50-2105 Anthropology of Communication: Voices, Gestures, Silences

Course investigates various ways we express our attitudes, ideas, thoughts, and feelings to each other. Using anthropological research in communication, course introduces students to theories of phonetics, language acquisition, verbal and non-verbal communication, and social structure. We study how humans communicate directly, using means like stories, jokes, and gossip, and information dissemination via media like television and the internet. Language is a primary way humans communicate, so course examines how it is formed, acquired, and utilized; additionally, course addresses non-verbal communication (like gesture and dance), and combinations of verbal and non-verbal systems (like animation and advertising).

3 Credits
SS