Language Invention in Linguistics Pedagogy

Abstract

Abstract This volume brings together multiple emerging strands of interest in language and linguistics. First is increasing attention on pedagogical scholarship in linguistics, signaled by the 2013 addition to the flagship journal Language of a series on Teaching Linguistics (see for example Sanders 2016) and by many recent panels and workshops on pedagogy at linguistics conferences around the world. Additionally, public outreach has gained greater prominence in the field, with linguists becoming more active and engaged with the public on social media and in podcasts. There has also been an increase in broader public interest in constructed languages (conlangs) and how to build them, indicated by the popularity of conlangs in film and television (e.g. Star Trek, Avatar, and Game of Thrones) and by the success of relevant books (e.g. Okrent 2010; Rosenfelder 2010; Peterson 2014, 2015). This volume showcases a variety of methods which instructors can use to tap into this public interest in conlangs and conlanging to reach a broader student population, increase their engagement with course material, deepen their understanding of linguistics and its interdisciplinary relationships, and provide opportunities for public outreach. Using language invention as a pedagogical tool is an innovative way to capitalize on the effectiveness of many modern educational approaches, such as problem-based learning, collaborative learning, and active learning, especially for a diverse cohort of learners. The methods and materials presented in this volume help cultivate students’ understanding of language, linguistic diversity, linguistic analysis, and the power of creativity.

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