ESP Biography

Why are some English words considered profane or deeply offensive, while others can be used in any situation? How has this changed over time? What kinds of words are considered offensive in other languages? In this class, we will examine the social contexts and situations where certain words are off-limits, with the broader goal of understanding the relationship between language and culture. While we will be discussing words that are sometimes unacceptable in a classroom situation, no student will be asked to use words that make them uncomfortable. Students are expected to conduct themselves maturely, approach the subject material thoughtfully, and be respectful of the diverse opinions and experiences of their classmates.

Have you heard that the Eskimos have over 100 words for "snow"? That women talk three times as much as men? That some apes have learned to use American Sign Language? Have you heard that people who use slang or bad grammar are lazy? In this class, we explore the origins of these myths, look at the empirical evidence that refutes them, and discuss how language myths can contribute to racism, sexism, and other forms of prejudice. Students leave the class with an understanding of how linguists determine what is true and false about how language works.

Does every language have nouns, verbs, and adjectives? What kinds of sounds do different languages use? Why do some languages have different word orders than others? Linguistic typology attempts to answer these questions -- to discover which properties of language are universal and which can vary across languages. In this class, we'll work together to solve linguistic puzzles from English, Spanish, Hindi, and Native American languages, gaining a better understanding of the complexity and diversity of human language.