DRAFT: This module has unpublished changes.
                                     
                                  You Are A Forensic Linguist 
 
Background & Foreground: Today in class we are going to consider the many Englishes you use: in your essay due today, in your text messages and also how you speak. First up, we are going to watch a clip from the classic film My Fair Lady. Then we are going to establish what exactly the field of forensic linguistics is before we examine some text messages as well as our own writing. So let's get to it!  
Part I: My Fair Lady 
  • Describe your gut response to Professor Higgins.
  • Describe the last time your had a strong response to the way someone spoke. Why?
  • How many different versions of English do you speak? Do you have a favorite? If so, why?
Part II: Analyzing Your Texts 
  • Look through 3-5 of your text conversations with a mix of people: friends, acquaintances, males, females, family members. Identify at least three traits of your texts that are consistent across the different types of people you communicate with. Cite examples from actual texts.
  • Identify three traits that vary based on whether you are communicating with family, friends or acquaintances. What do these differences tell you?
  • In the BBC article, Dr. Grant says that women write more interpersonal messages while messages men compose are more practical ones. Do you find this to be true of your text conversations with men and women. Look on your phone now. Cite examples.
Part III: Forensic Texting 
  • Rewrite 5 texts from at least 3 different people exactly as they appear on your phone.  Make sure that at least 2 of the texts were written by the same person, but not from the same conversation.
  • Swap your texts with a collaborator.
  • Identify which two texts are by the same author. What evidence pointed you toward your answer?

 

Part IV: Your Narrative Essay 
  • Read over your essay now and interrogate your word choice. 
  • Are there any clues in your essay beside the content of your narrative that reveal your age and gender? If so, what are they.
  • What does your narrative reveal about your personality?
  • What do you consider the strength of the essay?
  • What do you consider the essay's weakness?
DRAFT: This module has unpublished changes.