This paper is the final paper for Paul Olejarczuk’s ENGL 481 Sociolinguistics class. For this paper students were asked to write about a language variety in the U.S. Through research, this paper addresses where the variety is spoken and by whom, describes where the variety came from (history), describes why this variety was chosen for the paper, includes a section on phonological features, includes a section on lexical features, includes a section on grammatical features, speculates on linguistic vitality of the variety, and has valid reasons for the speculation (i.e. demographic, institutional, social factors).

 

I believe this paper demonstrates my ability to understand cognitive, affective and socio-cultural as well as first language influences on language acquisition and development, and the role of these influences in developing academic literacy as I explore how Jewish American English functions compared to standard English.

 

I believe this paper satisfies the following program standards:

 

Language, Linguistics and Literacy

 

• Know the conventions, forms and functions of Standard English grammar and sentence structure.

• Recognize the universality of linguistic structures while acknowledging variation arising from differences of time, place and community.

• Learn basic principles of morphology, phonology, syntax, semantics and pragmatics.

• Explain cognitive, affective and socio-cultural as well as first language influences on language acquisition and development, and the role of these influences in developing academic literacy.

• Examine and explain strategies for constructing meaning within the processes of reading and writing.

 

Composition and Rhetoric:

• Consistently and accurately apply the conventions of oral and written English.

• Learn and apply advanced research strategies for academic work in English, including collection, integration and citation of data.

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