Prospectus

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Topics in Linguistics: Language, Culture and Society

Course
2024-2025

Admission requirements

None.

Description

How can we study language-in-use? What is the relationship between linguistic structures and societal structures? How are those structures reproduced, authorized, and transformed in face-to-face interactions?
These are just some of the questions that the field of linguistic anthropology tries to answer. This course presents an introduction to linguistic anthropological approaches to the study of how linguistic practices constitute social life. We will discuss important concepts and discussions in the field, and how these connect to related fields like sociolinguistics, pragmatics, and anthropological linguistics. Topics include indexicality, contextualization and entextualization, differentiation, and relativity. The course is structured as a mix of short lectures and student-led presentations and discussions.

Course objectives

At the end of the course, students will be able to:

  • Explain and give examples of key concepts in linguistic anthropology

  • Discuss key linguistic anthropological texts analyzing language-in-use

  • Apply linguistic anthropological concepts to a topic of their choice

  • Relate linguistic anthropological approaches to related fields like sociolinguistics, pragmatics, and anthropological linguistics

Timetable

The timetables are available through My Timetable.

Mode of instruction

Seminar

Assessment method

Assessment

Presentation & participation 40%
Final paper on a related topic of the student’s choice 60%

Weighing

See above.

The final mark for the course is established by determining the weighted average. To pass the course, the weighted average of the partial grades must be 5.5 or higher.

Resit

In case of an insufficient grade on the final paper (below 5.5), a resit can be taken. The presentation & participation partial grade cannot be resat.

Inspection and feedback

Feedback on presentations & participation will be given continuously throughout the course. The papers will be commented on and discussed individually.

Reading list

Readings will consist of classic and more recent academic articles, which will be distributed through Brightspace.

Registration

Enrolment through MyStudyMap is mandatory.
General information about course and exam enrolment is available on the website.

Contact

  • For substantive questions, contact the lecturer listed in the right information bar.

  • For questions about enrolment, admission, etc, contact the Education Administration Office: Reuvensplaats

Remarks

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