Explore the language used in the media you see on a daily basis. For example, look at current advertisement campaigns and analyze the language employed by the advertisers. Does the language indicate a target audience? Are some members of the population excluded based on word choice? Is there a regional or generational bias? Austin Kaye-Smith of Bright Hub suggests having students examine the language of presidential campaigns, which can be explored through televised debates, candidate websites, television advertisements and news articles.
Sending text messages through mobile phones has created a dynamic method of communication with its own language and trends. Create a list of 20 to 30 text message abbreviations and have students identify each one. After identification, instruct each student to select five abbreviations for further investigation. Identify the origin and history of the abbreviation, the student's personal use of the abbreviation and if the abbreviation has become a part of mainstream language in the U.S. by being used outside of text messaging. Have students present their findings in an oral presentation.
The evolution of the English language in the United States has been greatly impacted by the myriad of immigrant populations that have made the U.S. their home. Ask each student to identify her own ancestral background and the language used in that country. Select three or four words or phrases from that language that are used in modern, mainstream English in the United States. For example, a Jewish student of Eastern European descent might analyze the Yiddish language finding that words such as "schlep" and "schmooze" are used by modern Americans regardless of their ancestral background. Helpful research resources can be found on Archaeolink.com.
The study of language use and its relationship to gender began in earnest in the 1970s. Austin Kaye-Smith of Bright Hub suggests conducting a project that explores male and female communication in Western cultures. In their article, "Teaching Language and Gender," Jane Sunderland and Joan Swann suggest analyzing gender and language through its use in the media. As a project, have students bring to class five magazine or newspaper articles that specifically describe the story or accomplishment of a man or woman. Break the students into groups to share their articles. Ask each group of students to identify the words and images used to describe men and women and discuss their findings.