Dissertations & Theses
Our CLASP students have produced a number of distinctive MA theses and PhD dissertations under the direction of CLASP faculty. At the Masterâs level, an MA thesis may be substituted for one of the four CLASP courses to fulfill the program requirements. Below is an abbreviated list of CLASP dissertations and theses.
Note: If you are a current or former CLASP student, we would like to add a citation for your dissertation or thesis to this page! Please send your information to the CLASP Director, Kira Hall, at kira.hall@colorado.edu.
PhD Dissertations
- Grothues, Natalie (2025). "Subversive Intertextuality: An Examination of Intertextual 'Moments' in American Public School Board Meetings." Department of Linguistics, University of Colorado.
- Kosse, Maureen (2025). "Semiotics of Online "Alt-Right" Discourse." Department of Linguistics, University of Colorado.
- Khoo, Velda (2024). "Modeling Singlish: Authentic Hybridity in a Model Nation". Department of Linguistics, University of Colorado.
- Parish, Ayden (2024). âHearing Voices as Atypical Social Agentsâ. Department of Linguistics, University of Colorado.
- Tarren Andrews (2021). "Colonization is not a metaphor: Tracing the logics of settler colonialism back to the Early Medieval North Atlantic."Â Department of Linguistics, University of Colorado.
- Marielle Butters (2021). "Negation in four languages of Indonesia."Â Department of Linguistics, University of Colorado.
- Astrid N. SambolĂn Morales (2021). "Puerto Rican m(other)work at the center: Everyday agency and resistance as a foundation for more inclusive educational spaces."Â School of Education, University of Colorado.
- Rich Sandoval (2016). âGesture-Speech Bimodalism in Arapaho Grammar: An Interactional Approach.â Department of Linguistics, University of Colorado.
- Nicholas Williams (2016). âPlace reference and location formulation in Kula conversation.â Department of Linguistics, University of Colorado.
- Hernandez, Jaclyn (2015). âPathways toward Proficiency: A case study of emerging bilingual studentsâ opportunities to learn academic language.â School of Education, University of Colorado.
- Hughes, Jessica (2015). âNothing about autistics without autistics: A critical, action implicative discourse analysis of neurodiversity advocacy online.â Department of Communication, University of Colorado.
- Sarris, Julia S. (2015). âReturning to School: Changing Barriers and Baggage to Assets and Advantages.â School of Education, University of Colorado.
- Davis, Jennifer (2013). âLearning to âTalk Indianâ: Ethnolinguistic Identity and Language Revitalization in the Chickasaw Renaissance.â Department of Linguistics, University of Colorado.
- Raclaw, Joshua (2013). âIndexing Inferables and Organizational Shifts: âNoâ-prefaces in English Conversation.â Department of Linguistics, University of Colorado.
- Stadlbauer, Susanne (2012). âDisplaced Islamic Identities: Language, Time, and Space in a Post 9/11 Islam.â Department of Linguistics, University of Colorado.
- Zimman, Lal (2012). âVoices in Transition: Testosterone, Transmasculinity, and the Gendered Voice among Female-to-Male Transgender People.â Department of Linguistics, University of Colorado.
- Lombas, Leith (2011). âIndividualism in Action: An Investigation into the Lived Experiences of Peace Corps Volunteers.â Department of Sociology, University of Colorado.
- Heintzelman, Lori (2009). âThe Re-education of Desire: The Role of Narrative in Religious-Based Sexual Identity Transformation.â Department of Linguistics, University of Colorado.
- Nilep, Chad (2009). âArticulating a Transnational Family: âHippo Familyâ Language Learners in Japan and the USA.â Department of Linguistics, University of Colorado.
- Weldeyesus, Weldu (2009). âLanguage Socialization and Ensuing Identity Construction among Ethiopian Immigrants in Metropolitan Denver.â Department of Linguistics, University of Colorado.
