Why is it important to learn about and study language? In this short podcast, “The Revelatory Power of Language,” which I produced for the Maryland Humanities Council’s “Humanities Connection” series, I talk about how language differences occur naturally and are part of how we define ourselves, individually as well as socially. Whether we drink soda or pop, whether we pronounce aunt as “ant” or “ahnt,” or Baltimore as “Bawlmer” or “Baldamor,” whether we use isn’t or ain’t, language tells us something about who we are as speakers of the ever-changing English language. The podcast is also available on the website of the UMBC Dresher Center for the Humanities.
Data Collection in Sociolinguistics 2nd edition, now in print!
December 12, 2017
A wonderful way to close out 2017 – the second edition of Data Collection in Sociolinguistics is now in print!! Yes, so much work went into these 350 pages, but on what other project do I get to work with so many amazing colleagues?? Here is a link to our Amazon book page, as well as our Routledge book page. And be sure to click over to our book website to check out our expanded teaching exercises, sample syllabi, contributor videos, and more!
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“GRIT-X Talks Showcase Experiences of Outstanding Faculty and Alumni ‘from Outer Space to Inner Space”
October 26, 2017
I was honored to be asked to give a “GRIT-X” micro-talk at UMBC, called “The Social Life of Speech.” As this recent UMBC News article describes the event, “Demonstrating the value of diverse linguistic patterns in the classroom shows students they are valued, which makes them likely to value school, Mallinson explains. Overall, educators must ‘give the students the tools they need to succeed on the tests that we require of them, while sustaining and empowering their diverse voices,’ she says, ‘so that we can have all our students with all their diverse voices right here in the front row of our classes at UMBC.’”
ICYMI: “The Sound of Inclusion”
August 31, 2017
In case you missed it: My article with Dr. Anne H. Charity Hudley, “The Sound of Inclusion: Why Teachers’ Words Matter,” which originally appeared in The Conversation, has been reprinted in Salon and in Newsweek! Be sure to like, share, and comment!
I’m so honored to be profiled as part of the “Coffee with Parents” series on Baltimore’s (cool) progeny blog! What could be better than talking about kids AND work? In the article, I talk about my own family history and my research on linguistic diversity, in education and in Baltimore.
Diverse Factors, Including Language, Impact Schooling
July 12, 2017
This UMBC News article, “UMBC researchers address diverse factors impacting U.S. schooling,” describes recent press coverage of three UMBC faculty for our research on “factors that shape K–12 education in the United States”. As the article notes,
Christine Mallinson, professor of language, literacy, and culture, writes in The Conversation about how language differences among students can affect student outcomes. “Studies have found that at all levels of education, instructors often favor students who sound like themselves and can be biased against those who don’t,” writes Mallinson. Compounding the problem, “As the U.S. student population continues to rapidly diversify along cultural and linguistic lines, the demographics of the teacher population remain stable at roughly 82 percent white and predominantly female,” meaning non-white students experience negative bias more often.
“The Revelatory Power of Language”
April 17, 2017
“The Sound of Inclusion: Why Teachers’ Words Matter”
April 11, 2017
Teachers’ words matter, and students’ do too – from science to the humanities. Dr. Anne H. Charity Hudley and I are excited to have our work with educators featured in this article, “The Sound of Inclusion”, that we wrote for The Conversation. There are so many amazing teachers and students who are the inspiration for this article and for all our work — too many to tag, but we are so grateful to you all!
https://theconversation.com/the-sound-of-inclusion-why-teachers-words-matter-74019
Image credit from Twitter @RosaIsiah
