Anthropology 2510A
LANGUAGE, CULTURE, AND COMMUNICATION
FALL 2004, Instructor: Alberto Guevara
Tu/Th 12:15---1:30 Room TH 280
Office: T H 204, Tel #: 3292521
Office Hours: Th 3:00 to 4:00 or by appointment
alberto.guevara@uleth.ca
Overview and Objectives of the Course:
This course is a general introduction to basic approaches for the study of
language, symbols and communication. The main objective of this course is to critically
reflect on the process of communication and the roles of language cross-culturally. This
course will introduce students to basic concepts, problems, and methodologies utilized by
anthropologists in the study of the relationship between language, communication and
cultural context.
Methodology and Evaluation:
The course will be based on assigned readings, lectures, films, class
conversations, exercises and examinations. These will be facilitated by group discussions
of relevant issues to that week’s readings. Students are expected to attend classes having
read all assigned course materials in advance. This point is very important because it will
facilitate us in having a dynamic and interesting course. Remember twenty percent of the
grade will be allocated to attendance and participation.
There will be three in class examinations. The exams will not be cumulative,
and will cover only the material from lectures, readings and films since the last exam. In
addition each student will write a short essay (a guideline will be provided around the
fourth week of the course) of approximately five to six pages (double space). The student
should use the concepts, terms and the anthropological perspectives learned in our class
discussions, the textbooks and three outside sources to construct the essay.
Required Text
Norman Fairclough, Language and Power: Second Edition, 2001
A number of readings will also be on reserve at the Library (consult schedule)
Policies
All students should be aware of the definition and consequences of plagiarism as
set by U of L policy (p. 63 in the calendar). This policy will be systematically enforced.
The final grade will be calculated as follows:
Class participation and attendance
20%
1
First exam
Second exam
Third exam
Paper
(October 7)
(November 4)
(December 9)
(November 18)
20%
20%
20%
20%
Official evaluation scheme
A+ 95-100
B+ 80-84
C+ 65-69
D 50-54
A 90-94
A- 85-89
B 75-79
B- 70-74
C 60-64
C- 55-59
F 49 and below
SCHEDULE:
(This is a general guideline and is subject to changes at the instructor’s discretion).
WEEK ONE:
SEPTEMBER. 9: Overview of the course and introduction
Readings: None
WEEK TWO:
SEPTEMBER. 14: The Form of the Message
Readings: Bonvillain, Chapter 2 (on reserve)
Susanne Langer “Language and Thought” (on reserve)
SEPTEMBER 16: Nonverbal Communication
Readings: Bonvillain, Chapter two (cont.)
Martin and Nakayama, Chapter 6 (on reserve)
WEEK THREE:
SEPTEMBER 21: Language and Cultural Meaning
Readings: Bonvillain, (pg 61 to 75)
Martin and Nakayama, Chapter 4 (on reserve)
SEPTEMBER 23: Language and Cultural Meaning II
Readings: Martin and Nakayama, Chapter 5 (on reserve)
Film: American Tongues
WEEK FOUR:
SEPTEMBER 28: Ethnography of Communication
Readings: Bonvillain Chapter 4
SEPTEMBER 30: Linguistic Variation: Class and Race
Readings: Martin and Nakayama, Chapter 7 and 8 (on reserve)
Film Urban Chronicle
2
WEEK FIVE
OCTOBER 5: Language and Gender
Readings: Martin and Nakayama, Chapter 9 (on reserve)
Review
OCTOBER 7: (First exam)
WEEK SIX
OCTOBER 12: Language and Gender Cross-Cultural
Readings: Bonvillain Chapter 8
Film: Men and Women Talking Together
OCTOBER 14: Multilingualism
Readings: Bonvillain Chapter 11
WEEK SEVEN:
OCTOBER 19: Multilingualism II
Readings: Clark Blaise “North”
Eva Hoffman “Life in a New language”
Film: Our Language is our Land
OCTOBER 21: Bilingualism
Readings: Bonvillain Chapter 12
Michael Ignatieff “Blood and Belonging”
Film: Between the Solitudes
WEEK EIGHT:
OCTOBER 26: Bilingualism
Readings: Bonvillain Chapter 12 (cont)
OCTOBER 28: Language and Institutional Encounters
Readings: Bonvillain Chapter 13
WEEK NINE:
NOVEMBER 2: Language and Institutional Encounters II
Readings: Bonvillain Chapter 13 (cont.)
Review
NOVEMBER 4: (Second exam)
WEEK TEN:
NOVEMBER 9 Discourse and Social Practice
Readings: Fairclough Chapter 2
NOVEMBER 11: (NO CLASS)
WEEK ELEVEN: Discourse and Power
NOVEMBER 16
Readings: Fairclough Chapter 3
NOVEMBER 18: (Paper due)
Readings: Fairclough Chapter 4
Film: Manufacturing Consent (#2)
3
WEEK TWELVE: Discourse Analysis
NOVEMBER 23
Readings: Fairclough Chapter 5 and 6
NOVEMBER 25
Readings: Fairclough Chapter 7
Film: TBA
WEEK THIRTEEN: Discourse and social Change
NOVEMBER 30
Readings: Fairclough Chapter 8
DECEMBER 2
Readings: Fairclough Chapter 9 and 10
WEEK FOURTEEN: Conclusion
DECEMBER 7: (Review)
DECEMBER 9: (Third exam)
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