LINGS203-20B (HAM)

Language, Society and Culture

15 Points

Edit Header Content
Division of Arts Law Psychology & Social Sciences
School of Arts
General and Applied Linguistics

Staff

Edit Staff Content

Convenor(s)

Julie Barbour

Julie Barbour
9336
I.3.12
See Moodle
julie.barbour@waikato.ac.nz

Lecturer(s)

Administrator(s)

: vanessa.mclean@waikato.ac.nz

Placement/WIL Coordinator(s)

Tutor(s)

Student Representative(s)

Lab Technician(s)

Librarian(s)

: anne.ferrier-watson@waikato.ac.nz

You can contact staff by:

  • Calling +64 7 838 4466 select option 1, then enter the extension.
  • Extensions starting with 4, 5, 9 or 3 can also be direct dialled:
    • For extensions starting with 4: dial +64 7 838 extension.
    • For extensions starting with 5: dial +64 7 858 extension.
    • For extensions starting with 9: dial +64 7 837 extension.
    • For extensions starting with 3: dial +64 7 2620 + the last 3 digits of the extension e.g. 3123 = +64 7 262 0123.
Edit Staff Content

Paper Description

Edit Paper Description Content
In this paper, we explore cultural diversity through language. We develop understandings of the way that language both reflects, and is used to construct social and cultural identity and practices. We will look at examples of both linguistic and anthropological research, and learn from our own experiences of communication in different cultural contexts.
Edit Paper Description Content

Paper Structure

Edit Paper Structure Content
  • Section One: Language, Society & Culture

An introduction to the nature of language and its relationship to the human mind and to culture.

  • Section Two: Language & meaning

Investigations into the nature of symbols (semiotics) and meaning (semantics); categorization systems including natural folk taxonomies, colour and kinship terminology, and systems of person, place or time in different languages.

  • Section Three: Language as a cultural practice

Ethical, methodological, and practical issues in language/culture research. Investigations into the multiple functions of language in interaction, the way that language encodes cultural understandings, and the role language plays in cultural practices.

  • Section Four: Language & prehistory

The methodology and findings of comparative/historical linguistics, with a focus on the Austronesian language family and Oceanic pre-history.

Edit Paper Structure Content

Learning Outcomes

Edit Learning Outcomes Content

Students who successfully complete the paper should be able to:

  • draw on anthropological linguistic understandings to explore in detail the relationship between language, thought, and human behaviour
    Linked to the following assessments:
  • identify instances of folk classification, and apply understandings of categorisation systems and prototype theory (located within the study of semiotics and semantics) to explore and interpret communicative behaviours among diverse peoples
    Linked to the following assessments:
  • investigate and recognise differences in the use of language in particular social and cultural contexts, including demonstrating an awareness of diverse systems of time, place and person (located broadly within the study of deixis)
    Linked to the following assessments:
  • appreciate our anthropological and linguistic research inheritance within the Pacific region, and the impact this has had on knowledge generation
    Linked to the following assessments:
  • apply basic techniques of language documentation, including grammatical and lexical elicitation, and ethnographic interviewing
    Linked to the following assessments:
  • employ the Ethnography of Communication frame to make observations about their own linguistic and cultural behaviour
    Linked to the following assessments:
  • become aware of the relationship between languages and the types of evidence used by researchers to reconstruct prehistory
    Linked to the following assessments:
  • employ the Comparative Method to analyse and interpret data sets from Pacific languages
    Linked to the following assessments:
Edit Learning Outcomes Content
Edit Learning Outcomes Content

Assessment

Edit Assessments Content
This paper is assessed internally. The final piece of assessment is due during the examination period.
Edit Additional Assessment Information Content

Assessment Components

Edit Assessments Content

The internal assessment/exam ratio (as stated in the University Calendar) is 100:0. There is no final exam. The final exam makes up 0% of the overall mark.

The internal assessment/exam ratio (as stated in the University Calendar) is 100:0 or 0:0, whichever is more favourable for the student. The final exam makes up either 0% or 0% of the overall mark.

Component DescriptionDue Date TimePercentage of overall markSubmission MethodCompulsory
1. Assignment 1
10 Aug 2020
No set time
25
  • Online: Submit through Moodle
2. Assignment 2
7 Sep 2020
No set time
25
  • Online: Submit through Moodle
3. Assignment 3
13 Oct 2020
No set time
20
  • Online: Submit through Moodle
4. Assignment 4
27 Oct 2020
No set time
30
  • Online: Submit through Moodle
Assessment Total:     100    
Failing to complete a compulsory assessment component of a paper will result in an IC grade
Edit Assessments Content

Required and Recommended Readings

Edit Required Readings Content

Required Readings

Edit Required Readings Content

Students will be assigned readings to accompany the various lecture topics throughout the course. These materials will be listed in the Waikato Reading List for this paper, and available through the library.

Each week, one or two readings will be specified as Required and other readings will be identified as Recommended to support learning.

Edit Required Readings Content

Online Support

Edit Online Support Content
There is an online Moodle community for this course. Learning materials, assessment details, assessment submission portals, a link to the Waikato Reading List for this paper, important dates, and a link to the Waikato Paper Outline for this paper are all available in moodle.
Edit Online Support Content

Workload

Edit Workload Content
15 points of a full year programme (120 points).
This paper involves two contact hours per week, supported by self study, reading and preparation of formal assessment. In total you should expect to spend up to 10 hours per week working on this paper.
Edit Workload Content

Linkages to Other Papers

Edit Linkages Content

Prerequisite(s)

Corequisite(s)

Equivalent(s)

Restriction(s)

Restricted papers: LING203

Edit Linkages Content