Howard Manns

My primary research interest is linguistic and cultural contact and the implications of this contact for individual speakers in late modernity. I am particularly interested in communities undergoing rapid sociolinguistic change. Following recent trends in sociolinguistics, I approach this topic by viewing language as style and stylistic variation as strategic persona management. My work focuses on how strategic persona management is used as a resource for conversational stancetaking. I am interested in how speakers use stancetaking to construct heterogeneous identities as well as to accomplish moment-to-moment goals. I draw on both conversational and discourse analysis for my work.

My PhD thesis examined the interplay of stance, style and identity among young people and in the mass media in Java, Indonesia. This thesis explored the processes by which supra-local styles become linked to local language varieties and social categories. I examined these processes at both the attitudinal and conversational level.

My secondary research interest is second language acquisition. I am interested in uncovering the most effective means by which humans acquire non-native language features. As a student, I have studied more than 10 languages in a variety of settings. Among other things, I studied French and Vietnamese at the tertiary level and Spanish and Arabic in private schools in Guatemala and Cairo respectively. As a teacher, I have taught EFL, Indonesian and Farsi.

Lastly, I am also interested in dialectology related to English and Austronesian and Iranian languages.

I began my career in linguistics as a specialist in Iranian languages for the U.S. Navy. In this capacity, I served aboard eight warships and logged more than 300 hours as an aircrewman, flying from five U.S. aircraft carriers.