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Linguistic anthropology is the study of how language is used, as well as shaped, by different social factors, culture, and human identity. As language users, people do not only learn the structure and the rules of a given language but also the social and cultural norms and expectations regarding language use, including what and how to communicate within their social groups, and what is considered appropriate language use. As we well know, this can differ in various social circles.
In this course, we will look into the impact of different social and geographical variables, such as age, gender, nationality and ethnicity, religion, status, level of education etc., and their impact on the use of language. In turn, we will look at how language impacts such variables, and to what beliefs and ideologies it might lead. We will discuss the cultural beliefs and values attached to different ways of speaking, how children learn language and culture, how the structure of a language may affect how its speakers think and perceive the world.
Linguistic anthropology is closely related and deeply rooted in other social and linguistics disciplines. Since language is central to all dimensions of human interaction and social organization, theories from anthropology, sociology, psychology, cultural studies, as well as pragmatics, are important for analyzing the complexities of language used in society. |
