Language, culture and cognition (729G29, 6 hp)

Introducing
Language, culture and cognition
(729G29, 6 hp)
Mathias Broth
IKK
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What this course is about...
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The interrelationship between language, culture and cognition
Interactional and dialogical perspectives rather than an individualistic and
monologistic perspective on cognition
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Course aims
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The course literature
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William Foley (professor of linguistics,
University of Sydney): Anthropological
Linguistics. An Introduction
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Very broad take on the topic
In addition: a scientific paper / chapter
chosen individually
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Course organisation
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Seminars 1/2-class (i.e. no “big” lectures)
Student organised groupwork
Paper presentations (mini-conference, whole class)
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Assignments
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Assignment 1p
Assignments Q1 - Q6
Assignments 2m and 2s
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Assignments
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Assignments
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Examples of questions
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How are politeness and face related? What do the cooperative principle and
conversational maxims have to do with politeness and face-work?
What role does language play in the cultural construction of gender?
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Assignments
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Assignments
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Grades
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VG - G - U (Pass with credit; Pass; Fail)
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See http://kdb-5.liu.se/liu/fil/kp_detail_print_sv.lasso?&ID=2016457 for
complete course curriculum (kursplan), in Swedish and English
Based on your assignments and participation during the seminars
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Detailed schedule
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Groups
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Group A: Swedish speaking seminar group
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Who would like to be in the English speaking half?
Group B: English speaking seminar group
Each half: smaller groups of 4-5 persons for group work
Alphabetical order
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Resources
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Foley (1997)
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Course website: http://www.liu.se/ikk/asv/varterminen-2013?l=sv
On-line dictionary: https://lt.ltag.bibl.liu.se/login?url=http://www.wordfinderonline.se/
extern/[email protected]
Library print and e-publications
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Foley: Anthropological Linguistics
“The study of how humans make meaning together in social interaction
through conventional transgenerational cultural and linguistic practices” (p.
81)
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Foley: Anthropological Linguistics
Six parts:
I.
Introduction - cultural and linguistic practices
II.
The Evolution of Language - how humans and human language
evolved; structural couplings between an organism and its environment.
III. Universalism: Innate Constraints on Mind - “Universals”:
mental representations; structuralism; kinship categories; colour terms
IV. Relativism: Cultural and Linguistic Constraints on Mind Linguistic relativity (Boas); metaphors; space; classifiers
V.
The Ethnography of Speaking - Hymes, how we use language in
different situations and cultures; Politeness theory; gender; power;
genres...
VI. Culture and Language Change - contact with other cultures;
linguistic engineering and the nation state; literacy
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The Yimas language
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http://livingtravel.com/pacific/papuanewguinea/PNGmap.htm
http://multitree.org/codes/yee.html
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Foley page at the University of Sydney:
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http://sydney.edu.au/arts/research_projects/delp/bill-foley.php
Links to the Yimas language:
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http://sydney.edu.au/arts/research_projects/delp/yimas.php
http://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=yee
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What’s next?
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Read chapters 1 - 4
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Introduction
Evolution
Mind, universals and the sensible world
Structuralism
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Make a brief summary of each chapter (in Swedish or English)
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Make questions (minimally one per chapter, Swe or Engl.)
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E-mail summary and questions to me and your group members before
your group meeting (see separate instruction Assignment Q1-Q6)
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Discuss in groups
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Report to me
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Present what you discussed at the seminar next Monday
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General discussion
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Any questions?
Get going!
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