LANGUAGE IN CULTURE AND SOCIETY

SPAU 4393
COURSE OUTLINE
SPRING 2006

Hanna K. Ulatowska, Ph.D (214) 905-3101

Class meetings: Monday 2:00-4:45 CR 1.212
Office hours by appointment
e-mail: hanna@utdallas.edu

Course Description:

The purpose of this course is to investigate interactions between language and

culture/society (e.g. bilingualism, kinesics, language in aging, dialects, etc.). No
background knowledge of linguistics is assumed.
Class sessions will consist of both lecture and discussion. Lectures and readings
will provide a background for more seminar-like discussions among class members.

Requirements:

1. Attendance and class participation (including current topics brought to class by

students for class discussion)
2. Midterm and final exam
3. Term paper on any approved topic dealing with issues of culture and language.
Papers may be either exploratory/ experimental or based on a review of the
literature. Grading will be based on creativity, scope of topic, clarity of
presentation, logical organization, etc. Papers will probably be about 10 pages
(double-spaced), although this is not fixed and length may vary.
4. Exercises from workbook

Required Text:

F. E. Jandt (2004) Intercultural Communication (4th ed.) SAGE Publications, Inc.

ISBN 0761922024

F. E. Jandt (2001) Intercultural Communications Workbook (3rd ed.) SAGE

Publications, Inc. ISBN 0761922865
Course Schedule:

1/9 Introductory discussion: Language, its structure and function

1/ 23 Culture as context for communication Ch. 1 & 2

1/ 30 Cultural barriers and prejudices to communication Ch. 3, 4 & 5

2/6 Non-verbal communication Ch. 6

2/13 Language status

Dimensions of culture Ch. 7 & 8

2/20 Cultural patterns Ch. 9 & 10

2/27 Review for Midterm

3/13 MIDTERM EXAM

3/20 Family in culture

Contact between cultures Ch. 11 & 12

3/27 Immigration, acculturation and assimilation Ch. 13, 14 & 15

4/3 Culture identity

Multiculturism Ch. 16, 17 & 18

4/10 Speakers reflecting different cultures and ethnic groups

4/17 Speakers reflecting different cultures and ethnic groups

4/24 FINAL EXAM PAPER DUE