IS-31043 credit hours

Indigenous Languages of South America

Indigenous Studies · 3 hrs Lecture

Offering schedule: contact department

The calendar doesn't say which term this runs in. The sections below show the terms it actually runs in this year.

No prerequisites listed, you can take this course without prior coursework.

Description

Presenting an integrated overview of the indigenous languages of South America, this course looks at main language families spoken there, their spatial distribution, history and classification, as well as their cultural background. With 53 language families and 55 isolates, South America is not only the most diverse region in linguistic terms, but also a storehouse of unusual structural features important for understanding the full range of possible variants of human language. The course also explores typological characteristics of South American languages, potential linguistic areas, proposals of more distant relationships, and the current situation of endangered languages in this region. Additional in-depth work is required to receive credit at the 4000-level.

Restrictions

Department Permission Required. Students may not hold credit for this course and ANTH-3411 | ANTH-4411 | LING-3104 | LING-4104.

Cross-listed

ANTH-3411(3), ANTH-4411(3), LING-3104(3), and LING-4104(3).

Lecture

From the 2026-27 undergraduate calendar. Always verify details on WebAdvisor or with an academic advisor before registering.