E324 l Language and Communication in Science Fiction
Instructor: Last Name, First Initial Areas: Unique #: 35354 Flags: Semester: Spring 2017 Restrictions: Cross-lists: Computer Instruction:
Prerequisites: Nine semesters of English or writing, rhetoric
Description:
In science fiction the technology or biology of the world the author creates may be foregrounded, playing important roles in the plot, or they may simply be taken for granted. Sometimes, the technology or biology may be well grounded in modern theory. Often, however, accepting the conditions of a science fiction writer's world may require the reader to make an imaginative leap and take for granted technology or biology that's at best described vaguely (for example, the reader might have to go along with the idea that the inability to travel faster than the speed of light has been overcome by the invention of a "transluminescence drive"). Language, which is both biological and social, may be described theoretically. Its relation to intelligence in humans is a matter open to debate and, of course, in confronting alien intelligences all bets may be off. Language (or, more broadly, communication) has been a central part of the plots of some science fiction work, it has also been something in the background, taken for granted just like the fictional "transluminescence drive". In this course we will look at how language plays a role in four science fiction novels and in several shorter selections. We will examine how language may used to recover lost world, at how language (or communication) is used to establish contact with alien intelligences, and at how language may be used to create world. In addition to the works of fiction we will read, we will use some video material, and we will read short essays written for non-linguists about the linguistic theory relevant to the fiction we are discussing. You don't need a background in either linguistics or science fiction to enjoy this course; all you need is the willingness "to boldly (sic!) go where you haven't been before.”
Texts:
Sources
Butler, Octavia. “Speech Sounds.” pp. 245-55 in John Joseph Adams, ed., Wastelands: Stories of the Apocalypse. Nightshade Book, 2008.
Chiang, Ted. “Story of Your Life.” pp. 74-116 in Ted Chiang Stories of Your Life. Small Beer Press, 2010.
Farmer, Philip José. “Prometheus.” pp. 131-175 in Philip José Farmer. Down in the Black Gang and Others. Nelson Doubleday, 1971.
Finch, Sheila. “First Was the Word.” pp. 3-31 in Sheila Finch. The Guild of Xenolinguists. Golden Gryphen Press, 2007.
Kimball, Sara. “The Latin in A Canticle for Liebowitz.”
Flynn, Michael. “The Common Goal of Nature.” pp. 109-148 in Michael Flynn. The Forest of Time and Other Stories. Tom Doherty Associates, 1997.
Le Guin, Ursula K. “The Nna Mmoy Language.” pp. 165-179 in Ursula K. Le Guin. Changing Planes. Ace. 2004.
______. “The Pathways of Desire.” pp. 175-207 in Ursula K. Le Guin. The Compass Rose. Bantam, 1983.
______. “The Author of the Acacia Seeds.” pp. 3-11 in Ursula Le Guin. The Compass Rose. Bantam, 1983.
Haldeman, Joe. “A !tangled Web”. pp. 81-111 in Joe Haldeman Dealing in Futures. Penguin, 1993.
Robinson, Kim Stanley “The Translator.” pp. 287-302 in Kim Stanley Robinson. Remaking History and Other Stories. Tom Doherty Associates, 1994.
Zelazny, Roger. “A Rose for Ecclesiastes.” Panther Publishing 1969.
