follow which community. Before you leave today, sign up providing your names & the communities you will follow.

• During Session 2, you will read and complete the note catcher for Ch. 1 & 2 and then either Ch. 3 (Trackton) or Ch. 4 (Roadville).

• During Session 3, you will meet with your group to discuss your learning about your community.

Getting Started…. with WWWSEE DETAILS ON CANVAS • Read Chapters 1 and 2 and complete the Note Catching Sheet

available in Doc Sharing.

Ideas for your consideration:• Please identify one quote or paraphrase from the reading

that resonated with you. Tell why you found this to be significant, and why you think that this is important for teachers to think about and to discuss.

• How do you believe school home experiences affect school experiences? Include your thinking on before-school experiences in Roadville and Trackton.

• What is the history of the area where you teach? How does the community perceive school? How do you know?

Looking ahead

Getting started: • Go to CANVAS and become familiar with the course shell & resources• Upload your photo, bio & response to prompt on CANVAS (9/1)• Plan to record your teaching for Examining Classroom Language • Consider who you will select as the Case Study Learner • Plan for the informal conversation/interview and data gathering• Mark your calendar for Session #2 ONLINE (Sept. 1-8) • Next F2F Class Session is Sept. 20th (here!)

Before you leave today:-Submit Student Information Sheet-Sign up with a group of 4 for a Ways with Words community

Individual questions? I’ll gladly stick around to answer them today!