Anthropology 104
Talking Culture
Fall 2006
Lecture: Tuesday and Thursday 10:00-10:50am
Room 223 Greg Hall
Discussion Sections: Wednesday 209A Davenport Hall
Instructor: Dr. Brenda Farnell
Office 209E Davenport Hall
Office Hours: Tu/Th 11:30-1pm and by
appointment.
Email bfarnell@uiuc.edu
Tel: 244-9226
Teaching Assistant: Stan Thangaraj
Office: Davenport Hall 309N
Email: sthang2@uiuc.edu
Office Hours: Wed. 2-4pm
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
This course provides an introduction to language-in-use from the perspective of linguistic
anthropology. We explore how the language(s) people use creates a specific ‘worldview’ or
cultural ‘common sense’ and how this creates and maintains distinct concepts of self, society and
culture. We will examine critically the ways in which language (talk and gesture) works in
relation to power and politics, the media, gender, ethnicity, age, class and identity in the USA as
well as in some comparative cultures (e.g., China, West Africa [Mandinka], and American Indian
[Apache, Nakota]). During the semester students will encounter new information about language
structure and use, and learn methods of investigation and analysis that are employed in
contemporary linguistic anthropology.
Required Texts1:
1. Thomas, Linda and Shan Wareing et al. 2004. Language, Society and Power. 2nd
Edition. London and New York: Routledge.
2. Bauer, Laurie and Peter Trudgill (eds.) 1998. Language Myths. London and New York:
Penguin.
3. Schaller, Susan 1991. A Man Without Words. Berkeley: University of California Press.
4. Basso, Keith 1979. Portraits of the Whiteman. Cambridge, U.K.: Cambridge
University Press.
Additional required readings are available on e-reserve for you to download. (From UIUC
website click on library, then Electronic Course Reserves. Choose ANTH 104)
1
Please note that books for this class are not available from any of the usual bookstores in town.
In support of the Indigenous peoples of North America,, especially our Native American faculty,
staff, students and local community, I do not support stores who also market “chief” merchandise.
I recommend getting the texts instead from any of the following: http://www.addall.com (a
website that compares prices from many online sources); Amazon.com; Pages For All Ages
Bookstore; or the publisher. Online orders will arrive quickly, often within a week. To
accommodate any potential delay the first readings from the textbook are also on e-reserve.
2
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
1. Successful completion of three written assignments (described within the
syllabus). These assignments will be due September 26th, November 2nd, and
December 13th. Late papers will be graded down at the discretion of your
instructors. (20% of total grade for each assignment = 60%)
2. 6 postings on the class website (200-250 words). Please post by 7pm on
Tuesday in preparation for your discussion section on Wednesday. You may
choose to post either i) a response to the readings for that “week” (i.e. Thursday
through Tuesday), or (ii) an activity report of your findings from a follow-up
activity suggested in lecture, or in the Thomas and Wareing text. (3pts per posting
= 18% of total grade). ***Extra credit will be awarded for outstanding insights,
commentary, or effort.
3. Regular attendance at lectures and active participation in discussion section
meetings. A TOTAL of four absences will be allowed in sections and lectures.
Students with more than four total absences will find their grade reduced at the
discretion of the instructors. (22% of total grade)
4. Students will also be offered opportunities to earn additional extra credit by
attending relevant campus events and writing a brief commentary on linguistic
aspects of the event as they relate to class topics/materials
CLASS AND ASSIGNMENT SCHEDULE
(* = Reading is from a required text)
NB: Discussion Sections are on Wednesdays, so our “week” consists of Thursday
lecture, Tuesday lecture, followed by Wednesday discussion section.
Week 1
Introduction & What Would a World Without Language
Be like?
24 August
Overview: What is language and what does it do?
Follow Up Required Reading:
*Thomas & Wareing, Language Society and Power, pages1-16 (also on ereserve)
*Schaller, A Man Without Words. (Begin reading)
29 August
*Schaller, A Man Without Words. (Complete reading).