Requirements & Grading:
• Three (3) short (3-5-page) papers with required drafts 30% each • Oral presentations (everyone will give at least one introduction to the day’s readings) 5% • Quizzes, informal writing or other assignments 5%
Schedule:
Week 1 January 18-20
Wednesday January 18 First class day
Friday January 20 Read: Le Guin “The Pathways of Desire”
Week 2 January 23-27
Monday January 23 Read: Le Guin “The Nna Mmoy Language”
Wednesday January 25 Read: Finch “First Was the Word”
Friday January 27 Read: Miller Canticle Fiat Homo chapters 1-5
Week 3 January 30-February 3
Monday January 30 Read: Miller Canticle Fiat Homo chapters 6-9
Wednesday February 1 Read: Miller Canticle Fiat Homo chapters 10-11
Friday February 3
Read: Miller Canticle Fiat Lux chapters 12-14
Week 4 February 6-10
Monday February 6 Read: Miller Canticle Fiat Lux chapters 15-17
Wednesday February 8 Read: Miller Canticle Fiat Lux chapters 18-24
Friday February 10 Read: Miller Canticle Fiat Voluntas Tua
Week 5 February 13-17
Monday February 13 Read: Le Guin The Telling chapters 1-4
Wednesday February 15 Read: Le Guin The Telling chapters 6-9
Friday February 17 Read: Robinson “The Translator”
First draft of paper 1 due
Week 6 February 20-24
Monday February 20 Read: Elgin Native Tongue Preface-chapter 4
Wednesday February 22 March 1 Read: Elgin Native Tongue chapters 5-8
Friday February 24 Read: Elgin Native Tongue chapters 9-13
Week 7 February 27-March 3
Monday February 27 Read: Elgin Native Tongue chapters 14-18
Wednesday March 1 Read: Elgin Native Tongue chapters 19-25
Friday March 3 Twilight Zone “To Serve Mankind” (in-class film)
Final draft of paper 1 due
Week 8 March 6-10
Monday March 6 Read: Nestvold “Looking Through Lace”
Wednesday March 8 Read: Farmer “Prometheus”
Friday March 10
Week 9 March 13-17 Spring Break
Week 10 March 20-24
Monday March 20 Read: Delany Babel-17 Part 1 chapters 1-4
Wednesday March 22 Read: Delany Babel-17 Part 1 chapters 5-7, Part 2 chapters 1-2
Friday March 24 Read: Delany Babel-17 Part 2 chapters 3-5
First draft of paper 2 due
Week 11 March 27-31
Monday March 27 Read: Delany Babel-17 Part 3
Wednesday March 29 Read: Delany Babel-17 Parts 4 and 5
Friday March 31 Read: Zelazny “A Rose for Ecclesiastes”
Week 12 April 3-7
Monday April 3 Read: Miéville Embassytown Proem: The Immerser
Wednesday April 5 Read: Miéville Embassytown Part 1 Income
Friday April 7 Read: Miéville Embassytown Part 2 Festivals
Final draft of paper 2 due
Week 13 April 10-14
Monday April 10 Read: Miéville Embassytown Part 3 Like as Not
Wednesday April 12 Read: Miéville Embassytown Part 4 Addict
Friday April 14 Read: Miéville Embassytown Part 5 Notes
Week 14 April 17-21
Monday April 17 Read: Miéville Embassytown Part 6 New Kings
Wednesday April 19 Read: Miéville Embassytown Part 8 The Parley and Part 9 The Relief
Friday April 21 Read: Chiang “The Story of Your Life”
First draft of paper 3 due
Week 15 April 24-28
Monday April 24 Read: Chiang “The Story of Your Life”
Wednesday April 26 Read: Butler “Speech Sounds”
Friday April 28 Flynn “The Common Goal of Nature”
Week 16 May 1-5
Monday May 1 Read: Haldeman “A !tangled Web”
Wednesday May 3 Star Trek Darmok (in-class film)
Friday May 5 last day of classes Final draft of paper 3 due
Policies:
Attendance: Class attendance is mandatory. Attendance will be taken during each class. If you must miss class for a valid reason, get in touch with me as soon as possible. More than four (4) unexcused absences will jeopardize your final grade.
Late assignments: I normally do not accept late assignments except by prior arrangement. If you are having problems completing an assignment, get in touch with me as soon as possible to make arrangements. I am delighted to review and comment on drafts of work in progress; I will not, however, review drafts within 48 hours of the time they are due.
Return of papers: I try to return drafts and final papers as quickly as possible, and you will normally receive them within one or two class meetings after the day you turn them in. I will bring drafts and final papers to class ONCE. If you do not pick up your paper then, you must come to my office to get it back.
Electronic submissions: I normally do not accept papers submitted as attachments to emails or in any other electronic format except by prior arrangement.
Scholastic dishonesty: Scholastic dishonesty on any graded assignment will result in a failing grade. Scholastic dishonesty includes any kind of cheating; if you are unsure about the exact definition you should consult the General information catalogue, Appendix, Section 11802 (http://www.utexas.edu/student/registrar/catalogs/gi01- 02/app/appc11.html)
Academic accommodations: The University of Texas at Austin provides upon request appropriate academic accommodations for qualified students with disabilities. For more information, contact the Office of the Dean of Students at 471—6259, 471—4641 TTY
Web Site: Canvas or another class website (if any).