Language in Cultural Context
In Part 1: Language in cultural context, we focus on how language develops in specific contexts, how meaning is determined by context, and how people express their identities through language.
In this part of the course, you will be introduced to a range of text types, centered around various themes and topics. Topics covered will include: language and identity, language and community, language and translation, language and power, language and gender.
Throughout this part of the course, you will learn how to:
What does your speech reveal? - a great overview of language and how it links to our identities. Glossary of key terms provided (PBS.org)
Sociolinguistics - key questions for part 1 (possible written task ideas)
Language and Identity (bbc.co.uk)
Dialect and Group Membership - language & identity/community (The Economist)
Yes, we are judged on our accents (theguardian.com)
Gatekeeping - article on language usage and language "policing"
Getting Schools to Respect African-American English (atlantic.com)
Maps that show varieties of English in the US (Business Insider)
A to Z of Office Jargon - Steven Poole on words (Guardian feature)
"Mother Tongue" - an essay by Amy Tan
In this part of the course, you will be introduced to a range of text types, centered around various themes and topics. Topics covered will include: language and identity, language and community, language and translation, language and power, language and gender.
Throughout this part of the course, you will learn how to:
- Analyse how audience and purpose affect the structure and content of texts.
- Analyse the impact of language changes.
- Demonstrate an awareness of how language and meaning are shaped by culture and context.
What does your speech reveal? - a great overview of language and how it links to our identities. Glossary of key terms provided (PBS.org)
Sociolinguistics - key questions for part 1 (possible written task ideas)
Language and Identity (bbc.co.uk)
Dialect and Group Membership - language & identity/community (The Economist)
Yes, we are judged on our accents (theguardian.com)
Gatekeeping - article on language usage and language "policing"
Getting Schools to Respect African-American English (atlantic.com)
Maps that show varieties of English in the US (Business Insider)
A to Z of Office Jargon - Steven Poole on words (Guardian feature)
"Mother Tongue" - an essay by Amy Tan
Language & Thought
How Language Seems to Shape One's View of the World - Article (npr.org)
Do Different Languages Confer Different Personalities? (The Economist)
A 'Rose By Any Other Name' DOES Smell As Sweet - Radio show on which a Columbia linguistics professor argues that language does not shape how we perceive the world (WNYC.org)
Would a Rose by Any Other Name Smell as Sweet? - what effect, if any, does language have on our brain and its perception of the world around us? (quora.com)
Lost in Translation - language & how we see the world (Wall Street Journal)
Lost in Translation - Words with no English Equivalent
The Art of Translation - David Bellos, a well-known translator, discusses issues pertaining to the job (Wall Street Journal)
Found in Translation: when misquoting someone is the best way to be fair and accurate (guardian.com)
Do Different Languages Confer Different Personalities? (The Economist)
A 'Rose By Any Other Name' DOES Smell As Sweet - Radio show on which a Columbia linguistics professor argues that language does not shape how we perceive the world (WNYC.org)
Would a Rose by Any Other Name Smell as Sweet? - what effect, if any, does language have on our brain and its perception of the world around us? (quora.com)
Lost in Translation - language & how we see the world (Wall Street Journal)
Lost in Translation - Words with no English Equivalent
The Art of Translation - David Bellos, a well-known translator, discusses issues pertaining to the job (Wall Street Journal)
Found in Translation: when misquoting someone is the best way to be fair and accurate (guardian.com)
The Evolution & Extinction of Languages
Whose Language is it, Anyway? - The Evolution of the English language in an 11-minute video (aeon.co)
A Brief History of the English Language
A History of the English Language - podcast with many interesting episodes
Endangeredlanguages.com - explore and learn!
Recovering Voices - lost languages (Smithsonian)
Sorosoro.org - Information about the thousands of languages used around the world, particularly dying languages
Are Dying Languages Worth Saving? - from the BBC news magazine
Can Minority Languages Be Saved? - globalization, culture, & language
Minority Languages & Bilingualism - article on the benefits of bilingualism and preserving dying languages
The Decline of Grammar
The origins of text speak - we have been using "text speak" since 1828?!
Is texting killing the English language? - John McWhorter (Time Magazine article)
Evolution of Euphemisms - John McWhorter (aeon.co)
Don't Mind Your Language - Stephen Fry on language pedantry (video of excerpt from this essay below)
Evolution of Language - Old-Timey Slang (npr.org)
Emoji: The World's Fastest-Growing Language (guardian.co.uk)
The Future of Language on the Internet (Slate.com)
A Brief History of the English Language
A History of the English Language - podcast with many interesting episodes
Endangeredlanguages.com - explore and learn!
