Spring 2025 - SA 368 D100
Language, Ideology, and Power (A) (4)
Class Number: 2599
Delivery Method: In Person
Overview
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Course Times + Location:
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Tue, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
Burnaby
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Instructor:
Jie Yang
yangjie@sfu.ca
1 778 782-4297
Office Hours: Tues. 5:30-6:30pm or by appointment
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Prerequisites:
SA 101, 201W, or 150.
Description
CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:
Examines how language shapes and is shaped by culture, power, and social relations and introduces the major concepts, approaches, and theories used by anthropologists in the investigation of relations between language and cultural forms.
COURSE DETAILS:
Is Eh a mere interjection? Does it mean more? Does language have value? Is language political? Do you want to know more about linguistic anthropology? This course acquaints students with major approaches and theories used by anthropologists in the investigation of relationships among language, ideology and power. It examines the way language is used as a tool and resource for governmentality, for creating hierarchy and social organization and for producing different conception of rights and justice. The course explores basic approaches to linguistic anthropology (i.e., ethnography of communication, conversation analysis, narrative analysis, interactional sociolinguistics, critical discourse analysis) and their critiques. This section pays particular attention to critical discourse analysis (CDA) and provides an overview of major approaches to CDA and their contributions to theorizing language in relation to power, ideology, identity, institutions, social values, etc. Another section of the course investigates major topics in linguistic anthropology—language’s relation to ideology and social differentiation (class, gender, race/ethnicity). This section emphasizes the way globalization impacts language use and discursive practices (i.e. Englishization, language death and revitalization, the circulation and consumption of discourse with the processes of globalization, etc.). It also examines the role of media and technology in contemporary linguistic practices. Through lectures, discussions and hands-on ethnographic projects, students will become familiar with key issues, themes, and theories about language in contemporary anthropological scholarship and social sciences in general.
COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:
- Master key anthropological theories
- Cultivate ethnographic sensibility
- Develop ability for critical reading/writing/thinking
- Develop ability for professional presentation
Grading
- Mid-term quiz 15%
- Group peer-review exercise (essay abstract and outline 15%
- Final Essay 50%
- Discussion leadership and participation 20%
NOTES:
Grading: Where a final exam is scheduled and the student does not write the exam or withdraws from the course before the deadline date, an N grade will be assigned. Unless otherwise specified on the course syllabus, all graded assignments for this course must be completed for a final grade other than N to be assigned. An N is considered as an F for the purposes of scholastic standing.
Grading System: The undergraduate course grading system is A+, A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D, F, N (N standing indicates student did not complete course requirements). Intervals for the assignment of final letter grades based on course percentage grades are as follows:
A+ (95-100) | A (90-94) | A- (85-89) | B+ (80-84) | B (75-79) | B- (70-74) | C+ (65-69) | C (60-64) | C- (55-59) | D (50-54) | F (0-49) | N*
*N standing to indicate the student did not complete course requirements
Materials
REQUIRED READING:
On Canvas
REQUIRED READING NOTES:
Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.
Registrar Notes:
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS
SFU’s Academic Integrity website http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating. Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.
Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the university community. Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the university. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the university. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html
RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION
Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.