Practical Introduction to Anthropology. Finding the way to interpret the dynamics of sociocultural change 3700-ISSC-PIA23-OG

The notions of “cultural anthropology” and “linguistic anthropology” evoke connotations with specialist, scientific disciplines. However, in reality, they describe essentially interdisciplinary research on the role of culture and language within social life. Their crucial, distinguishing feature is that they are based on an ethnographic method, which implies conducting fieldwork.

A comprehensive introduction to the research field of anthropology (either cultural or linguistic) is the aim of the course. This introduction will be twofold. On the one hand, students will have the opportunity to discover texts that are considered to be classical within the field and represent theoretical traditions that at different points of time were considered to be prominent: functionalism, structuralism, relativism, phenomenology, hermeneutics or postmodernism. Special attention will be paid to the traditions that focus on sociocultural change: evolutionism, interactionism, transactionism, and postcolonial studies. The course will also broadly address the issue of linguistic change and loss. Students will be provided with an insight into crucial problems and research questions of anthropology. They will be acquainted with basic theoretical notions, but also they will be able to critically refer to them.

On the other hand, the participants of the course will learn the ethnographic fieldwork methods (participant observation, narrative interview, autobiographic interview), the use of software, digital and analog tools facilitating the work in anthropology (skills in recording audio and video, bibliographic tools, tools facilitating the transcriptions etc,), and the ethical aspects of conducting fieldwork. In particular, I will present the basis of the participatory action research model, which is the framework used in research on endangered languages and their revitalization by members of the Center for Research and Practice in Cultural Continuity at the Faculty of “Artes Liberales”.

As a result of the course, students will be prepared to conduct their fieldwork and comprehensive analysis of individually collected materials, conducted with the use of software and other analog and digital tools. The skills will be applied to write a short paper based on individual research – the final effect of the course.

Due to character of the course the broad access to tutoring and consultations will be provided.

Type of course

general courses

Course coordinators

Bartłomiej Chromik

Learning outcomes

Knowledge
The graduate
knows the main issues discussed in cultural and linguistics anthropology as well as its history and methodology. The graduate understands the relationships between the various dimensions of social and cultural change (K_W02)

knows the basic terminology of cultural and linguistic anthropology. understands the interdependencies between different disciplines in the field of humanities and social sciences (K_W04)

knows the advanced new methods of analysis and interpretation used in cultural and linguistic anthropology (K_W08).

Abilities:
Thanks to conducting their own research project, supervised by the lecturer students will be prepared to conduct the whole research process that may occur in the field of cultural or linguistic anthropology. Therefore, they will be able to able to find, select and make a critical assessment of information coming from various sources. They will be able to independently conceptualize research problems and formulate hypothesis, adapt the methodology accordingly to research theme, organize and interpret materials obtained during ethnographic fieldwork and from other sources, as well as draw conclusions with the awareness of various points of view. Finally, they will be able to present their work orally or in a written form, with regards to the needs of either the scientific community or a local community involved in the research process. They will also know how to conduct the whole process ethically, in the way not harming other entities taking part in the research process.
(K_U01, K_U06, K_U08)

Social competences
The graduate:
is able to work either independently or in a research team (K_K02)

Assessment criteria

Students are expected to be able to use the knowledge and skills presented during the workshop, to interpret the sociocultural processes with use of the tools deriving from anthropology.

Two unexcused absences are allowed. In case of 3 or 4 unjustified absences, it is possible to make up for them after consultation. In case of 5 or more unjustified absences there is no possibility for obtaining course credit.

Grading is based on
1) Active participation in the classes (20%)
2) Term paper based on individual research (80%)

Bibliography

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2009 Linguistic Anthropology: a Reader

Barley, Nigel
2011 Innocent Anthropologist

Barnard, Alan
2021 History and Theory in Anthropology

Boas, Franz
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Bourdieu, Pierre
1991 Language and Symbolic Power

Chromik, Bartłomiej
2016 From Wilamowice to the Philosophy of Science and Back Again: Three Levels of Linguistic Ideologies

Clifford, James & George Marcus (eds.)
1986 Writing Culture: the Poetics and Politics of Ethnography

Dorian, Nancy
1998 Western Language Ideologies and Small-Language Prospects, [w:] Endengered Languages: Current Issues and Future Prospects

Drawson, Alexandra S., Elaine Toombs & Christopher J. Mushquash
2017 Indigenous Research Methods: A Systematic Review

Escobar, Arturo
1995 Encountering Development: The Making and Unmaking of the Third World

Ferguson, James
1994 'Development,' Depoliticization, and Bureaucratic Power in Lesotho

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1991 Reversing Language Shift

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2000 Language Ideology and Linguistic Differentiation

Kolberg, Oskar
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Król, Tymoteusz
2016a Lost in the World and Completely Lonely: What Must Be Endured by the One Who Arduously Keeps Awakening a Language

Kroskrity, Paul V.
2004 Language Ideologies

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Malinowski, Bronisław
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Olko, Justyna
2016 Revitalizing Endangered Languages - About the Project. http://www.revitalization.al.uw.edu.pl/eng/Page/About_the_project.

Olko, Justyna, Tomasz Wicherkiewicz & Robert Borges (eds.)
2016 Integral Strategies for Language Revitalization

Ong, Walter J.
1992 Orality and Literacy: The Technologizing of the Word

Turner V.
1969 The Ritual Process: Structure and Anti-Structure

Silverstein, Michael
1979 Langauge Structure and Linguistic Ideology
1985 Language and the Culture of Gender

Whorf, B.L
1940 Science and linguistics

Woolard, Kathryn A.
2010 Language Ideology: Issues and Approaches

Additional information

Information on level of this course, year of study and semester when the course unit is delivered, types and amount of class hours - can be found in course structure diagrams of apropriate study programmes. This course is related to the following study programmes:

Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system:

Description of 3700-ISSC-PIA23-OG in USOSweb