In this course, we will take a historical and social approach to the study of communication in the United States. We will start with a discussion of the role Native languages played in the development of the field of linguistic Anthropology. We will become acquainted with major theories from the field of Linguistic Anthropology and gain the theoretical tools to talk about the relationship between culture, communication, and language, and how the study of these relationships has developed in the historical context of the US. We will learn about the United States as a political and cultural space. We will learn to challenge commonly held assumptions about culture and language. What notions of “culture” and “communication” are assumed in this body of literature, and are these assumptions problematic? We will learn about how communication and intercultural interaction have been shaped in the context of settler colonialism and race in the United States, focusing on a range of ethnic and linguistic identities including race, class, and gender. The course approaches these theoretical issues through research and readings on language and culture in the United States. In addition to our investigation of speech behavior and cultural diversity, you will also develop better critical thinking skills and an analytic eye on miscommunication that will be useful both inside and outside the classroom. No previous knowledge of linguistic anthropology, sociolinguistics, or anthropology is necessary. This course is appropriate for first-year students.