Emory University

Linguistic Anthropology Home Page

Linguistic anthropology is a broad interdisciplinary field which studies the evolution, distribution, and functions of human language in relation to human culture, society, cognition, and experience.

The fields of linguistics, semiotics, linguistic anthropology, sociolinguistics, performance studies, and folklore have many overlapping interests and share several common theoretical trajectories.

Linguistic anthropology is primarily concerned with:

• The causes and social meanings of language variation within societies, and the sociohistorical development of different languages and linguistic varieties.
• The centrality of language for the human condition, as a medium of world-building, cognition, and identity negotiation.
• Language as it is used, in particular sociocultural contexts by people who have specific cultural roles and interests at stake.

Topics that are covered in Emory linguistic anthropology courses include: the sounds and structures of diverse languages, ritual language, styles of verbal interaction, multilingualism, dialects and accents, pidgins and creoles, discourse analysis, the influence of language on thought, language and gender, language and the nation, and the politics of language.

• Web Sites Illustrating the Diversity of World Languages
• The Digital Polyglot
• Emory Courses and Course Materials in Linguistic Anthropology
• Key Concepts and Debates in Linguistic Anthropology
• Emory Anthropology Home Page
• Emory Linguistics Home Page
• Emory Anthropology Graduate Specialization in Language, Discourse and Communicative Practices
• Emory Library Resources for Linguistics and Linguistic Anthropology
• Other Resources for Linguistic Anthropology