She said sociolinguistics is an important area of study because it affects everyone's lives. She said people alter their language structures to fit varying situations. A good example, Conrad said, is the difference between writing a letter of recommendation and writing a letter to a friend. In a speech she gave on Oct. 16 for the Society for Technical Communication, Conrad touched on how language is used in academic disciplines. She noted that altering writing styles for different professors can be difficult for students.
Students have a lot to get a grasp on when they start to read and write for a class.
It's a tricky thing a lot to ask of them. Conrad, who has taught English in both southern Africa and Korea, said she has recognized remarkable distinctions between students from different cultures. In particular, she said, the work ethic of students in southern Africa and Korea is more intense than that of most students in the United States. Conrad said she learned overseas that cultures use different systems of language, and words and actions which seem appropriate in one society may not be acceptable in another. She said while teaching abroad, her opinions sometimes clashed with those of her students.