Universität Wien

122254 AR Linguistics Course (Advanced 1-5) - Appl. & TEFL (2012S)

Empirical approaches to linguistic relativity

5.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 12 - Anglistik
Prüfungsimmanente Lehrveranstaltung

The notion of linguistic relativity denotes that the language we speak has an influence on the way we think. More specifically, it means that properties of our language impact also non-linguistic cognitive operations. The possibility of such an influence is certainly one of the most intriguing, yet at the same time most controversially debated hypotheses in the research on languages.
While the idea of linguistic relativity had been around for much longer, the beginning of scientific research on the issue is associated with the works of Benjamin Lee Whorf in the middle of the 20th century. Since many of his analyses proved to be inadequate, however, and since universalist views on cognition were on the rise, research on linguistic relativity fell out of fashion and most linguists adopted the view that there is in fact little difference in the way we think regardless of differences in our native languages. Recently however the situation has changed quite dramatically, as a number of very interesting empirical findings challenge this consensus and it now seems that research on linguistic relativity is again developing into a robust enterprise.
It is the aim of this course to discuss the implications of these more recent empirical approaches to the issue, focusing on a selection of research domains, namely time metaphors, the conceptualization of motion events and possible influences of grammatical gender on the conceptualization of objects.

An/Abmeldung

Hinweis: Ihr Anmeldezeitpunkt innerhalb der Frist hat keine Auswirkungen auf die Platzvergabe (kein "first come, first served").

Details

max. 24 Teilnehmer*innen
Sprache: Englisch

Lehrende

Termine (iCal) - nächster Termin ist mit N markiert

  • Montag 19.03. 08:30 - 10:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Montag 26.03. 08:30 - 10:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Montag 16.04. 08:30 - 10:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Montag 23.04. 08:30 - 10:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Montag 30.04. 08:30 - 10:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Montag 07.05. 08:30 - 10:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Montag 14.05. 08:30 - 10:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Montag 21.05. 08:30 - 10:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Montag 04.06. 08:30 - 10:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Montag 11.06. 08:30 - 10:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Montag 18.06. 08:30 - 10:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Montag 25.06. 08:30 - 10:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17

Information

Ziele, Inhalte und Methode der Lehrveranstaltung

The notion of linguistic relativity denotes that the language we speak has an influence on the way we think. More specifically, it means that properties of our language impact also non-linguistic cognitive operations. The possibility of such an influence is certainly one of the most intriguing, yet at the same time most controversially debated hypotheses in the research on languages.
While the idea of linguistic relativity had been around for much longer, the beginning of scientific research on the issue is associated with the works of Benjamin Lee Whorf in the middle of the 20th century. Since many of his analyses proved to be inadequate, however, and since universalist views on cognition were on the rise, research on linguistic relativity fell out of fashion and most linguists adopted the view that there is in fact little difference in the way we think regardless of differences in our native languages. Recently however the situation has changed quite dramatically, as a number of very interesting empirical findings challenge this consensus and it now seems that research on linguistic relativity is again developing into a robust enterprise.
It is the aim of this course to discuss the implications of these more recent empirical approaches to the issue, focusing on a selection of research domains, namely time metaphors, the conceptualization of motion events and possible influences of grammatical gender on the conceptualization of objects.

Art der Leistungskontrolle und erlaubte Hilfsmittel

Students will be assessed on the basis of in-class participation and a short paper.

Mindestanforderungen und Beurteilungsmaßstab

The aim of this course is to give an overview on research on linguistic relativity and familiarize students with recent empirical approaches to the issue.

Prüfungsstoff

Readings, written assignments, classroom discussions.

Literatur

Deutscher, Guy. 2010. Through the language glass: why the world looks different in other languages. New York: Metropolitan Books.

Pederson, Eric. 2010. Linguistic Relativity in The Oxford Handbook of Linguistic Analysis. Bernd Heine and Heiko Narrog (eds.), Oxford University Press: 733-752.

Zuordnung im Vorlesungsverzeichnis

Studium: Diplom 343, UF 344, ME 812;
Code/Modul: Diplom 225, 226/228, 236/238, 721-723, UF 4.2.3-223, ME3, ME4, ME5;
Lehrinhalt: 12-0345

Letzte Änderung: Mo 07.09.2020 15:33