This course provides an introduction to the Indigenous languages of the Americas, examining the rich linguistic diversity, structural features, and cultural contexts in which they are embedded. We will consider both Indigenous perspectives on what language is, the relationships it entails, and appropriate contexts for use as well as western perspectives on linguistic structure, typological rara, and “genetic” classification. We will discuss the colonial histories and presents within which speakers/learners of select languages of North, Central, and South America operate, with a major focus on issues related to language shift and subsequent documentation, maintenance, reclamation, and revitalization efforts.
Learning Outcomes:
-Examine the colonial history of the Americas to inform our understanding of the status of Indigenous languages on the continent today.
-Understand the role that these languages play in health, community, and heritage.
-Gain familiarity of the classification of several major families across the continent and the typological (structural) diversity they represent.
-Understand the challenges and strategies involved in language maintenance, including variation in language attitudes and ideologies.
Delivery Method: Fully in-person
Course Level: 2000-level
Credits: 4
T/F 8:30AM - 10:20AM (Full-term)
Maximum Enrollment: 20
Course Frequency: One time only
Categories: 2000 , All courses , Four Credit , Fully In-Person , Linguistics , New Courses , Sociolinguistics , Updates
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