Ashford ANT343 Week 4 Discussion (dq1+dq2) Latest

ANT343 Language, Culture, and Communication

Week 4 Discussion

DQ1 The Literacy Debate. What does it really mean to be literate? Do you think that new

technologies (e.g., the Internet, Kindle, tablets, smart phones, e-readers, computers, instant messaging, emailing,

and blogging) have changed the way we read, write, and think? What is your definition of literacy?

In Chapter 7 of your textbook, how has Ottenheimer described literacy? As technology provides us with more

avenues to acquire literacy, are we becoming more literate than the previous generation? Do you think that digital

reading is a facilitator of literacy or that digital reading is a distraction from reading? Use the following resources

to discuss literacy in the 21st

century:

a. What does it mean to be literate in the 21st

century? (short version 8 min)

b. Literacy debate: Online, r u really reading?

Your initial post should be at least 250 words in length. Support your claims with examples from the required

material(s) and/or other scholarly resources, and properly cite any references. Respond to at least two of your

classmates’ posts by Day 7. Respond to at least one peer who thinks we are becoming a more literate society, and

one who disagrees with this assessment.

DQ2 Language Development. What do you think is the best explanation for the origin of

language among humans? Do you think language is uniquely human? Why, or why not? Base your response on

the materials listed below:

a. Bickerton, D. (2005). Language evolution: A brief guide for linguists. Lingua: International Review of

General Linguistics, 117 (3), 510-526. PDF of the article available in your online classroom.

b. The demonic ape

c. Let there be words: The origin of human language

Your initial post should be at least 250 words in length. Support your claims with examples from the required

material(s) and/or other scholarly resources, and properly cite any references. Respond to at least two of your

classmates’ posts by Day 7. Choose two classmates whose assessments differ from your assessment of the best

explanation of language evolution. Try to politely convince them that your explanation of language evolution is

more plausible.