122047 PS Proseminar Linguistics 2 (BA) (2025S)

In this course, we will explore key topics in language evolution research, focusing on questions such as how language first emerged, how languages change, and which social and cognitive pressures can shape these processes. Following introductory sessions on the foundations of language evolution, students will work in small groups to delve into selected topics in more detail (e.g., theories on the origins of language, multimodality, comparative research, cultural evolution, or iconicity). Students will collect and critically discuss literature on their topic together. After an introduction to the basics of podcast creation, each group will develop a podcast episode on their chosen topic, including creating an outline and recording the episode (note that the focus won’t be on the technical part of podcasting). At the end of the semester, students will present their group projects in oral presentations. Additionally, each student will individually write a proseminar paper on their selected topic.