Linguistic Anthropology

This course is an advanced survey of current areas of research in linguistic anthropology. Topics include language and thought, cultural difference in linguistic interactions, the ethnography of communication, ritual uses of language and identify and cultural poetics.

Historical Linguistics

This course studies the historical development of language through time and space, examining the internal mechanisms and external influences involved in language change. Change will be examined at all levels: orthographic, phonetic, phonological, morphological, syntactic, semantic, and lexical. The course will also to investigate a variety of topics related to the phenomenon of language change; language classification; comparative linguistics; the reconstruction of linguistic systems; the social context of language change.

Global Appalachia

Appalachia has always had strong global connections, environmentally, economically, and culturally. Current cultural and political economic issues in the region will be examined in comparative perspective through studying related histories and concerns of communities in Appalachia and other mountain regions, including social and economic marginalization within nation-states, resource extraction, low-wage work, migration, and environmental challenges.

Historical Archaeology

Historical archaeology applies archaeological methods and techniques to the remains of societies having written histories. The course introduces students to the history and theoretical development of the discipline, and to the variety of the data sources used by historical archaeologists. Particular attention is given to the ways in which historical archaeologists use material culture to address research issues of interest in anthropology, history, and other relevant disciplines.

Subscribe to