Syllabus for Anthropology 104 LAMC
Human Language and Communication (Lecture Fall 2014)
Course: Human Language and Communication
Section: 3027
Time: Tuesday 6:50-10:00 pm
Instructor: S. Etheridge-Criswell
Location: CMS 004
Office Hours: Tuesday 5:45-6:45pm, CMS 004
Email: etherism@lavc.edu (preferred) or sarah.etheridge@canyons.edu (back up)
The best way to contact me is through email. Please include your full name and class in the
subject line of all emails. Inform the instructor immediately (a) about any special needs or
learning requirements you may have
Required Textbooks:
Ottenheimer, Harriet Joseph. 2009. The Anthropology of
Language: An Introduction to Linguistic Anthropology,
2nd Edition. Cengage Publishers
COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course examines basic linguistic concepts in cultural context.
Language diversity, origins, acquisition and use will be explored, with an emphasis on
communication and sociocultural factors.
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES:
1. Students will be able to analyze theories about the origins of human language.
2. Students will be able to compare the nature of human language with various forms of
animal communication.
3. Students will be able to describe the relationship between language, society and
culture and analyze related topics such as dialects, registers, bilingualism, gender,
multilingualism, language and education, sociolinguistics and the ethnography of
communication.
Effective this Fall 14 semester, an English 28 or ESL 8 prerequisite for all classes in the Life
Sciences
ATTENDANCE Experience shows that students who do not show up for class (and on time!)
perform poorly on tests. Attendance counts. In addition, a portion of your grade is based on
participation in class, so make sure you come each week.
EXPECTATIONS: Students must be prepared, organized, and must manage their time well, since
this course is very interactive and has several overlapping elements. Students must come to
class on time and prepared, with all materials needed to complete assignments. Students are
expected to review materials and complete assignments during the week, in order to prepare for
each class. Participation, discussion and demonstrations are required. All students must respect
their fellow classmates so we can all share a productive, comfortable working environment, and
all students must respect the classroom and its equipment and specimens.
CLASS ETIQUETTE Be on time. Respect other students’ opinions, questions and contributions.
Absolutely no beepers or cell phones during class! Turn it off or leave it outside. Once class has
begun, don’t leave. Ignore this rule and you may lose points for lack of class participation &
spirit.
RECORDING LECTURES Unless you are a “special-needs” student, do not record the lectures.
CA Education Code section 78907 prohibits the use of any electronic device without prior
consent of the instructor. This rule will be strictly enforced. Please pay attention. Be awake &
aware in class.
CHEATING & PLAGIARISM Any form of cheating or plagiarism will definitely earn you an F for
either the activity in question or for the entire course. See “Code of Honor” page on the Moodle
website for this class. We will address the code at the first class meeting.
DUE DATES: No late work will be accepted. If you know you will be absent, you can make up
assignments before the missed class but not after. No make-up tests will be given, except if the
student has written evidence of a school-approved absence or makes arrangements with me
prior to the test date.
ATTENDANCE & WITHDRAWL: Students are expected to attend each class. If absent, students
must get notes and other information from a classmate and also complete all assignments.
Students are still held responsible for knowing all material, even if absent. After 3 absences, the
instructor may withdraw you in accordance with the student’s lack of academic progress. You
are responsible for confirming that you have been officially withdrawn from the course if
you stop attending. Do not rely on the instructor to meet your withdrawal deadlines.
