University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

The Acoustics of Identity: Linguistic Passports Beyond Empire and Essentialism

Filmer, Alice Ashton

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Description

Title
The Acoustics of Identity: Linguistic Passports Beyond Empire and Essentialism
Author(s)
Filmer, Alice Ashton
Issue Date
2008
Doctoral Committee Chair(s)
McCarthy, Cameron
Department of Study
Communications
Discipline
Communications
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Degree Level
Dissertation
Keyword(s)
Education, Language and Literature
Language
eng
Abstract
"On the basis of evidence from the case studies, the author argues: (1) Standard American English (SAE) is not neutral, but rather clearly associated with a professional, educated, ""white,"" US-American, middle class experience; (2) Even more so than grammatical knowledge, the mastery of an accent (phonological repertoire) suggests lived experience, or ""native speaker"" status, which in turn suggests the ""authenticity"" of a speaker's identity; (3) Codeswitching can be understood as both a sociocultural credential and liability; and (4) ""White/whiteness""---as a social identity---is not monolithic and does not necessarily refer to skin color. It also operates as a metaphor indexing privilege within a complex set of possibilities. A theory of acoustic identity informs contemporary debates and discussions over public and cultural policy in sectors that include education, government, and industry."
Graduation Semester
2008
Type of Resource
text
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http://hdl.handle.net/2142/86595

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