The Power of Languages

Catalog description

Language is a central part of what makes us human. It allows us to identify with one another and form communities but at the same time, it can also create obstacles and tensions between people. The objective of this course is to understand how language intersects with external factors such as race/ethnicity, gender, and sexual orientation, as well as how these interactions reveal differential power relations. For example, how does the domination of certain languages alter global relations and cultures? How do languages impact the way we perceive the world around us? Students will approach language as a phenomenon from multiple perspectives and acquire a global understanding of its universal dynamics and mechanisms. No background in linguistics is required for this interdisciplinary course. GCP Coding : (SSHB) (INTC).