FYSP 110 - Arabic Beyond Words: What We Know When We Know a Language

What do we know when we know a language? To speak it appropriately, is it enough to speak it grammatically? What are language dialects? Are some dialects inherently correct and the rest are not, as we are often taught, or is all language equally valid? Looking closely at Arabic as a case study - whether you have ever studied Arabic or not - we will explore how language goes beyond its literal meaning to serve as a mirror of identity and perception, and how it can index meanings such as power, prestige, distance, and belonging. We also learn how human language evolves, and how it intersects with culture, music, media, history, and politics.