International travel, work, study, music, film, and internet surfing increasingly bring many of us into frequent contact with the enormous diversity of English-language usage from around the world. This course offers a basic introduction to some of the most well-known or influential of these global varieties and the colonial history from which they have emerged. Following clarification of some fundamental distinctions in terms of categorizing dialects, accents, and pidgins, each week we will focus on a particular sort of English. Literary readings, film excerpts, songs, and authentic audio recordings will be employed to give us a foothold towards understanding a small sample of the varieties of contemporary English, including Indian, Nigerian, South African, Irish, Scottish, Australian, African-American (Ebonics), Spanglish, Chinglish, New Yorkese, Multicultural London English, Jamaican Patwa and Rastafarian Dread Talk.
Although we will not be able to deeply explore all of the permutations within each of these broad speech communities, their main traits, historical backgrounds, and socio-political importance will be highlighted. The overriding goal will not be to view these representatives of the total spectrum of English as inferior “deviations” from so-called standard English usage but, rather, to demonstrate their inherent
beauty and functionality, while also recognizing the valuable contributions that they make towards keeping world English ever-changing and vibrant. Rudimentary terminology borrowed from linguistics will be used to conceptually frame the course, but no specialist knowledge is required, though students of linguistics are of course welcome. Participants will be required to do a brief presentation and paper.

This course provides instruction and practice in critical reading, critical thinking, and critical writing. We will analyze and interpret academic texts, using the texts as evidence or as an argument to be responded to critically in our writing. We will also discuss the appropriate conventions in English grammar and style. This course is intended for students of all disciplines; topics will vary depending on the interests of the students.