The Nature of Language
Fall 1994; Judith Maxwell
Language as a reflection of the human mind and the role
of language in defining the essence of humanity. Language and the
expression of social values. Emphasis on analysis of primary
linguistic data. Critical examination of theories of linguistic
structure.
Selected Topics from the Syllabus
- What is linguistics/language?
- Who or what speaks?
- Philogeny
- Language and the brain
- Linguistic relativity
- Grammar: phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, pragmatics, discourse
- Speech acts
- Genres
- Historical linguistics
- Language acquisition
- Language loss
- Pidgins and creoles
- Language variation
- Language and power
- Universals
Text and Readings
Clark, et al. (eds.) 1994. Language: Introductory Readings. NY: St. Martin's.
- Cambridge Encyclopedia of Human Evolution. 1992. CUP.
- "Language Training of Apes"
- "The Human Brain"
- "Vocal Communication by Non-human Primates"
- "Biological Aspects of Languages"
- "Human Speech and Language"
- Brown, R. 1958. Words and Things. Glencoe, Ill: Free Press.
- "Linguistic Relativity and Determinism"
- Gumperz & Hymes (eds.) 1986. Directions in Sociolinguistics: the Ethnography
of Communication. NY: Blackwell.
- Mitchell-Kernan. "Signifying and Marking: Two Afro-American
Speech Acts"
- Butterworth, et al. 1984. Explanations for Language Universals. Berlin: Mouton.
- Hyman, L. "Form and Substance in Language Universals"
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