Change Thy Name Is English: Teaching the Evolving Nature of the English Language to Promote Diversity, Inclusivity, and Equity in Writing
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2021-10-01
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Educators know the English language continually evolves as it has from Chaucer and Shakespeare to modern English. Instructors also understand that field-specific language changes with increased understanding and knowledge. Alder-Kassner (2019) concludes when instructors share professional knowledge of writing, then teaching and learning become more effective and inclusive. However, some students maintain that inclusive writing caters to “political correctness.” Instructors must communicate and model that appropriate and effective written and verbal expression and even rules of grammar and punctuation will always change and evolve. Johnson, et. al. (2020) conclude that even informal interactions with faculty influence how students understand diversity, equity, and inclusion topics, including the use of language. This session will examine and model how all instructors regardless of their subject area can leverage their professional understanding of the dynamic nature of English to help students become more inclusive writers and develop skills to adapt to lifelong linguistic changes.
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