Anthropology 354: Language and Culture is a three-credit course that investigates topics found in the field of linguistic anthropology and linguistics—one of four subfields of anthropology. (The other three subfields are cultural anthropology, biological anthropology, and archaeology.) Culture cannot be studied without language, but linguistic anthropology provides much more to anthropology than the means to study culture. It covers the entire scope of humans and languages, from the biological basis of language to the role of language in culture, and describes the major techniques and methods used by linguistic anthropologists to study languages in cultures all over the world.
Learning outcomes
Describe the various levels of linguistic analysis and apply these levels to such topics as language classification, language history, language change, and sociolinguistics.
Critically discuss the relationship between language and world view, and how languages vary in the ways they categorize cultural experience.
Understand and describe the complexities in the relationship between speech and the social context in which it is generated.
Discern the role of language in forming social identity and expressing group membership.
Discuss and evaluate the various theories for language acquisition.
Outline
ANTH 354 is divided into the following 13 units:
Unit 1: Linguistic Anthropology and Linguistics—Overview, Definitions, and Approaches
Unit 2: The Nature of Communication
Unit 3: Origins of Human Language
Unit 4: Language, Culture, and Thought
Unit 5: Phonetics
Unit 6: Phonology
Unit 7: Words and Sentences
Unit 8: Nonverbal Communication
Unit 9: Writing and Signing
Unit 10: Semantics, Pragmatics, and Discourse Analysis
Unit 11: Sociolinguistics and Linguistic Anthropology
Unit 12: Language Acquisition
Unit 13: Historical Linguistics and Language Change
Evaluation
To receive credit for ANTH 354, you must complete all quizzes and essays. You must achieve a minimum of 50 percent on the final examination and a minimum composite course grade of D (50 percent).
Activity
Weight
Quiz 1
10%
Essay 1
25%
Quiz 2
10%
Quiz 3
10%
Essay 2
25%
Final Exam
20%
Total
100%
The final examination for this course must be requested in advance and written under the supervision of an AU-approved exam invigilator. Invigilators include either ProctorU or an approved in-person invigilation centre that can accommodate online exams. Students are responsible for payment of any invigilation fees. Information on exam request deadlines, invigilators, and other exam-related questions, can be found at the Exams and grades section of the Calendar.
To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University’s online Calendar.
Materials
Rowe, Bruce M., and Diane P. Levine. 2023. A Concise Introduction to Linguistics. 6th edition. New York: Routledge. (Print)
Other Materials
All other course materials are available online, including additional required readings, a Course Information manual, and a Study Guide.
Athabasca University reserves the right to amend course outlines occasionally and without notice. Courses offered by other delivery methods may vary from their individualized study counterparts.