Speech Communities, Communities of Practice, and Identities: A Look at How Taylor Swift Attracts Many Communities Through Her Lyrics

Description

This project provides an intellectual framework based in the study of linguistics,
ethnomusicology, neuroscience, and semiotics to analyze Taylor Swift’s body of work and
ability to engage a robust range of speech communities, communities of practice, and identities.
Chapter One incorporates the theoretical contributions of Dell Hymes, Sally McConnell-Ginet,
Merlin Donald, Mary Bucholtz and Kira Hall, Roman Jakobson, Dwight Bolinger, and Bruno
Nettl to explore the communities and identities Swift attracts and to explain how so many
different communities and identities listen to Swift’s music. Chapter Two draws from Umberto
Eco’s and Aniruddh Patel’s theories to show how there are multiple interpretations and meanings
in Swift’s texts, and how the different communities and identities who listen to Swift extract
many meanings and interpretations from her body of work. By incorporating these theories,
speech communities, communities of practice, and identities, this project demonstrates Swift’s
ability to attract immensely different communities and identities, and how she does so. In 21st
century America, public discourse has become divided and combative. In this extraordinary time,
Swift appeals to people with different beliefs, identities, and backgrounds. Using a
multidisciplinary approach, this project explains how Swift is able to reach across so many
different speech communities, communities of practice, and identities.
 

Team

Members

Student:

Lydie Johnson

Supervisor:

Edna Andrews