Linguistics

This course explores the history and evolution of the Spanish language. It discusses dialect and speech, where Spanish is spoken, semantics and pragmatics, and changes in the language.

This course explores basic concepts of cognitive linguistics and their application to the analysis of the English language. It examines the structure of English through the study of linguistic conceptualization and basic results of cognitive science.

This course explores translation theories and their practical applications. Each session focuses on a specific theory or approach to translation, followed by an analysis of a translated text. The course aims to understand the crucial role of translation as a cultural and social practice and to become familiar with the major issues in translation theory and comparative literature.

This course conveys insight into the cognitive mechanisms and representations underpinning human meaning-making. The course presents an overview of the cognitive processes and mechanisms involved in human meaning-making, including conceptual metaphor theory, image schemas, framing, and blending. The theories employed stem from cognitive science, cognitive psychology, cognitive linguistics, and semiotics. The course also provides insight into the relationship between meaning-making and perception, as well as sensory-motor experience. Additionally, it seeks to give students a general understanding of what meaning is, regardless of whether it is expressed in language, images, or speech, or manifests itself through perception. Finally, this course provides the general theoretical tools required to analyze specific cognitive and cultural phenomena. The course is adapted to accommodate the diverse backgrounds of the students.

This course offers an introduction to translation from English to Spanish. It explores the theoretical and technical framework that underpins the practice of translation. Students develop translation skills through hands-on practice and application of knowledge, procedures, and techniques learned in class.

This is an intermediate English linguistics course which should be taken after studying the basics of linguistics. It provides students with the basic knowledge of English Language Teaching in secondary education in Japan from a practical point of view and investigates how one's knowledge of English (not only structural but also communicative) can be used to improve learners' abilities to use English. 

Course Prerequisites:  Enrollment in at least one or two of the introductory courses of linguistics offered at SILS (Introduction to Applications of Linguistics and Introduction to English Linguistics). 

This course provides students with the conceptual framework and skills for describing and analyzing Modern English. Students learn to parse simple and complex constructions in English. Topics include word classes, the structure of sentences and phrases, clause types, complex sentences and discourse styles. Students analyze variations in English through time, and evaluate influences on the structure of English in bilingual/multilingual situations such as Singapore.

Sociolinguistics is a field of linguistics which examines the relationship between language and society, as they mutually influence each other. This course introduces basic concepts of sociolinguistics and explores both micro and macro sociolinguistic studies, reviewing various cases from the micro interpersonal interaction levels to the macro institutional and societal levels. The course covers language and power; thought and representation; ethnography of speaking; language and gender; language change; regional and social variation; multilingualism; language attitudes, as well as language policy and language planning issues in various social contexts from around the world. Although the course introduces concepts of both micro and macro sociolinguistics, it emphasizes language policy and language planning issues.

This course begins by looking at the historical background of English education in Japan up until today's discussions of the demands that globalization requires of Japanese learners and educators. While deepening understanding of the role of English as a language of international communication in the era of globalization, the course considers the linguistic content and teaching approaches suitable for Japanese education. The course also encourages students to reflect on their understanding of English education in Japan.

This course highlights the complexity of the interactions between information and communication technologies and the economic and social sphere, outlining some dynamics between digital technologies, different economic/business models and emerging sustainability needs. Students are invited to critically read, evaluate, and discuss events at the intersection of society, economy, and technology besides simplifications and techno-solutionism, developing an analytic competence. Topics include: systems and complexity; sustainability; shared resources management and regulation; technological neutrality; attitudes towards technology; surveillance capitalism in the communication ecosystem; privacy and democracy.