| Tentative Schedule |
Weekly Class Notes |
275 Video Notes |
Final Project Ideas |
Final Exam |
| Salzmann Readings |
Final Project Directions |
| FINAL EXAM |
Course Description: This course examines the cultural and
linguistic components of communication and explores the interplay between
the two within the human behavioral process. Both historic and contemporary
links between language and culture will be addressed within the context
of American culture and cultures in other parts of the world.
Overall, the course provides an opportunity for students to analyze and
understand the connection between culture and language from a scholarly
perspective using the tools
of an anthropological linguist (or linguistic anthropologist, depending
on your emphasis).
Required Text:
Salzmann, Zdenek. 1998. Language, Culture & Society: An Introduction
to Linguistic Anthropology, 2nd ed. Westview Press.
Farb, Peter. 1973. Word Play: What Happens When People Talk, 2nVintage Book Edition, March 1993.
* Other readings will be placed on reserve and otherwise made available.
Course Objectives:
· To gain an understanding the relationship between
language and (cultural) context.
· To gain an understanding of the interplay between
language structure and culture in communication and in the production of
meaning and intention in human interaction.
Course Procedures:
· Mondays: lecture and
discussion of assigned readings supplemented with related but independent
content provided by the instructor.
· Tuesdays: video and/or group work related to the week’s topic followed by discussion of key points. Each student is expected to participate fully.
· Thursdays: first four weeks: Class fieldwork project – discussion and analysis; Second half of quarter: student project reports.
· Fridays: connection
of 1st period to week’s material, lecture and/or group work; also
a weekly Quiz.
There will be a mid-term exam during the fifth week. A final individual
project, to be written in formal term-paper style using APA, will be due
on the last week of course; oral reports on these projects will be given
during the final weeks. The final exam will cover selected topics from the
first half of the course but will focus on the material covered since the
Mid-term. Late reports and papers will be penalized 5 points for each day
they are late. Ordinarily exams cannot be made up if missed.
Course Requirements: Your final grade will be based primarily upon:
Thursday Quizzes (8)
19.5%
100 points
Mid-term Exam
19.5% 100
points
Project Reports
4.0%
25 points
Completed Projects (term paper)
14.0% 75 points
Final Exam
19.5 %
100 points
Group Work
4%
25 points
Attendance & Homework
19.5%
100 points
Total
100% 1000 points
Grading Scale:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reading Overviews (Will be assigned when necessary as a homework
grade.)
Each student will be assigned to give a reading overview (RO)
at least once over the course of the quarter. ROs are essentially
oral reports on the particular reading assignment that was assigned.
ROs should be no shorter than 3 minutes but not longer than 10 minutes
in duration, and cover the following:
a. a summary of the main points contained within
the reading
b. one or two aspects of the reading you thought
were most interesting.
c. one or two questions about linguistics, cultural
anthropology, communication, your project, or anything else that
the
reading raised that is relevant
to this class and/or your life
· Be sure to cover a. through c above
or risk penalizing your grade.
· Spend half of your OR on a.
· The instructor will try to provide
feedback and a grade in writing by the following class.
Friday Quizzes
Up to a total of 8 quizzes will be administered during then quarter
on Thursdays during the second hour of class. The lowest quiz
score will be dropped before the final tally. Only students
with excused absences will be eligible to make quizzes up.
Mid-term Exam:
The mid-term exam will be given on the fifth week of the quarter.
It will cover material from chapters 1 through 6 from the book,
plus content from class lectures, activities, and videos as specified
by the instructor.
Projects
A final ethnographic research paper requiring students to explore
a topic of their choosing using a specified format and methods will
be due on the final day of class. Topics and requirements will be
discussed during first half of the quarter. This paper should be
6-8 pages in length, not including references and appendices.
Each paper must be typed using a font no bigger than 12 points in
size, preferably Times New Roman, and double-spaced. The paper is
worth 75 points. (The accompanying Project Report is worth 25pts.
for a total of 100pts.) No late papers will be accepted.
Project Proposals
Before students begin their ethnographic research project, students will
be required to submit a short proposal outlining your intended project,
including subjects that you intend to study and methods you intend to employ
(including any surveys). The details of what to write-up will be covered
in class. The project proposal is due on Wednesday of the 6th week
of class (in time for class on that Thursday).
Paper Proposal due: 5th week
Paper due: Week 10
Project Reports:
Each student will be required to introduce their research project
to the class in a short oral presentation. Some kind of visual
is a “must.” Project Reports should be 7-10 minutes in duration,
and cover the following:
a. an explanation of how/why you got interested
in the project.
b. what it is specifically you are trying to
discover or learn from conducting research and how (what methods you
are using).
c. conclusions (or what you have found so far).
Final Exam:
The final will be comprehensive. DATE: TBA
The exam is worth 200 points.
Attendance Policy:
It is expected that the instructor be notified in case of absence,
preferably in advance. University approved absences only will be
tolerated, when accompanied by appropriate documentation. Don’t
misunderstand. An excused absence doesn’t mean you get credit
for not attending class. It only means you are eligible to
take tests, submit homework, or otherwise make up what you missed
on that day. See the OU Student Handbook for University-approved
absences. Students who miss class are responsible for catching up
on the material covered and homework given. After three unexcused
absences, the final grade will be lowered by 5 points for each additional
absence. Each day of attendance is worth 2 points, totaling
80pts.
Homework
Homework will be assigned and collected periodically throughout
the quarter. Homework must be turned in on the assigned day at the
beginning of class. No late assignments will be accepted for credit.
In-class work may also be assigned and collected. If you are absent
from class on this day without prior notification, you will receive
no credit for the assignment. There will be no make up work for
homework credit. Homework, to be assigned as relevant or necessary
is worth a total of 20pts
Academic Conduct:
Of course, plagiarism, cheating or any other form of academic
misconduct will be treated seriously, and will result in a grade
of zero for that assignment. The case may further be forwarded
to the University judiciaries and may result in failure in the course
or dismissal from the university. See the OU Student Handbook for
more details.