Durham University
Programme and Module Handbook

Undergraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2005-2006 (archived)

Module LING2121: ANTHROPOLOGICAL LINGUISTICS

Department: LINGUISTICS AND ENGLISH LANGUAGE

LING2121: ANTHROPOLOGICAL LINGUISTICS

Type Open Level 2 Credits 20 Availability Not available in 2005/06 Module Cap None. Location Durham

Prerequisites

  • None.

Corequisites

  • None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

  • None.

Aims

  • To study language as a central characteristic of human behaviour.
  • To introduce students to the basics of anthropology.
  • To provide an overview of the main topics and of the main schools of thought within anthropological linguistics.
  • To provide an understanding of communicative behaviour as a basis for human experience, and of the relationship between language, culture and society.

Content

  • Anthropological Linguistics is a module adopting a cross-disciplinary approach to the study of language.
  • It considers various topics through the prism of language as related to biology and evolution, and ultimately to society and culture.
  • The module will introduce students to the basics of the discipline, to the origins of language, the notion of evolution, the various theories of culture, and to relativistic, ethnoscientific and universalist perspectives in anthropological linguistics.
  • It will also provide seminars for students to learn how to deal with ethnographic language data and how to undertake fieldwork.
  • Furthermore, seminars will be the opportunity for students to present case-studies and discuss the issues above.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:
  • .
Subject-specific Skills:
    Key Skills:

      Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

      • .

      Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

      Activity Number Frequency Duration Total/Hours
      Lectures 22 Weekly 1 hour 22
      Seminars 6 Every 3 weeks in terms 1 and 2 1 hour 6
      Preparation and Reading 172
      Total 200

      Summative Assessment

      Component: Examination Component Weighting: 50%
      Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
      two-hour unseen examination 100%
      Component: Essay Component Weighting: 50%
      Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
      2500 word essay 100%

      Formative Assessment:

      2500 word essay due beginning of week 15

      ■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University