LINGUIST 101

Language, Mind and Society


Please note: this is archived course information from 2017 for LINGUIST 101.

Description

Language is one of the most important aspects of being human. We use it in almost everything we do to keep our communities functioning and to manage our identities. This course looks at how different groups in society use language to achieve these things.

In particular we will look at the following questions:

  • Do we all speak the same English (or whatever language we speak)?
  • Does what we think about language matter?
  • How do multilingual societies operate?
  • Is conversation really that important?
  • Do different cultures organise their languages differently?
  • What is special about human language and how did we get here?

View the course syllabus

Availability 2017

Semester 1

Lecturer(s)

Lecturer(s) Dr Tyler Peterson

Reading/Texts

Holmes, Janet. 2013. An Introduction to Sociolinguistics. 4th edition. Harlow, England: Pearson Education Limited.

Recommended Reading

Bonvillain, Nancy. 2014. Language, Culture and Communication. 7th edition. USA: Pearson Education Inc.

Assessment

Coursework + exam

Points

LINGUIST 101: 15 points