COGS 280 - Language in Action

Semester Offered: Spring
1 unit(s)

Language is more than a basic tool for communication. We use it to coordinate our behavior with others, shape people’s attitudes and beliefs, plan for the future, and think through difficult problems. It can enhance (and distort) perception and memory, promote (or worsen) our mental well-being, and reveal hidden characteristics of a speaker or writer. In this multidisciplinary course, we will explore how language functions in everyday life, drawing on theories, concepts, and methods from a range of disciplines, including psychology, neuroscience, linguistics, philosophy, and applied communication. Coursework includes lectures, readings, discussions, and a variety of hands-on projects and activities that put language into action. Stephen Flusberg.

Prerequisite(s): COGS 100.

Two 75-minute periods.

Course Format: CLS