Recovering Voices - lost languages (Smithsonian)
Sorosoro.org - Information about the thousands of languages used around the world, particularly dying languages
Are Dying Languages Worth Saving? - from the BBC news magazine
Can Minority Languages Be Saved? - globalization, culture, & language
Minority Languages & Bilingualism - article on the benefits of bilingualism and preserving dying languages
The Decline of Grammar
The origins of text speak - we have been using "text speak" since 1828?!
Is texting killing the English language? - John McWhorter (Time Magazine article)
Evolution of Euphemisms - John McWhorter (aeon.co)
Don't Mind Your Language - Stephen Fry on language pedantry (video of excerpt from this essay below)
Evolution of Language - Old-Timey Slang (npr.org)
Emoji: The World's Fastest-Growing Language (guardian.co.uk)
The Future of Language on the Internet (Slate.com)
Language & Gender
Language and Gender - Introduction to main ideas and theories
Key topics - more information on key issues in language & gender, and sample texts
You Are What You Say - article by Robin Lakoff, author of many works on language & gender
Women get interrupted more - article
10 Words Every Girl Should Learn (huffingtonpost.com)
Young women as linguistic trendsetters? (New York Times article)
Overturning the Myth of Valley Girl Speak (New York Times article)
The Origins of "Uptalking" - not just for young women (The Guardian article)
How It Works - gender discrimination comic from XKCD
Ladies! You should talk different! (therumpus.net)
Legislature - gender discrimination & language use cartoon & article
"Stop Telling Women to Smile" - Street Art Project (report and article from CNN)
Harassment and Sexist Language - Cartoon (Robothugs.com)
Gender Neutral Pronoun in English? (article from New Republic)
Gender Neutral Pronoun in Swedish (article from Newsweek)
National Anthems and Gender - Which is the most sexist national anthem? (The Guardian article)
Key topics - more information on key issues in language & gender, and sample texts
You Are What You Say - article by Robin Lakoff, author of many works on language & gender
Women get interrupted more - article
10 Words Every Girl Should Learn (huffingtonpost.com)
Young women as linguistic trendsetters? (New York Times article)
Overturning the Myth of Valley Girl Speak (New York Times article)
The Origins of "Uptalking" - not just for young women (The Guardian article)
How It Works - gender discrimination comic from XKCD
Ladies! You should talk different! (therumpus.net)
Legislature - gender discrimination & language use cartoon & article
"Stop Telling Women to Smile" - Street Art Project (report and article from CNN)
Harassment and Sexist Language - Cartoon (Robothugs.com)
Gender Neutral Pronoun in English? (article from New Republic)
Gender Neutral Pronoun in Swedish (article from Newsweek)
National Anthems and Gender - Which is the most sexist national anthem? (The Guardian article)
Additional Language links
The Interpreter - Has a remote amazonian tribe upended our understanding of language? (New Yorker Article)
Language: The Cultural Tool - article by Daniel Everett, related to the one above (New York Times Article)
On Culture and Language - an Interview with Noam Chomsky
Is Grammar more Cultural than Universal?- findings from a study (Discover Science)
New Words, New World - Radiolab radio show about 50 deaf kids who, in the 1970s, created their own language and grammar (radiolab.org)
Inventing Languages - Noam Chomsky on the Spontaneous Invention of Language (Forbes.com)
British vs. American English - Do you know your Englishes? (Sporcle Quiz)
World Atlas of Language Structures Online - So interesting! Check this out!
A Language Family Tree - in pictures! (theguardian.com)
Strong Language - A Sweary Blog about Swearing
The Case Against Banning Offensive Words (The Atlantic)
Language: The Cultural Tool - article by Daniel Everett, related to the one above (New York Times Article)
On Culture and Language - an Interview with Noam Chomsky
Is Grammar more Cultural than Universal?- findings from a study (Discover Science)
New Words, New World - Radiolab radio show about 50 deaf kids who, in the 1970s, created their own language and grammar (radiolab.org)
Inventing Languages - Noam Chomsky on the Spontaneous Invention of Language (Forbes.com)
British vs. American English - Do you know your Englishes? (Sporcle Quiz)
World Atlas of Language Structures Online - So interesting! Check this out!
A Language Family Tree - in pictures! (theguardian.com)
Strong Language - A Sweary Blog about Swearing
The Case Against Banning Offensive Words (The Atlantic)