[Video “Genie”]
30 August
Discussion: What do the cases of Alfonso and Genie teach us about a) the
process of language acquisition b) the relationship between language and
thought, and c) the role of social as well as biological factors in language
development?
Recommended additional readings (e-reserve):
Clark: “Child Language Acquisition”
3
Fromkin: “The Development of Language in Genie”
Week 2
Language as a Symbolic System of Signs: Saussure
31 August
Agar: Language Shock, pp. 13-48 (e reserve)
5 September *Thomas & Wareing, Language Society and Power, pp. 17-24 (2.1 and
2.2)
6 September Discussion: Review of Saussure’s basic concepts
Week 3
Language, Thought and Representation: Sapir and Whorf
7 September *Thomas & Wareing, Language, Society and Power, pp. 24-27 (2.3)
Agar, Language Shock, pages 49-88 (e-reserve).
Recommended additional readings (e-reserve):
Whorf 1941, “Science and Linguistics,” “The Relation of Habitual
Thought and Behavior to Language.” (e-reserve)
12 September *Thomas & Wareing, Language Society and Power, pp. 27-34 (2.4 - end)
Bohannen: Shakespeare in the Bush (e-reserve)
13 September Discussion: How does ‘common sense’ arise? How does it affect
communication with others in the same culture? In other cultures?
Week 4
Discovering Language Use in Other Cultures: West Africa
and Western Apache
14 September Basso: “To Give up on Words” (e-reserve)
Follow Up reading:
*Bauer and Trudgill, Language Myths:
Myth 2, “Some Languages and Just Not Good Enough.”
Myth 10, “Some Languages Have No grammar.”
Myth 19, “Aborigines Speak a Primitive Language.”
19 September [Guest speaker: Batamaka Some]
20 September Discussion: Maninka [NB: Bring Bird and Shopen reading (e-reserve)
Written Assignment #1. Due September 26th
Short answer questions on the readings, lectures and discussions of the past five weeks.
Questions will be handed out after lecture Sept 14th. Papers should be printed in 12pt
4
fonts or larger, double-spaced and stapled or paper clipped. They should be turned in at
the beginning of class on September 26th.
Week 5
Language and Politics
21 September *Thomas and Wareing, Language, Society and Power, pp. 35-41.
26 September *Thomas and Wareing, Language, Society and Power,pp. 42-54
27 September Discussion: Bring your own examples of political language for analysis.
Week 6
Persuasive Language - Metaphor
28th September Liu Metaphor and Culture Introduction, Chapters 2 & 3 (e-reserve)
Lakoff and Johnson: Metaphors We Live By (e-reserve)
3 October
Liu Metaphor and Culture, Chapters 6 and 7 (e-reserve)
4 October
Discussion: Analysis of newspaper article/textbook – hunting for
metaphors!
Week 7
Language and the Media
5 October
* Thomas and Wareing, Language, Society and Power, pp. 56-64 (4.1 4.3)
*Bauer & Trudgill, Myth 3 “The Media Are Ruining English.”
10 October
* Thomas and Wareing, Language, Society and Power,pp. 64-74 (4.4. –
4.8)
11 October
Discussion: Bring to class two different news reports of the same event.
Week 8
Language and Gender
12 October
* Thomas and Wareing, Language, Society and Power, pp. 75-92.
*Bauer & Trudgill, Myth 6: “Women Talk too Much.”
17 October
Conlan and O’Barr “The Revictimization of Rape Victims” (e-reserve)
18 October
Discussion:
5
Written Assignment #2. Due November 2nd.
Choose ONE of these topics we have covered so far -- language and politics; OR
language and the media, OR language and gender. Record a segment of talking from the
TV, radio, or Internet, and write it down, or obtain a written transcript of some talking, or
select an article from print journalism. Analyze the talk closely, drawing particularly
upon readings, lectures and discussions from class. Papers should be between 1000-1500
words (4-6 pages), printed in 12pt font or larger, double-spaced and should be turned in
at the beginning of class on November 2nd.