- Hodges, Adam (2008). âThe âWar on Terrorâ Narrative: The (Inter)textual Construction and Contestation of Sociopolitical Reality.â Department of Linguistics, University of Colorado.
- Merrill, John Bryce (2008). âMaking it, not Making it: Creating Music in Everyday Life.â Department of Sociology, University of Colorado.
- Christof Demont-Heinrich (2005). âInsularity in the Global Linguistic Center? American âPrestige Pressâ Discourses on English and Globalization in a Post Cold War World.â Department of Journalism, University of Colorado.
MA Theses
- Behr, Jonathan (2025). "Covert Constructions of Identities in Online Dating Profiles." Department of Linguistics, University of Colorado.
- Britt, Emma (2025). "Plural Floor Navigation by CDL Truck Drivers in the Front Range." Department of Linguistics, University of Colorado.
- Jessee, Em (2024). "The Cisgender Listening Subject in Sibiliant Perception."Â Department of Linguistics, University of Colorado.
- Stuart, Forest (2024). "'I Think Iâm Funniest When Iâm my Most Autistic': Trans Autistic Absurdity in Intracommunity Humorous Interaction."Â Department of Linguistics, University of Colorado.
- Schlagenhauf, Alexis (2023). "Digital Intimacy in ASMR Role-Play Videos." Department of Linguistics, University of Colorado.
- Rosenau, Sara. (2022). "Mock Koreaboo: Appropriating Appropriation."Â Department of Linguistics, University of Colorado.
- Thomas, Kahlil BÂ (2018). â'The toughest one we can find': Thug personae and meaning across the boundary of ethnicity."Â Department of Linguistics, University of Colorado.
- Hirschey, Olivia (2017). Department of Linguistics, University of Colorado.
- LaPointe, Alyssa R. (2015). âOn aspects of social interaction, a pair of autistic twins, and their humanness.â Department of Linguistics, University of Colorado.
- Manietta, Joseph (Bazil) (2015). âTranslational Masculinities: The distributive performativity of gender in Korean boy bands.â Department of Linguistics, University of Colorado.
- Griffith, Keri (2014). âHeteronormative Script and Social Injustice Narratives: Lesbian and Gay Argumentation Strategies in Civil Union Hearings.â Department of Linguistics, University of Colorado.
- James, Solange Anduze (2014). âTrinidad English Creole: A Semiotic Marker of Caribbean Postmodern Identity.â Department of Linguistics, University of Colorado.
- Wagner, Irina (2014). âLanguage Revitalization on the Web: Technologies and Ideologies among the Northern Arapaho.â Department of Linguistics, University of Colorado.
- Faracini, Elizabeth (2013). âCaipira Dialect Stylization in Brazilian Telenovelas: A Sociocultural Investigation of Language Ideologies.â Department of Linguistics, University of Colorado.
- Buchner, Alexander (2012). âLaboratory Stylization of âGay Speechâ: Exploring Experimental Methodologies as a Tool for Sociocultural Linguistic Analysis.â Department of Linguistics, University of Colorado.
- Kolberg, Iris (2012). ââWhat are you doing?â: How Improvisational Actors Use the Body in the Contextualization of the Imagined Material World.â Department of Linguistics, University of Colorado.
- Mells, Brandon (2012). âMembership Categories through Action: An Analysis of the Contested Morality of a Checkpoint Stop.â Department of Linguistics, University of Colorado.
- Balder, Sara (2005). âLanguage, Heterosexism, and Identity: Normative Chilean Discursive Practices.â Department of Linguistics, University of Colorado.
CLASP Facts
CLASP graduate Sara Rosenau earned an Honorable Mention in the John J. Gumperz Graduate Student Essay Competition for the submission of her MA Thesis directed by Professor Kira Hall at the American Anthropological Association 2023 Annual Meeting. Sara's thesis investigates "Mock Koreaboo" as a language variety used online among K-Pop fans.Â