Language and Culture

3 Credit Hours for CLD 502-PD001 for ASU registrations processed in Spring Semester 2026 This course explores the peculiar relationship between language and the cultural total of which the language is a part, including the connection between cultural identity and heritage language. It examines language variations within a community according to gender, age, geography, ethnicity, socioeconomic class and level of education. Specifically, the course deals with the linguistic factors characterizing differences in language and with the social and social-psychological variables associated with these differences. Attention is given to the different varieties of language within a speech community (e.g., dialect, register, and style) and the societal and cultural factors that define their use. Course content considers the educational, political and economic implications. The course presupposes no formal study or knowledge of language/ linguistics. Accordingly, the course focuses on the different ways people speak. It deals with the linguistic factors characterizing differences in language and with the social and social-psychological variables associated with these differences. Thus, having completed the course, students should (a) be aware of the different linguistic choices available to speakers in different social/ cultural contexts, (b) have an understanding of the factors which influence the choosing of one variety over another and the societal implications of such choices, (c) gain an appreciation for language diversity and cultural pluralism and, for those in teacher education programs, and, for education majors, (d) be able to demonstrate ability to identify and adapt instructional applications that are responsive to learners from different cultural backgrounds. through ASU Semester Based