Introduction to Intercultural Studies: Language and Culture

On this course you will analyse why language is a social construction and examine how it relates to cultural identity.

You will start by exploring what language is, how it relates to the way we think and how it is shaped by the culture it originates from. You’ll learn how language is used and explore cases of intercultural communication. You will examine the difficulties of translation and how politeness is expressed across cultures. Finally, you’ll learn about the controversial issue of language loss and examine the reasons that cause it and its implications for cultural identity.

• The relationship between language, nation and cultural identity.
• The way in which language shapes how we think.
• The extent to which language might limit and shape what we are able to articulate and think.
• The challenges faced by translators when trying to make concepts understandable for audiences with different cultural reference points and backgrounds.
• How politeness is distinct to a culture, and the ways in which language is used to reinforce ideas of politeness.
• How languages can reinforce cultural identity, and the challenges of retaining that identity in the face of language loss and endangerment.