The relationship between language in the U.S. and social power. This course explores how negative attitudes toward some language varieties and languages spoken in the U.S. arise from social factors, rather than features of the languages themselves. In addition to studying language varieties, the course shows how American institutions such as the educational system and the media reinforce these negative attitudes and contribute to discrimination. Offered as AAST 2371 and LING 2371; credit will be granted in only one department.