Map Task Assignment (5%)

Part 1: Due in class Tuesday, October 21

Part 2: Due 5:00 PM Friday, October 24

Part 1

In class Thursday, October 16, we will distribute two blank United States maps to each of you (if you lose yours you can print them again here). You will use these maps to gather perceptual dialectology data from two native Californians (i.e., people who have never lived in another state). It should not be hard for you to find two people who meet this criterion, so you should not consult with a person who has already completed the map task with another student.

For each participant (separately), ask them to assign one integer between 1 and 10 to each state on the map, rating them based on how "correct" they think the English is that is spoken by people in that state. 1 means "least correct English" and 10 means "most correct English." Do your best to ensure that your participants have placed only one number on each state, and have assigned a number for all 50 states. As your participant completes the task, they may want to talk about their impressions. You can converse with them casually, but do your best not to guide or influence their rating decisions. You can encourage them to write comments in the white space to explain their ratings for particular places, or to write down some general thoughts or impressions they have, and you can take notes on other things you observe. Assure them there are no "right" or "wrong" answers. We are merely conducting a survey of their impressions.

If it would help, we've provided you a script of sorts below:

"We would like you to take a look at this map of the United States and think about the different dialects of English spoken around the country. With your pencil/pen, write a number between 1 and 10 on each state on the map. Rate each state according to how correct you think the English is that is spoken there. 1 means "least correct English" and 10 means "most correct English." Make sure to put a number on every single state. Please be as honest as possible. Don't worry, there are no right or wrong answers here, and this is not a geography test! We are just trying to get a sense of your impressions. Feel free to write any notes or thoughts you have in the white space to explain some of your ratings, but this is not required."

After a participant has completed the map task, input their responses in the Google Doc linked here. In the first row, we've supplied one sample entry for you to use as a model for each of yours. In addition to some basic demographic information, we would like you to input the numbers assigned to each state in each of the columns on the spreadsheet. Note that at the rightmost end of the spreadsheet (columns BE and BF) there is space for you to record any notes you and/or your participant made.

Bring your completed maps to class on Tuesday, October 21. Additionally, make sure you have completed all data entry into the GoogleDoc before class that day.

Part 2

After class Tuesday, October 21, the instructors will compile all data from the GoogleDoc and make one complete perceptual dialectology map of the United States, based on our data. We will make that map available to you here (Check the "Map of geometry" tab.) Your task for Part 2 is to make sense of this map.

Get your thinking started by asking yourself some of these questions:

  • What patterns can you identify in the map ratings?
  • What does this map and our data say about how Californians view where "proper" English is spoken in the United States?
  • How do Californians compare with Michiganders, South Carolinians?
  • What factors seem to contribute to their impressions?

For your write-up, conduct your own analysis of the map, using the Preston (1989) and the Bucholtz et al. (2007) articles as a guide, as well as the demographic information, notes, and specific data on the GoogleDoc. What you conclude is up to you, but make sure that your analysis is grounded in the theories, concepts, and dialectological facts we've discussed in class or read about. Challenge yourself to be focused, concise, and organized.

This write-up should be 1 page single-spaced (2 double-spaced). Please cite any references in the text, with full citations on an additional page at the end. Email your completed write-up as a PDF or DOC attachment to the course e-mail address linguist159-aut1415-staff@lists.stanford.edu by 5:00 PM, Friday, October 24.