Words in culture 4018-KONW56
The following issues will be discussed:
- language and culture (language as a “symbolic form”; a tool of accumulation and transformation of culture)
- language and the image of the world (discussions on the hypothesis of linguistic relativism)
- the notion of communication and evolution of its understanding, anthropological tools for studying communication (situational and cultural context of speaking, restricted and extended code, high and low context of communication, communication as a cultural action)
- the phatic function of speech (conversation rituals and ceremonies, their social and cultural functions)
- theory of writing according to W. J. Ong, M. McLuhan, and J. Goody as a tool for studying culture and its changes, discussions on theory of writing and attempts at a revision
- orality and oral culture as models for studying culture, oral practices of the word (on the example of myths, magic, shamanic practices)
- literacy and the related cultural changes, written linguistic practices (on the example of personal diaries and graffiti)
- print, the discourse of print culture (on the example of the language of propaganda)
Type of course
Learning outcomes
Upon completing the practical course students will be able to:
- analyse linguistic practices using anthropological tools, indicating their social and cultural functions
- understand the importance of language issues for contemporary reflection on culture
- analyse diverse cultural trends and practices in the perspective of historical changes in word media
Assessment criteria
- regular attendance
- active participation in classes
- a yearly project
Bibliography
Antropologia słowa. Zagadnienia i wybór tekstów, oprac. Grzegorz Godlewski, Andrzej Mencwel, Roch Sulima, red. i wstęp Grzegorz Godlewski, Wyd. UW, Warszawa 2003.
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: