Just Linguistics
John Baugh, Washington University in St. Louis
Various linguistic methods have been utilized to promote the advancement of justice and equality throughout the world. Just Linguistics presents an overview of several instances where linguistic evidence and research were instrumental to the resolution of several social problems where considerations pertaining to languages or dialects are frequently overlooked. The presentation will share experimental evidence, survey results, and excerpts of testimony that has been employed variously during civil and criminal trials. Additional illustrations will focus on efforts to improve educational outcomes for speakers of underrepresented languages and dialects as well as newer interdisciplinary collaborations with medical professionals that have been designed to reduce health care disparities based on race. These research vignettes collectively demonstrate alternative ways in which basic linguistic research can be harnessed to improve the human condition in the United States and elsewhere.
Sponsors: Language Institute, Language Sciences Program, Department of English, Second Language Acquisition PhD Program