ESP Biography

Have you heard that the Eskimos have over 100 words for "snow"? That women talk three times as much as men? That some apes have learned to use American Sign Language? Have you heard that people who use slang or bad grammar are lazy? In this class, we explore the origins of these myths, look at the empirical evidence that refutes them, and discuss how language myths can contribute to racism, sexism, and other forms of prejudice. Students leave the class with an understanding of how linguists determine what is true and false about how language works.