Modules
Week 1: Defining Terms and Instructions
This section of my webpage is dedicated to defining and exploring key terms introduced in ETEC 540: Text Technologies—The Changing Spaces of Reading and Writing. The course engages with concepts that trace the historical, cultural, and technological shifts in how humans create, share, and interpret texts. By clarifying essential terminology, I aim to build a stronger foundation for understanding how writing systems, print, and digital media have transformed communication across time. Defining these terms supports my learning and provides a framework for critically analyzing the intersections of text, technology, and education.
How Language Shapes the Way We Think
In her 2017 SAR lecture, cognitive scientist Dr. Lera Boroditsky explores how language influences thought, perception, and culture. Drawing on examples from diverse linguistic communities, she demonstrates that language is not merely a tool for communication but a framework that shapes how individuals experience space, time, responsibility, and identity. This lecture challenges us to reconsider the cognitive and cultural power of linguistic diversity, offering insights that are especially relevant for scholars, educators, and multilingual learners. Click to watch the video.
Week 2 - Language as Technology: Spoken language
Language is more than a tool for communication; it is a cognitive framework that shapes how individuals perceive, categorize, and engage with the world. Drawing on Lera Boroditsky’s 2017 SAR lecture, this reflection explores how linguistic structures influence thought processes, cultural values, and personal identity. By situating Boroditsky’s insights within the context of Nigerian multilingualism—particularly Yoruba, Igbo, and Hausa traditions—this page demonstrates how languages function not only as expressive systems but also as cultural toolkits that orient individuals toward specific worldviews. Each timestamped excerpt illustrates the profound connection between language and cognition, while my personal responses underscore the lived experience of navigating multiple “souls” through the act of speaking in different tongues.