intro-friendly novels?

[Harriet Ottenheimer]

It's been a while since I've read them but the "Ender" series (by Orson 
Scott Card) seemed very anthropologically informed (deliberately so, it 
seems).  The series is popular with quite a few college-age students who 
read science fiction.

Also of possible interest might be Ursula K LeGuin's Left Hand of 
Darkness, where characters change gender during their lifetimes and 
LeGuin takes this into account linguistically (simple stuff, like 
address terms, e.g.).

Harriet Ottenheimer

Rachel Reynolds wrote:

> I frequently read passages to my students from _Going Home to Teach_ 
> by Anthony C. Winkler.  Here's the Amazon.com link that has some 
> really great reviews that can give you the flavor of the book.
> http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/9766101523/sr=8-5/qid=1151425275/ref=sr_1_5/102-2833271-2199338?ie=UTF8 
>
>
> Winkler grew up in Kingston, Jamaica as a poor Hungarian immigrant.  
> In this book, he returns home with an American wife, professional 
> success and a college degree to participate in one of Michael Manley's 
> educational development programs in the countryside.  There are lovely 
> scenes with students, with administrators, and with people on the 
> streets in Jamaica in which he negotiates his way into holding 
> authority as an authentic Jamaican man by code-switching between the 
> Standard American English he has learned in college, and the Kingston 
> speech with which he grew up.  My students respond deeply to the 
> passages -- they are funny and sweet and bring home 
> class/race/educational difference in a quick snapshot.
>
> I wouldn't recommend assigning the whole novel however, since there 
> are some slightly sexy parts/domestic drama parts that 19 year olds 
> wouldn't understand or would be confused/grossed out by. (Winkler 
> contrasts his broken childhood home with his breaking up marriage to 
> the brokenness of the Jamaican school system). Winkler also uses 
> pastiche beautifully, but it can easily be (mis)interpreted as 
> stereotype or condescension, especially towards Jamaican students.
>
> Rachel
>
> At 06:04 PM 6/22/2006 -0400, samuels at anthro.umass.edu wrote:
>
>> Hi. I would like to use a novel that highlights language and culture 
>> issues in my
>> undergraduate introduction class, and would love to hear any 
>> suggestions. I'm
>> fairly familiar with the science fiction end of things (Babel-17, 
>> Languages of
>> Po, The Inheritors, Riddley Walker, Snowcrash), and the classics that 
>> intersect
>> with that set (Clockwork Orange, 1984). Any others that people have 
>> used or would
>> think of using? Something that emphasizes language socialization (or
>> resocialization) would be nice.
>>
>> I'll be happy to compile a bibliography if people contact me off-list.
>>
>> Thanks!
>>
>> All best,
>>
>> David
>
>
> &%\----&%\----&%\----&%\----&%\-----/%&---/%&---/%&----/%&---/%&---/%&
> Rachel R. Reynolds
> Assistant Professor
> Director of Graduate Programs
> Department of Culture & Communication
> Drexel University
> 3141 Chestnut Street
> Philadelphia, PA 19104
> (215) 895-0498
> rrr at drexel.edu
>
>