From declarations of linguistic rights and multilingual education advocacy to the creation of protest slogans and antiestablishment political narratives, language is both an important focus of and contributor to distinctive social movements. This course considers the role of language in various political struggles in the Americas. It begins by surveying historical and contemporary readings in the humanities and social sciences focused on language and resistance in the Chilean and broader Latin American contexts. It also provides opportunities to ground these readings through visits to key sites in Santiago which serve as workshops for examining language and power in the contemporary urban landscape. Students will gain insight into how language contributes to the reproduction and contestation of dominant power structures, including those linked to civic participation, labor, and education.
3 units · Letter (ABCD/NP)
From declarations of linguistic rights and multilingual education advocacy to the creation of protest slogans and antiestablishment political narratives, language is both an important focus of and contributor to distinctive social movements. This course considers the role of language in various political struggles in the Americas. It begins by surveying historical and contemporary readings in the humanities and social sciences focused on language and resistance in the Chilean and broader Latin American contexts. It also provides opportunities to ground these readings through visits to key sites in Santiago which serve as workshops for examining language and power in the contemporary urban landscape. Students will gain insight into how language contributes to the reproduction and contestation of dominant power structures, including those linked to civic participation, labor, and education.
Offered in Autumn 2026 at Stanford University.