* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
LINGUIST List logo Eastern Michigan University Wayne State University *
* People & Organizations * Jobs * Calls & Conferences * Publications * Language Resources * Text & Computer Tools * Teaching & Learning * Mailing Lists * Search *
* *
LINGUIST List 17.645

Wed Mar 01 2006

Disc: Hiring Practices in Variationist Sociolinguistics

Editor for this issue: Ann Sawyer <sawyerlinguistlist.org>

To post to LINGUIST, use our convenient web form at http://linguistlist.org/LL/posttolinguist.html.
Directory
        1.    Richard Cameron, Hiring Practices in Variationist Sociolinguistics
Message 1: Hiring Practices in Variationist Sociolinguistics
Date: 20-Feb-2006
From: Richard Cameron <rcameronuic.edu>
Subject: Hiring Practices in Variationist Sociolinguistics


This academic year has been, I believe, a good year for academic hiring in
linguistics in the United States. As a consequence, I have paid attention to job
announcements in my principal area of expertise, Variationist Sociolinguistics.
I have a few questions, then, for the Variationist community in the U.S. about a
pattern of hiring practice that I have observed. I will begin with two
observations.

Initial Observation:
In those U.S. Departments of Linguistics, which
(A) offer a PhD, and which
(B) employ Variationists with their primary appointment in those
departments, these Variationists work primarily or exclusively on
English or English-lexified Creoles.

Second Observation
In those Linguistics Departments, which offer a Ph.D., and which arecurrently
hiring Variationists, the short-listed candidates work primarilyor exclusively
on English or English-lexified Creoles.

Questions:
Is this, in general, an accurate description? I know of two exceptions. No more.
If this is accurate, why is this the practice when the annual NWAV conference
has presenters on many other languages besides English?
Do similar English-only hiring practices occur for other branches of
linguistics in the US? If so, which branches? Why?
Is this a good thing for the future of Variationist Sociolinguistics? If yes,
why? If no, why not?

If I receive any responses, I will post the responses.
Thank you - Richard Cameron


Linguistic Field(s): Sociolinguistics

Respond to list|Read more issues|LINGUIST home page|Top of issue



Please report any bad links or misclassified data

LINGUIST Homepage | Read LINGUIST | Contact us

NSF Logo

While the LINGUIST List makes every effort to ensure the linguistic relevance of sites listed
on its pages, it cannot vouch for their contents.