LANG 395 invites students into the sociolinguistic study of the English language—particularly its grammatical structures and patterns of use—across a range of spoken and written registers. We’ll test our analytical frameworks on real language we observe “in the wild,” so-called “standard” or not. Our principal goal is to help you develop skill in grammatical analysis, so that you come to understand more consciously how English works—how English speakers and writers draw on a host of choices in patterned and meaningful ways. We’ll also actively consider implications and applications to students’ particular concerns (including, but not limited to, teaching and creative or professional writing).