______________________________________________________________________
Week 9
Review and Preparation for Assignment #2
19 October
Assignment #2: How to analyze discourse.
Weekend activity: Select your data for analysis and make your transcript.
24 October
Examples of how to do Assignment #2
25 October Discussion: Share your ideas and strategies for Assignment #2
Week 10
Language Variation - Ethnicity
26 October
* Thomas and Wareing, Language, Society and Power, pp. 93-111.
*Bauer and Trudgill: Myth 13 “Black Children are Verbally Deprived”
31 October
Hill, “Language, Race and White Public Space” (e-reserve)
[Video: Cross Talk ]
1 November Discussion:
Week 11
Language Variation – Ethnicity, Age and Class
2 November
Philips: “Language and Social Inequality” (e-reserve)
7 November
155.
* Thomas and Wareing, Language, Society and Power, pp. 114-132, 134-
8 November
*Bauer and Trudgill, Myth 17, “They Speak Really Bad English down
South and in New York City”
Discussion:
Week 12
Language and Identity
9 November
* Thomas and Wareing, Language, Society and Power, pp. 158-172
*Bauer and Trudgill, Myth 20, “Everyone Has an Accent Except Me.”
Bucholtz and Hall, “Language and Identity” (e-reserve)
6
14 November * Thomas and Wareing, Language, Society and Power, pp. 174-191, 194209
[Video: American Tongues]
15 November Discussion:
Week 13
Non-vocal Aspects of Language: Gestures, Space, and Sign
Languages
16 November LeMaster and Monaghan: Variation in Sign Languages (e-reserve)
Farnell: “Where Mind is a Verb” [Plains Sign Language] (e-reserve)
Hall: “Space Speaks” (e-reserve)
Week 14
Thanksgiving Break –Phew! [No classes]
Please read *Basso: Portraits of the Whiteman
Week 15
You’re Joking! Apache uses of English
28 November *Basso: Portraits of the Whiteman
29 November Discussion
Week 16
Language and Humor continued...
30 November *Basso: Portraits of the Whiteman, Part 11
Weekend activity: Google “Language and Humor” and come to class on 5th with
your favorite example joke to share. Be able to say what makes it funny? Is it
culture specific or could the joke cross cultural boundaries? Why or why not?
5 December Joke competition! Extra Credit Prizes!
6 December
Discussion: Advice on handling your data and structuring your Final Paper
7 December
Questions and Wrap Up
Written Assignment #3. Due Thursday December 13th
Select ONE of the follow-up activities suggested in Thomas and Wareing chapters 6 –11,
OR ‘the language of jokes and joking’, OR ‘the uses of gesture and space’. Collect and
analyze a set of data on this topic and present it in a well-structured paper, drawing
particularly upon readings, lectures and discussions from class. Create a title for your
paper. Papers should be between 1000-2000 words (between 4-8 pages), printed in 12pt
7
font or larger, double-spaced. Turn in your paper no later than 5pm, Wed. December
13th [bring to main Anthropology office, 109 Davenport Hall).
___________________________________________________________________
PLAGIARISM: The University of Illinois has a strict code for academic integrity set out
in "Article 1, Part 4" of the University Student Code. According to the code, using
material from an uncited source as if it were your own is an academic violation and not
to be tolerated. (It is tantamount to a theft of ideas.) Ignorance about the code will not
serve as an excuse for infractions. Plagiarizers are treated as violators of the code of
academic integrity; their work is sent to the Dean's Office where it is kept on record, and
repeat offenders are usually suspended or even asked to leave the university. For precise
details about what "plagiarism" means and how it is dealt with, please consult the
following web address: http://www.admin.uiuc.edu/policy/code/. If, for some reason, you
cannot use the internet, you may ask me for a paper copy of Article 1, Part 4.