Course Overview

An introduction to linguistic anthropology, this course explores the relationship between language and culture, especially on how language reflects culture and how culture creates language. Through the lectures, required readings, group discussions, and student projects, we will learn the roles and functions of language in creating universal as well as cultural-specific worldviews.

Learning Achievement

Drawing upon basic linguistic and anthropological concepts as well as analytical procedures, we will explore the answers to the following questions: What is the role of language within human social and cultural conducts? What do language structure and linguistic practices reveal about culture specific worldviews? How does language index social identities, such as ethnicity, generation, and gender? How and why does cross-cultural miscommunication occur? How is language used in multilingual communities? What is the status of endangered languages in the world? In sum, we will try to understand the idea that “Language is the essence of culture.

Competence

An introduction to linguistic anthropology, this course explores the theories and concepts that help us understand the dynamic relationship between language, culture, and society. The class will be based on the lectures by the instructor and in-class activities in a pair or group format.

1. General-propose competence: critical and creative thinking skills, broad perspective and internationalism, collaborative, independent & autonomous skills.
2. Special competence: understanding international relations, understanding international development, analytical skills on international relations.

Course prerequisites

No previous knowledge on linguistics or anthropology necessary.

Grading Philosophy

Based on Attendance and participation (40%), Reading review tests (30%) and final paper presentation (30%)

Course schedule

Orientation & Introduction
Course orientation & Introductory lecture to linguistic anthropology
Communication and the sign system, What’s in a ‘word’? Where does “meaning” lie?Language and the Way We See the World
Linguistic Relativity Theory: The Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis
Metaphors and MetonymyLanguage and Symbolic Functions
Icon, Symbols, and Index
Pronouns and references: Japanese and other languages
Reading for next week (1) Miyazaki, “Japanese junior high school girls’ and boy’s first-person pronoun use and their social world”Interaction in Context
Reading review & discussion (1)
Context of Communication: Audience, accommodation
Pragmatics of Communication: Speech act, politeness theoryEthnography of speaking 1
Ethnography of Speaking: Greeting and silence across cultures; American small talk
Explanation on the final research paper. Reading for next week (2) Ide, “Aisatsu”
On conducting your own ethnographic research
Ethnography of speaking 2
Reading review & discussion (2)
Speech communities and the community of practice; Miscommunication and stereotypes
Cyber space as a community of practice
Reading for next week (3) Watanabe, “Cultural differences in framing”
Language, identity, and the community of practice
Reading review & discussion (3)
Linguistic profile of the world
Diglossia, pidgin and creole, code-switching, etc.
Language and identity
Singlish, Manglish, Easy Japanese and so on.
Language loss and revitalization
The Bosavi in Papua New Guinea and Maori in New Zealand
Wrap up discussion and final preparation for the presentation
Final presentation (1)
Final presentation (2)

Course type

Lectures

Online Course Requirement

Instructor

Ide Risako

Other information

An introduction to linguistic anthropology, this course explores the theories and concepts that help us understand the dynamic relationship between language, culture, and society. The class will be based on the lectures by the instructor and in-class activities in a pair or group format.

Site for Inquiry

Link to the syllabus provided by the university