What Are Asian Languages?

Catalog description

Introduction to the interrelated notions of language, interaction, and culture centering on regions and languages covered in Asian Studies. The purpose of the course is to introduce the interrelated concepts of language, interaction, communication, and culture. The focus is on Asian languages (Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Persian, Hindi, Punjabi, and Urdu) spanning the regions addressed by the Department of Asian Studies. Students explore which concepts in language and culture are universal (e.g., basic reference, time, space) and which are language-culture specific. The course examines what constitutes human language and how human language differs from other forms of communication, e.g., animal communication, artificial languages, and computer-related languages. At issue is the concept of meaning, gradations of meaning, nuances of meaning, literal meaning, implied and inferred meaning, and so forth. The course provides an overview of the essential branches of linguistics (phonetics, phonology, morphology, semantics, syntax, and pragmatics) initially using English examples to illustrate these areas of linguistic focus. English is also used to illustrate the classical notions of parts of speech. The course provides an overview of the geographic regions in which each of the seven languages are spoken, as well as an overview of writing systems, the notions of standard languages, official languages, government oversight of language purity, and dialects. The course examines pragmatics, including basic theories of politeness. Students will gain an in-depth understanding of some of the socio-political underpinnings of the notions of "standard" language, deviant language, and dialects. Students will gain a basic understanding of the types of concepts in language and culture that are universal (e.g., basic reference, time, space) and those that are language-culture specific. Students will be expected to discern the multitudes of ways that meaning is created in language and interaction. This course is open to any students interested in learning about the language-culture interface as it applies to languages offered in Asian Studies (plus Persian). Students of any proficiency level of any of the target languages are welcome, from absolute beginners to heritage and/or native speakers.