Section 002 - Words and Their Uses: Studying Vocabulary in Time, Space, and Social Life. The general focus of this course is on the origin and history of words in languages, with special reference to the vocabulary of English. We look at the sources of our vocabulary in early forms of English and in other languages (such as French and Latin) and at the differences between American and British usage. We also consider the relation of words in language to what they stand for in the real world (semantics), the range of meanings that a single word may have, and the changes of meaning that lead up to present day usage. We will then move on to study various aspects of the use of words by speakers and 'jargon,' metaphor, poetic usage, and the use of language by politicians and journalists. Amongst other things we will consider the effects of feminism and 'political correctness' on current usage. Later in the course we will consider the activities of language 'mavens' and the effect of notions of correctness on the use of words. [Students will be expected to possess a good etymological dictionary and should preferably have access to a thesaurus, such as a recent edition of Roget's Thesaurus.] (J. Milroy)
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119. Conversation. (3). (SS).
At the core of contact between humans is face-to-face interaction. In recent years there has been substantial scholarly interest in conversation from scholars in anthropology, communication, education, linguistics, psychology, and sociology. This grows out of the recognition that conversation is not merely a conduit for information but the site for expression of institutional identities, gender, and power. This course introduces students to principles for the study of conversation. Course members will be actively engaged in the analysis of existing data as well as gathering and studying data they collect. Course assignments will include the analysis of small problem sets based on audio and video taped interaction, designing and gathering a sample of conversation, and a small paper growing out of the data collection. (Keller-Cohen)
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210. Introduction to Linguistic Analysis. (4). (SS).
Nothing is more distinctly human than our ability to use language. Because of that, we expect that the study of language can provide insight into "human nature." This course is an analytic introduction to the methods linguists use for describing languages (although general training in analytic thought is our ultimate goal). Drawing on examples from a large number of the world's languages, we will look at the sounds of language, how they are produced and how they pattern into words; we will study the diverse ways in which individual languages approach processes of word and sentence formation, while we ask whether there are processes universal to all languages. By focusing simultaneously on language data and on the techniques used by linguists to make sense of these data, we will see that our understanding of the object of inquiry (language) is influenced by our methods of inquiry. Requirements include: problem-solving assignments, quiz(es), midterm and final exams; no prerequisite except an interest in language and thinking. (Satterfield)
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211. Introduction to Language. (3). (SS).
From time immemorial human beings have been curious about language -- about its structure, its diversity, its use, and its effects on others. In this course, we will explore the human capacity for language, beginning with the ways language differs from animal communication and with how children acquire language. We will then review major aspects of language structure (sounds, words, sentences) and apply them to discussions of current dialects of English such as Black English. After a brief investigation of the relationship between language and thought, we will consider social attitudes toward language. Here we will debate questions such as: Is sign language a real language or just pantomime? What is "Standard English" and is it better than "dialects" of English? Is there any linguistic evidence supporting the notion of English as a racist and sexist language or is this notion purely an imaginary construct devised to create controversy? The course concludes with an examination of American Sign Language and its role in Deaf culture. Course work includes eight short homework assignments, one midterm, and a final exam. (van Hoek/Tortora)
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