101 People and Their Language (3 units)

Meetings

MW 1:25 - 2:15 - Bartlett 65

Instructors

John McCarthy []

Discussions

Disc 1: F 9:05 (Wendell Kimper; ) Hasbrouck Add 230

Disc 2: F 10:10 (Emerson Loustau) SOM 27

Disc 3: F 11:15 (Anisa Schardl; ) Morrill I N319

Disc 4: F 1:25 (Martin Walkow; ) Hasbrouck 242

Disc 5: F 12:20 (Wendell Kimper; ) Hasbrouck Add 109

Disc 6: F 2:30 (Anisa Schardl; ) Morrill I N319

Disc 7: F 10:10 (Martin Walkow; ) Hasbrouck Add 109

Disc 8: F 1:25 (Emerson Loustau) SOM 27

Disc 9: F 11:15 (Emerson Loustau) SOM 129

Disc 10: F 12:20 (Martin Walkow; ) Hasbrouck 137

Disc 11: F 1:25 (Wendell Kimper; ) Hasbrouck 130

Disc 12: F 1:25 (Anisa Schardl; ) Morrill I N319

Description

Fulfills Social & Behavioral General Education Requirement. This course looks at human language from two perspectives. One perspective is biological: language is a uniquely human instinct, a part of the human genome. Because language is an instinct, all human languages are, at some deep level, the same. The other perspective is social: language is an important -- perhaps the most important -- cultural artifact in any society. With this perspective, we will look at how and why languages and dialects differ, studying language as a force that dynamically shapes and is shaped by history, class, status, ethnicity, gender, and institutions like the media and the law. Throughout, we will also examine the interplay of biological and social factors in human language. No prerequisites, and you don't have to be good at languages to enjoy this course. Discussions meet on Friday. There are 12 sections at times ranging from 9:05 to 2:30. There is also an Honors Colloquium scheduled for W 2:30-3:20.