Introduction to Ethnolinguistics 3201-1WETOP
The purpose of the course is to explore issues in ethno-linguistics, anthropological linguistics and cross-cultural communication. What is the connection between language and culture? What are the relations between language, mind and reality? The course will explore such topics from the perspective of an integrated approach to language and communication studies: cognitive, semiotic and pragmatic aspects of verbal communication will be discussed and illustrated on evidence coming from various languages. Selected issues in grammatical and functional relativity will be addressed.
Major topics:
1. Unity and diversity in language; cognitive and semiotic aspects of language; system and use; context; society, community; culture;
2. Anthropological linguistics, ethno-linguistics and related fields of study: an overview;
3. Universalism versus relativism in language studies; the past and the present;
4. Linguistic and cultural relativity (grammatical, functional, discursive relativity);
5. Linguistic view of the world; semantics, culture and cognition;
6. Ethno-semantics: culture and conceptual profiles; categorization and semantic domain structure; color terminology; culture key words;
7. Grammatical relativity: noun and verb systems; classifiers; ergativity; subject and (or) topic prominence;
8. Semiotic relativity: emotion lexicons; nonverbal communication;
9. Culture and silence;
10. Ethno-pragmatics: culture, value orientations and interactional profiles;
11. Ethno-styles in speech and writing; directness and indirectness; involvement and distance;
12. Selfhood, personhood and face: a cross-cultural view;
13. Culture and academic face: intellectual styles;
14. New multilingualism and multiculturalism: issues in cross-cultural communication.
Course policy: attendance; active participation; final written test;
Type of course
Bibliography
Foley, William A., 1997. Anthropological Linguistics. Blackwell.
Chapter 13: Speaking as a culturally constructed act (249 - 259);
Chapter 14. Politeness, face, and the linguistic construction of personhood (261- 285);
Lucy, John, 1996. The scope of linguistic relativity: an analysis and review of empirical research. In: J. Gumperz and S. Levinson (eds.), Rethinking Linguistic Relativity. CUP. (37 - 69).
Odlin, Terence, 1989. Language Transfer. (chapter 4)
Jandt, Fred, 1988. Intercultural Communication. An Introduction. London: Sage Especially: Chapter 5 (97-113); Chapter 6 (129-133); Chapter 10 (213-233);
Katan, David, 1999. Translating Cultures. Manchester: St.Jerome. Especially Chapter 2 (16-33); Chapter 5 (72-86); Chapter 10 (177 - 180; 205 - 209); Chapter 11 (210-233);
additional reading:
Clyne, Michael, 2003. The dynamics of Language Contact. Cambridge.
Comrie, John. 1981. Language Universals and Linguistic Typology. Blackwell (chapter 1-4);
Jaworski, Adam, The power of silence. Sage.(chapter 3)
Kiesling Scott, Christina Bratt Paulston, 2005. Intercultural Discourse and Communication. Blackwell.
Palmer, Gary, 1996. Towards a Theory of Cultural Linguistics. University of Texas Press;
Scollon, Ron, Suzie Wong Scollon, 2003. Discourses in Place. Routledge.
Tabakowska, Elżbieta (ed), 2001. Kognitywne podstawy języka i językoznawstwa. Universitas.
Taylor, John, 1898. Linguistic Categorization. Oxford University Press.
Wierzbicka Anna, 1999. Język, umysł, kultura. PWN. (138- 162; 193 - 227; 450-489)
Wierzbicka, Anna, 1991. Cross-cultural Pragmatics. Mouton de Gruyter.
Tannen Deborah, Saville-Troikke, Muriel (eds.), 1985/1995. Perspectives on Silence. Norwood. (Introduction. Chapter 1)
Additional information
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