Education and the nature of language
Professor D N Aspin
First semester * Clayton
This subject will introduce students to some of the principal topics, issues and problems that inform current philosophical approaches to the study of language. Such topics include a consideration of some theories about the origins of language (such as those of Chomsky and Sapir and Whorf); the relationship of language to thought, as well as language and `reality'; the idea of linguistic behaviour; theories of linguistic meaning and of `truth'; of reference, predication and synonymy; the relationship of utterance to speaker's intentions and linguistic context; language, mind and identity; speech acts, categoreal frameworks and the idea of intelligibility; language, translation and culture; aspects of language in education, such as language, literacy and comprehension; language across the curriculum; and `language for life'. Particular attention will be given to the idea of intercultural understanding and the importance of `linguistic awareness' and `communicative competence' as keys to the notions of educability and community as preconditions for the development of individuality and personal identity.