Imagined Languages

Description of Course Goals and Curriculum

This course combines historical and linguistic analysis in an attempt to understand how and why people are sometimes moved to try to transcend the languages to which we have natural, or at least relatively easy, access. Among the examples we will consider are Esperanto, Klingon, Middle Egyptian, Linear A and B, Cornish, Fortran, and Proto-World. Taking a view that is broad both geographically and temporally, we will explore, in an interactive and collaborative way, the philosophical and sociological implications of constructing and reconstructing languages for purposes that range from the political to the literary to the simply frivolous. This course seeks to rattle, shake, and unhinge all preconceptions about “language” you might have.  If you enter the classroom on Day 1 thinking you have a vague sense of what “language” is, you will walk out of it with more questions than you have answers. The curriculum is built around various linguistic phenomena where the question of “artificial” and “imagined” languages surface:  the examples considered include Esperanto, Klingon, Middle Egyptian, Linear A and B, Cornish, Proto-World, the language of the bees, and extraterrestrial communication. Through both synchronic and diachronic linguistic analyses, this course offers a safe space for productive debates on the philosophical and sociological implications of the construction, reconstruction and deconstruction of languages.  Class discussions and readings take on a tone that ranges from the political to the literary to the simply frivolous.

Learning From Classroom Instruction

Engaging in discussion is highly encouraged. The two professors take turns teaching the classes, one lecturing and the other observing. However, the professors expect most of the talking to be done by the students, not by the professors. The professors usually teach with PowerPoint presentations. However, taking notes is essential because the slides are not uploaded to Blackboard. Furthermore, at the beginning of every class, a student is asked to describe what was covered in the class before. Since so much of class-time is spent on debates, it is essential to do the readings, which supply the topics for discussion. This is also the best way for the students to show that they came well-prepared. However, since there is usually not enough time to discuss everything in depth during class, going to office hours or emailing the professors with questions is also very much encouraged.

Learning For and From Assignments

Assignments aim to give students a chance to showcase their creative flair and display their understanding of the material. It is essential to do all readings prior to attempting the assignments! Assignments are assigned weekly, but students only have to complete 5 in total.  Example assignments include the decipherment of Linear B and Egyptian Hieroglyphs, translation of poems from Esperanto into English, and a diary entry using Basic English.  They all push students to think about the ways in which these “imagined languages” are “artificial” or not, and highlight the challenges of using radically new forms of expression. The creative project and final paper are two of the most important components of the course.  Students are given an incredible amount of freedom in both.  The creative team project could be related to any aspect of the class. Last year, projects have ranged from board games to the construction of a new language to documentaries. Due to the variety of topics explored, the professors want to give students as much agency as possible in their final projects so that they could choose something that truly interests them.  The final paper, while more academic and less “creative” in nature, is also not governed by any strict guidelines.  Students are allowed to choose any sub-topic inspired by the class that interests them and are asked to write a 16-20 page research paper.  Many students take this opportunity to investigate aspects of their own language that they have not thought about before. Engagement with the professors is essential while planning and working on the final project and paper. Students are expected to have developed and discussed their ideas with the professors by the middle of the semester. A week before the final class, students submit their projects to a shared Dropbox folder. The last class is devoted entirely to the discussion of the projects. Seeing the fruits of everyone’s work, which are all incredibly creative, is the culmination of the class both for the students and the professors.

External Resources

http://www.ipachart.com/ - Interactive IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) Chart, which will be useful for the first assignment. Just click on the symbol and listen to the sound! http://www.the10and3.com/canada-languages.htm -- Linguistic map of Canada; this is but one example of the many online resources that the professors will send you during the course.  There are lots of interactive maps online that help you visualize the linguistic distribution and diversity across different continents. http://pacujo.net/esperanto/course/materialo/ -- Extra grammar exercises and explanations for Esperanto learners.

What Students Should Know About This Course For Purposes Of Course Selection

If you enjoy having your fundamental beliefs shaken and challenged, take this class.  This is an unconventional class in every sense; every lecture focuses on a different aspect of the phenomenon of imagined and real (what even is the difference? you will explore!) languages -- from Klingon to modern Hebrew to linear B to the language of bees and aliens -- you will be island-hopping from language to language, continent to continent, learning about the most fantastical elements of language. Therefore, in a way, this is a survey course that does not spend an enormous amount of time on any one particular language. This course is not for the student who is only interested in writing traditional academic papers; assignments are often of a creative nature and will push against the boundaries of your imagination!