HCOL 2000 Multimodal Communication for Honors College 

This course provides an innovative exploration into the diverse ways humans communicate beyond spoken or written words. Designed specifically for Honors College students, the class encourages deep engagement with multimodal forms such as visual, auditory, gestural, spatial, and digital channels. Through critical analysis and hands-on projects, students examine how meaning is constructed and interpreted across various contexts and media. They gain practical skills in crafting multimodal messages, critically evaluating multimedia resources, and utilizing contemporary technologies to effectively convey complex ideas. This interactive course emphasizes the role of multimodal literacy in today’s interconnected world, preparing students to navigate and contribute to diverse professional and social environments with heightened communicative competence.

 

HCOL 1000 Cultural Heritage: Space, Place & Identity

In today's technology-dominated world, where digital interactions often supersede physical ones, understanding the nuances of cultural heritage is more important than ever. This course explores the intricate relationship between cultural heritage and global citizenship, examining how space, place, identity, and language shape our understanding of the world. It delves into the preservation, celebration, and contestation of cultural expressions, examining the impact of historical narratives and socio-political forces. Drawing from diverse disciplines such as anthropology, history, geography, urban studies, and linguistics, the curriculum enhances cultural sensitivity and awareness. Students critically engage with topics like authenticity, heritage tourism, and language endangerment, developing a nuanced understanding of both local and global cultural dynamics. The advent of digital technology challenges traditional concepts of cultural heritage, making the revaluation of these concepts essential. Students explore how digital archives, virtual reality tours, and online communities transform the ways we engage with and preserve cultural heritage. Through readings, discussions, debates, and potential field-based research, students refine their analytical, communication, and research skills, cultivating empathy and a commitment to global solidarity. The course culminates in a final project challenging students to propose innovative, culturally aware solutions to contemporary issues in cultural heritage preservation in a digital era.

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LING 1010 FYS: Deconstructing Humor

This unique course offers students an engaging journey into understanding humor through linguistic, semiotic, cognitive, and cultural lenses. Focusing on humor's structures, mechanisms, and social functions, the course provides theoretical frameworks from pragmatics, discourse analysis, cognitive linguistics, and intercultural studies. Students examine diverse humor genres, including verbal jokes, visual humor, political cartoons, memes, and comedic performances, analyzing how humor constructs meaning and influences social interaction. Through interactive seminars, multimedia presentations, and practical assignments such as creating original humorous content, students cultivate critical analytical skills and creative competence. The course empowers students to recognize humor’s power in negotiating identities, expressing ideas, and navigating sensitive cultural or societal issues.

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LING 2620 Pragmatics

This course introduces students to pragmatics, the linguistic field dedicated to the study of meaning in context and language use in social interactions. Students explore central pragmatic concepts such as speech acts, implicature, presupposition, politeness theory, deixis, and conversational analysis. Through examining authentic discourse samples from everyday communication, media, and intercultural settings, students learn how meaning emerges beyond literal language. The course emphasizes the role of context, culture, and intention in shaping understanding, enabling students to critically analyze linguistic interactions and effectively manage cross-cultural communication. Practical activities, discussions, and analytical tasks foster deeper insights into language as dynamic social practice.

 

Ling 3990 Intro to Semiotics

This comprehensive course introduces students to semiotics, the study of signs and symbols as fundamental tools for meaning-making. Designed to provide students with robust theoretical foundations and practical analytical skills, the class explores core semiotic theories by foundational scholars such as Ferdinand de Saussure, Charles Peirce, Roland Barthes, and Umberto Eco. Students critically analyze diverse texts and multimodal artifacts—from advertisements and films to digital media and everyday interactions—to understand how meaning is constructed, conveyed, and interpreted within various contexts. Coursework involves practical semiotic analyses, interactive group projects, and reflective discussions that illustrate the relevance of semiotic approaches in contemporary communication and cultural analysis. Students emerge with enhanced critical thinking skills and a deeper appreciation for the complex role signs play in society.

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