COM 111 - We Are What We Speak: Communicating with Linguistic Diversity

This course is an introductory survey of the world’s languages, their historical trajectories, present-day distributions, and issues associated with linguistic diversity. In addition to exploring some of the linguistic properties of various languages and language families, the course seeks to provide an interdisciplinary occasion for students to learn about human language and its relationship to culture, communication, society, and politics. One of the important topics the course will consider in depth is linguistic diversity, including conflicts associated with language rights, threats to linguistic diversity, and the challenges facing minority and endangered languages. Furthermore, the course will shine a light on how various socio-cultural factors such as government influence, language contact, migration patterns and linguistic ideologies all influence human language and what this means for society in general. By analyzing differences and similarities between the world’s languages and raising awareness of and sensitivity to linguistic diversity, this course aims to provide students with a better understanding of geopolitical and cultural issues, so that students can communicate more effectively with members of other nations and cultures and become better global citizens. [DEI] Letter grade with Pass/No Pass option. (Offered every semester.) 3 credits