DEADLINES:
Last Day to add: 9/12
Drop with no W: 9/14
To drop with a W: 11/23
Grading:
EXAMS: 1 midterm (100 points) and 1 final (100 points) (50 questions, all on Scantron)
10 In-Class Assignments (ICA): 20 points each, total of 200 points
9 Homework Assignments (HW): 20 points each, total of 180 points
3 Quizzes: 20 points each, total of 60 points
1 group assignment (enthnography) and presentation (details below): 60 points
Participation: up to an extra 30 points (Active participation in the classroom, video log, regular
attendance, etc., determined by the instructor)
(730 possible total points)
657-730 = A
584-656 = B
511-583 = C
438-510 = D
below 438 = F
Syllabus (May Change During the Semester)
DATE
CHAPTER
SEP 2
CHAPTER 1: LINGUISTIC
ANTHROPOLOGY
SEP 9
CHAPTER 2: LANGUAGE AND
CULTURE (PART I)
SEP 16
CHAPTER 2: LANGUAGE AND
CULTURE (PART II)
SEP 23
CHAPTER 3: SOUNDS OF LANGUAGE
SEP 30
CHAPTER 4: WORDS AND
SENTENCES
ASSIGNMENT
Syllabus; Meet and Greet, Add/Drop
ICA #1: “Shakespeare in the Bush”
(handout)
Video Log: Fluent in 11 Languages
Ethics and fieldwork
Video Log: Fieldwork
HW#1: Tricking and Tripping
(available on class website)
Language Reflects Culture (12 Words
Meaning Something Different)
Video Log: Introduction to Linguistic
Relativity
ICA #2: Linguistic Relativity
(handout)
HW #2: “Do you Speak American?”
(handout)
HW #1 Due
Borrowed Language
ICA#3: Does English Still Borrow
Words? (handout)
Language Change and Endangered
Languages
Video Log: Endangered Languages
HW #3: “Lost for Words” (available on
class website)
HW #2 Due
Phonemes, Morphemes, and the units
of analysis of language
Video Log: Click Language of San
ICA#4: Click Languages
Study for Quiz 1 next week
HW #3 Due
QUIZ 1 (chapters 1-3, articles, videos)
ICA #5: Sorry, But There’s no Such
Thing as Correct Grammar” (handout)
HW #4: “Expletive Deleted” (article on
portal)
OCT 7
CHAPTER 5: SILENT LANGUAGES
OCT 14
MIDTERM
OCT 21
CHAPTER 6: LANGUAGE IN ACTION
(PART I)
OCT 28
CHAPTER 6: LANGUAGE IN ACTION
(PART II)
NOV 4
CHAPTER 7: WRITING AND
LITERACY
NOV 11
NOV 18
NO CLASS
CHAPTER 8: HOW (AND WHEN) IS
LANGUAGE POSSIBLE?
NOV 25
CHAPTER 9: CHANGE AND CHOICE
ASL, non-verbal gestures
Video Log: The Secrets of Body
language
HW#5: “The Sounds of Silence” (article
on Portal)
HW#4 Due
Review available on Portal
Chapters 1-5, videos, articles
HW#5 Due
After Exam: Article on Ebonics in
Trevon Martin case
Ethnicity, gender, and status
Value judgments of language
Language competence
Misunderstandings
ICA #6: Linguistic Discrimination
(handout)
HW #6: “Whose Speech is Better”
(article on Portal)
Ethnography
Instructions for Group Project
Map of Dialects
Misunderstandings in Fieldwork
ICA #7: Eating Christmas in the
Kalahari (handout)
HW #6 Due
Study for Quiz 2 next week
QUIZ 2 (chapter 6, articles)
Written vs. Oral Communication
Writing as Power
HW #7: Language as Power (article on
Portal)
VETERAN’S DAY
Language in human ancestors
Language in children and animals
Communication in apes (Washo, Kanzi,
Koko)
Video Log: Ape Genius (Kanzi) and
Koko the Gorilla
How to define language
HW #8: How Babies Form Foundations
for Language (handout)
HW #7 Due
Language Change and Choice
Ideology
African American Vernacular (Ebonics)
ICA #8: What is Ebonics? (handout)
HW #9: “At a Loss for Words” (article
DEC 2
DEC 9
DEC 16
on Portal)
HW #8 Due
Study for Quiz 3 next week
Group presentations next week!
PRESENTATIONS
QUIZ 3 (chapters 7-9, articles, videos)
Group Presentations on Ethnography
HW #9 Due
CHAPTER 10: AN ANTHROPOLGY OF Cross-cultural studies
LANGUAGE
Sexist and Racist Language
ICA #10: Why Sexist Language Matters
Review for Final
FINAL
Chapters 6-10, articles, videos
Important Dates:
HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS DUE:
1: 9/9
2: 9/16
3: 9/23
4: 10/7
5: 10/14
6: 10/28
7: 11/18
8: 11/25
9: 12/2
QUIZZES:
1: 9/30
2: 11/14
3: 12/2
MIDTERM
10/14
FINAL
12/16