This course aims to provide students with the necessary tools to understand the interaction
between the evolution of language and the development and progress of human
civilization. We will reflect on the interdependence between language, societal constructs
and human behavior. Through a sociolinguistic and psycholinguistic perspective, we will
explore the concept of language as a living entity that has accompanied human beings from
the beginning of their evolutionary process to the formation of modern societies.
The course will be divided into three terms that will cover the following general topics:
First term (weeks 1 through 5): Human evolution and language.
Second term (weeks 6 through 10): The development of writing and the living cycle of a
language.
Third term (weeks 11 through 16): The implication of language in the development of
individual and societal identities.