Universität Wien

122250 AR Linguistics Advanced Course 1/2 (2018W)

Memes and Language

5.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 12 - Anglistik
Continuous assessment of course work
Moodle

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 25 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Tuesday 09.10. 14:00 - 16:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Tuesday 16.10. 14:00 - 16:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Tuesday 23.10. 14:00 - 16:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Tuesday 30.10. 14:00 - 16:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Tuesday 06.11. 14:00 - 16:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Tuesday 13.11. 14:00 - 16:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Tuesday 20.11. 14:00 - 16:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Tuesday 27.11. 14:00 - 16:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Tuesday 04.12. 14:00 - 16:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Tuesday 11.12. 14:00 - 16:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Tuesday 08.01. 14:00 - 16:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Tuesday 15.01. 14:00 - 16:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Tuesday 22.01. 14:00 - 16:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Tuesday 29.01. 14:00 - 16:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

The term ‘memes’ has achieved great popularity on the internet, but it was originally coined by Richard Dawkins to denote units of selection in cultural evolution. In that sense ‘memes’ represent cognitive counterparts to ‘genes’. They get passed on not by sex, but by communication and learning.
In this course we explore the question of knowledge of language is made up by linguistic memes. We ask how they replicate, what makes some variants better replicators than others, and how much control speakers have about the memes they acquire (or get infected with?)
We familiarize ourselves with the basics of meme theory, and try to apply it to linguistic phenomena that we understand well, in order to check if they can be understood from a memetic perspective as well.
After an introductory phase, students will choose an article on meme theory from the bibliography that will be provided, produce a one page report to be shared on the internet, and present it to the course participants in a way that encourages discussion of its merits and flaws. In the second phase pf the course, groups of (up to) three participants will select a linguistic phenomenon of their choice and try to produce a memetic account of it. They will present their findings in class, and write a ten page research paper to be submitted at the end of the term.

Assessment and permitted materials

Classroom participation (20%)
One page summary of literature (15%)
Presentation of literature report and chairing of discussion (25%)
Producing a memetic account of a chosen linguistic phenomenon
(a) Oral presentation (20%)
(b) Written research paper (30%)

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

(a) regular class attendance (max. 2 absences)
(b) submitting the lit report on Moodle
(c) presenting in in class and chairing a discussion
(d) participating in group project (both oral presentation and final paper)
(e) attaining an average score of 60%.

Examination topics

Readings, assignments, classroom discussions, presentations, research project

Reading list

Will be made available in due course.

For introductory purposes, look at video talks by Susan Blackmore
under <https://www.ted.com/talks/susan_blackmore_on_memes_and_temes>
and Daniel C. Dennett
under <http://www.ted.com/talks/dan_dennett_on_dangerous_memes.html>

and/or consult

Blackmore, Susan. 1998. The meme machine. Oxford: University Press.
Dawkins, Richard. 1976. The selfish gene. Oxford: University Press.
Dennett, Daniel C.. 1998. Memes: Myths, Misunderstandings and Misgivings. <http://ase.tufts.edu/cogstud/papers/MEMEMYTH.FIN.htm>
Ritt, Nikolaus.1995. Language change as evolution: looking for linguistic ‘genes’. VIEW[z] 4. 43-56. <http://anglistik.univie.ac.at/fileadmin/user_upload/dep_anglist/weitere_Uploads/Views/views951.pdf>
Ritt, Nikolaus. 1996. Darwinising historical linguistics: applications of a dangerous idea. VIEW[z] 5.27-46.

Association in the course directory

Studium: UF 344; MA 812 [2]; UF MA 046/507
Code/Modul: UF 4.2.3-223-225, MA M04, MA M05, UF MA 4B
Lehrinhalt: 12-0143

Last modified: Mo 07.09.2020 15:33