Language, Society and Culture

Liberal Arts A.A.Degree with Linguistics Option: Language, Society and Culture
Linguistics is the study of language and communication. It is a broad multi-disciplinary field and draws upon knowledge from psychology, education, sociology, political science, anthropology, history, computer science, artificial intelligence, and media studies.

Linguists study all aspects of language (sounds, word forms, meanings, sentences, and grammar) and how these are used for successful communication and optimal academic development. Linguists can pursue a wide-range of career paths with diverse linguistic populations in the US and world-wide. Some linguists investigate how children acquire a first or a second language; others study the language acquisition and practices of adult monolinguals, bilinguals, and multilinguals. Linguists also work with social issues, exploring how the media, society, and political power shape language use and attitudes. Linguists who focus on speech pathology, study language disorders which may affect speech, hearing, or communication.

The study of linguistics comprises a variety of topics, including:  
  • How children acquire language
  • How children and adults acquire and use new languages
  • How language and culture influence the way people think and interact with others
  • How political and social power shapes attitudes to language;
  • The relationship of language proficiency to academic achievement and educational success; 
  • The relationship of language to the media
  • Dialect and language varieties, including standard and non-standard language
  • Speech, hearing, and communication disorders
Studying linguistics helps students develop skills in:
  • Writing and communication
  • Analytical reasoning, critical thinking, and clarity of expression
  • Recognizing how specific details of communication affect personal and social interactions
  • Relating academic content to their own use of language
  • Understanding the relationship of language to social and historical events
  • Appreciating the multi-cultural and international variation in speech and communication.  
Linguistics after Hostos:
Linguistics is a new field and is constantly growing and adding new areas of investigation. Linguistics students who continue their studies after Hostos can pursue majors in education, ESL, speech pathology, and library/information science. In addition to these professions, knowledge of linguistics has become closely associated with careers in health, business, law, criminal justice, social work, computer science, government, advertising, and the media.

The study of linguistics enhances awareness of issues concerned with language, communication, and interacting with diverse populations. Consequently, this Option provides skills that would also be useful to those who do not plan to study beyond the two-year degree, and would be particularly relevant to employment in the health professions, criminal justice, working as educational para-professionals, or to students who plan to enter the military.

Requirements for Linguistics Option: Language, Society and Culture
Student must take three of the linguistics courses from the list below. Students must also take one of the recommended electives. Courses taken as part of the Common or Flexible Core will not be counted as an elective for the Linguistics Option.
 
*The linguistics courses may be taken in any order. However, LIN 100, Introduction to Linguistics, must be taken at some time in the sequence.
 
Linguistics Courses (Select Three)
 
LIN 100 Introduction to Linguistics (3 credits)
(Writing Intensive Sections)
Pre/Co-requisite: ESL 91 or ENG 100
This course transfers to Lehman College. 
This course offers an introduction to the field of linguistics, providing students with the basic terms, discourse and concepts related to the scientific study of language; the brain and language; and the social and chronological history of language. Students also learn the subsystems of language, such as phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, and non-verbal communication.
 
LIN 102 Bilingualism (3 credits)
(Writing Intensive Sections)
Pre/Co-requisite: ESL 91 or ENG 100
This course transfers to Lehman College
This course explores the nature of bilingualism, both as a societal and an individual human phenomenon. It includes the study of language domains, language acquisition and language loss; the psychological, cognitive, legal, and sociological implications of living with two languages; and the educational and economic aspects of bilingualism. Students experience first-hand observations of bilingual communities and individuals.
 
LIN 103 Language Acquisition (3 credits)
(Writing Intensive Sections)
Pre/Co-requisite: ESL 91 or ENG 100
This course transfers to Lehman College
This course focuses on the process of language acquisition in normally developing children, from infancy to school age. Theories of language acquisition are explored, including those that are behavioral, psycholinguistic, and sociolinguistic. Students learn the developmental stages of language and study the relationship between oral and written language acquisition. They also learn language differences related to bilingualism and dialect variations.
 
ENG 230 Language, Culture, & Society (3 credits)                
(Writing Intensive Sections)
Prerequisite: ENG 111
This course will introduce students to some of the major issues that arise from the cultural, anthropological, and political aspects of language. Through assigned readings such as autobiographical excerpts, newspaper articles, and scholarly sociolinguistic texts, students will examine why they speak the way they do, what effect this has on other people, and what factors make their language what it is. The class will define and discuss such concepts as dialects, bidialectalism, bilingualism, bilingual education, and official English. Students will be asked to make connections to language issues in their native countries or geographical regions. Students will write short papers and complete at least one research project using print and on-line sources. Upon completion of this course, students will have gained an understanding of how language and dialects influence the ways in which people are perceived and treated by different sectors of society.
 
Elective Courses  (Select One, To be taken in addition to the courses taken for the Common or Flexible Core)  
 
LAW 101 Law and Social Change (3 credits)    
 
Pre/Co-requisite: none
Through historical investigation and critical analysis, the student will gain an understanding of the relationship between law and social change. The student will examine historical movements, such as: the abolitionist movement, labor movement, women's rights movement, and civil rights movement.
 
 
ANTH 101 Introduction to Anthropology (3 credits)    
 
Pre/Co-requisite: none
The student will demonstrate an understanding of the basic topics of cultural anthropology, including the concept of culture, cultural development, sex and marriage patterns, family and kinship patterns, social control, religion-magic-arts, and physical anthropology including human evolution and race.
 
SOC 101 Introduction to Sociology (3 credits)
Pre/Co-requisite: none
The student will demonstrate an understanding of the basic topic of sociology, including social mobility, role status, race and prejudice, and factors leading to social change. Offered in English and Spanish.
 
SOC 140 Race and Ethnicity (3 credits)
Pre/Co-requisite: none
The student will be exposed to an in-depth analysis of the diverse ethnic and racial structure of the urban community. The student will explore the different aspects of multi-pluralism, but also searching for common experiences, theories of assimilation, amalgamation, and prejudice and discrimination will be discussed.
 
PSY 120 Developmental Psychology I (Childhood) (3 credits)    
 
Prerequisite: PSY 101 or equivalent or permission of instructor 
Co-requisites: none
The student will demonstrate an understanding of personality development from infancy to adolescence with an emphasis on the genetic determinants of behavior as well as on social learning. The student will demonstrate knowledge of prenatal development, cognitive development, language development, socialization, identification, deprivation studies, development of aggression, dependency, fears and anxiety, sex typing, and other topics. Offered in English and Spanish.
 
HLT 212 Bilingual Issues in Community Health (3 credits)
Pre/Co-requisite: HLT 110 
This course presents an overview of the impact of linguistic diversity on the provision and delivery of health education and services, particularly with Hispanics. First, the consequences of language discordance between patient and providers in health and mental health settings are analyzed. Second, the challenges and opportunities to ensure linguist access are examined. Third, information and health literacy strategies to overcome linguistic barriers are reviewed. Fourth, models and strategies for providing linguistically and culturally relevant services are considered. Finally, the impact of laws and policies on the provision of linguistically relevant services are explored.

The student will demonstrate an understanding of personality development from infancy to adolescence with an emphasis on the genetic determinants of behavior as well as on social learning. The student will demonstrate knowledge of prenatal development, cognitive development, language development, socialization, identification, deprivation studies, development of aggression, dependency, fears and anxiety, sex typing, and other topics. Offered in English and Spanish.