SSC 100 American Indian Languages

Lecture Hours: 3
Credits: 3

Introduces the diversity and cultural contexts of American Indian Languages. Explores historic migrations, ways of word-borrowing, humor, and musical texts. Also covers gender issues, ecological concerns, spirituality and political views of their speakers combined with rudiments of linguistics, phonetics, writing systems and efforts to revitalize indigenous languages.

Prerequisite: Placement into WR 115 (or higher), or completion of WR 090 (or higher) with a grade of C or better; or consent of instructor.
Student Learning Outcomes:

Discuss examples of American Indian Languages as they relate to historical development, location, and fluency.
Examine American Indian Language’s migrations, humor, music, gender, ecological, spirituality, and political issues.
Demonstrate the basics of American Indian linguistics and phonology.
Compare elements of different American Indian languages.
Explain reasons for language’s extinction and threats to their preservation.

Content Outline

Introduction to American Indian Languages
- Definitions of language fluency
- Song texts: overcoming the language barrier
- Coyote and other humorous tales
- Thought structure in language
Historical Developments of American Indian Languages
- Language families
- What languages tell us about history
- Native names for topography
- Early European visitors
  - Russians and Alaskans in California
  - The Japanese in Oregon
  - The Celts on the East Coast
The Cultural Contexts of American Indian Languages
- Native musical texts
- Native artistic designs and terminology
- Native healing and spiritual vocabularies
Words: Formations and Patterns
- Counting systems
- Specialized vocabulary
- Instrumental affixes in Native languages
- Men’s and women’s talk
- Lexicals and vocables in Native song texts
Language Survival: Assault and Revitalization
- Origins of tribal names
- Pinenut historical research
- Native languages under attack
- Native language research
- Writing systems
- Native language revitalization programs