APLNG 597A: Language, Communication, and Activity Theory

James Lantolf (jpl7@psu.edu), Office: 304B Sparks Bldg, University Park, PA

Steve Thorne (sthorne@psu.edu) , Office: 304A Sparks Bldg, University Park, PA

Program in Linguistics and Applied Language Studies; The Pennsylvania State University

Fall Term, 2002, Thursday, 4-7pm. Location: TBA

Course Description:

This seminar surveys relevant research on Activity Theory particularly as it relates to the ways in which language and communication are implicated (or not) within the theory. We will focus on two different interpretations of the theory -- (1) the Russian version with direct links to A.N. Leontiev, and (2)Engestrom's version with only indirect connections to Leontiev's theory. We will consider the connections between activity theory and sociocultural theory as well as the debates relating to the object of study, unit of analysis, and explanatory principles. Links to compatible theories of communication, language, and linguistics, will also incorporated (e.g. Hopper, Hanks, Rommetveit, among others).

Course Objectives:

• To explore Marxist theories of language and mind and the historical development of the concept of activity
• To consider a diversity of communicative contexts through the lens of activity theory
• To produce reflective, theoretical, and/or applied research that articulate with participants' interests and disciplinary affiliations

Class meetings will include:

• Presentations/Lecturettes by the instructors
• Discussion of readings
• Group and individual presentations
• Iconoclastic critiques

Your obligations and responsibilities:

1. To participate in class discussions
2. To produce a reaction journal to the readings: Write short critical summaries or outlines of 9 articles over the length of the course. Thrice over the semester, you will turn in 3 of these summary/outlines (late in September, October, and November: see aplng597a syllabus for details). Include questions and issues that you can bring up in class.
3. To act as a discussion catalyst: In teams of 3-4, groups will take responsibility for initiating in-class discussion by presenting a brief overview of the day's readings and critical questions.
4. Final project and presentation: Examples are term paper, original research paper, review of the literature, and other written genres (proposal for research, MA thesis, PhD proposal or chapter, etc). The goal of the final project should be relevant to your interest and academic, intellectual, and professional development. Oral presentations of final projects will occur during the mini-conference we will be convened during the Spring, 2003 semester as part of the LAGO colloquium series. NOTE: Final papers are due no later than December 12th, 2002.

Evaluation and Grading: You will be responsible for turning in your reading reaction journal and final project paper on or before the final day of class (December 12th, 2002).

Ethical Code: Books, articles, the internet, and the world, for that matter, are full of information that you will want to utilize in your written work. Please do so as freely as you like, but do use proper citation protocols. Collaborative work in encouraged -- If you would like to co-develop a large project with a classmate, feel free to do so. For your amusement, since most of you teach or will teach courses where plagerism may be a problem, visit the Slate article, Adventures in Cheating A guide to buying term papers online, by Seth Stevenson.

Texts and Study Materials: We will utilize both a traditional reading packet (to be available at Mail Boxes etc., Hamilton Shopping Center off South Atherton), and readings that are available on the web (linked directly off the on-line course syllabus).

Course Links for APLNG 597A

Syllabus | Theory Links

Comments or Questions? Contact Jim Lantolf and/or Steve Thorne, Pennsylvania State University