|
School of Letters Department of Humanities Literature Course English Linguistics & Literature Major Major (Credit 2) Intended Year: This course is intended for advanced undergraduates, but motivated students at any level are welcome. Intended School: This course is intended for students in English, but motivated students from any department are welcome. |
English Linguistics (Seminar VIII)
|
Numbering Code: LET-HUM3567E Course Code: 17053302 2017 SpringTerm weekly Wed4 Hakozaki Classroom E科目 (English, English) |
| Course Overview |
Why are some words considered “bad” (or taboo)? What makes them “bad”, and why (and when) do some people use them anyway? Are there benefits to using taboo words? Why are some words considered “bad” in some contexts but not in others? Why and how are certain words used to insult or demean people? How are sociocultural categories such as gender, race, and class related to “bad” words and taboos in languages such as English and Japanese? What is “political correctness”, and how does it relate to taboo? How are taboo words linked to emotions in the brain? Are there taboo words in every language, and taboo concepts in every culture? If so, are they the same taboos? We will study the use of “bad”/taboo words using data and analysis from linguistics, neurology, psychology, sociology, and cultural anthropology, with the purpose of clarifying the principles that determine what social effects the use of such words can have in different contexts and their impact on the hearer or audience. |
| Last updated | : 2017/3/21 (08:33) |