LANGUAGELANGUAGEChapter 5Chapter 5

LANGUAGELANGUAGEA system of A system of symbolicsymbolic communication communication

using sounds and/or gestures that are using sounds and/or gestures that are able to be understood by all members able to be understood by all members within a society that share the language.within a society that share the language.Examples?Examples?

SymbolSymbol vs. vs. SignalSignalSymbol: Symbol: Shared understandings about the Shared understandings about the

meaning of certain words, attributes, or meaning of certain words, attributes, or objects.objects.

Signal: Signal: An instinctive sound or gesture that An instinctive sound or gesture that has a natural or self-evident meaning.has a natural or self-evident meaning.

HUMANS vs. PRIMATESHUMANS vs. PRIMATES

Koko the Gorilla:Koko the Gorilla: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6277258515422356599&ei=v8NfS

6f2CKjGqQKpyoyrCg&q=koko+the+gorilla&hl=en&client=firefox-a#

Chimpanzees, Orangutans and Gorillaz can Chimpanzees, Orangutans and Gorillaz can communicate through sign language at the communicate through sign language at the level of a ~2-3 year old human child.level of a ~2-3 year old human child.

Human culture is ultimately dependent on an Human culture is ultimately dependent on an elaborate system of communication far more elaborate system of communication far more complex than that of any other species.complex than that of any other species.

LINGUISTICSLINGUISTICSThe Study of Language --The Study of Language --one of the 4 major sub-fields of one of the 4 major sub-fields of AnthropologyAnthropology

Descriptive LinguisticsDescriptive Linguistics PhonologyPhonology: “Sound-study” The study of language sounds: “Sound-study” The study of language sounds

Sounds in some languages that are absent/difficult to Sounds in some languages that are absent/difficult to pronounce in others?pronounce in others?

MorphologyMorphology: “Form-study” The study of the patterns or : “Form-study” The study of the patterns or rules of word formation in a language: Verb tenses, rules of word formation in a language: Verb tenses, pluralization and compound wordspluralization and compound words

SyntaxSyntax: The patterns or rules by which words are arranged : The patterns or rules by which words are arranged into phrases and sentencesinto phrases and sentences

GrammarGrammar: The entire formal structure of a language, : The entire formal structure of a language, including morphology and syntaxincluding morphology and syntax Grammar rules of different languages? Definite article Grammar rules of different languages? Definite article

differences?differences?

HISTORICAL LINGUISTICSHISTORICAL LINGUISTICS The origins/changing nature of language The origins/changing nature of language

Deciphering “dead” languagesDeciphering “dead” languagesDifferences between earlier and later forms Differences between earlier and later forms

of the same languageof the same languageHow older languages developed into modern How older languages developed into modern

onesones Interrelationships among older languagesInterrelationships among older languages

LANGUAGE FAMILYLANGUAGE FAMILYA group of languages descended from a single ancestral languageA group of languages descended from a single ancestral language

Indo-European Language Family:Indo-European Language Family: http://www.unilang.org/resources/linguistic/languagefamily_ie.jpg

Slavic Language Family:Slavic Language Family: http://www.lerc.educ.ubc.ca/LERC/courses/489/worldlang/Russian/language_family.gif

Nilo-Saharan Language Family:Nilo-Saharan Language Family: http://mathildasanthropologyblog.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/nilo-sharan.png

GLOTTOCHRONOLOGYGLOTTOCHRONOLOGY: The Linguistic divergence of languages : The Linguistic divergence of languages may be traced by a method known as glottochronology which may be traced by a method known as glottochronology which compares the core vocabularies of languages (pronouns, lower compares the core vocabularies of languages (pronouns, lower numerals, and names for body parts and natural objects). numerals, and names for body parts and natural objects). Assumption: These basic vocabulary words change more slowly Assumption: These basic vocabulary words change more slowly than other words and at a more or less constant rate of 14 to than other words and at a more or less constant rate of 14 to 19 percent per 1,000 years.19 percent per 1,000 years.

PROCESSES OF LINGUISTIC PROCESSES OF LINGUISTIC DIVERGENCEDIVERGENCE

Selective BorrowingSelective Borrowing Ex: Foreign words in the English language? English Ex: Foreign words in the English language? English

words in other languages?words in other languages? Professional SpecializationProfessional Specialization Ex: Anthropology terms! Medical, Legal termsEx: Anthropology terms! Medical, Legal terms Sub-culture lingoSub-culture lingo Does the “gamer” culture have specific lingo? How Does the “gamer” culture have specific lingo? How

about those who frequent Starbucks? about those who frequent Starbucks?

LANGUAGE LOSS AND REVIVALLANGUAGE LOSS AND REVIVAL

Language loss usually the result of a dominant society assimilating subordinate societies.Language loss usually the result of a dominant society assimilating subordinate societies. Ex: English colonialism (500 years). In U.S. wiped out about half of all Native American Ex: English colonialism (500 years). In U.S. wiped out about half of all Native American

languages.languages. Over the last ~500 years, 3,500 of the world’s 10,000 or so languages have become extinct Over the last ~500 years, 3,500 of the world’s 10,000 or so languages have become extinct

because of forced assimilation, epidemics and warfare.because of forced assimilation, epidemics and warfare. UNESCO (The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization) is focused on UNESCO (The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization) is focused on

preserving and reviving traditional languagespreserving and reviving traditional languages Initiative B@bel: Promotes multilingualism on the Internet, this initiative aims to bridge the Initiative B@bel: Promotes multilingualism on the Internet, this initiative aims to bridge the

digital divide (over 80% of all internet users speak just 10 languages -- chart on p. 109 in your digital divide (over 80% of all internet users speak just 10 languages -- chart on p. 109 in your book) to make access to Internet content and services more equitable for users worldwide.book) to make access to Internet content and services more equitable for users worldwide. http://portal.unesco.org/ci/en/ev.php-URL_ID=16541&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html

Reviving and Preserving languageReviving and Preserving language Koro language, Northeast India: Koro language, Northeast India:

http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/player/news/culture-places-news/enduring-voices-koro-vin.html

Through song: Ethnographic Example: Andy Palacio and the Garifuna culture: Through song: Ethnographic Example: Andy Palacio and the Garifuna culture: http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/player/music/genre-wm/garifuna/watina-umalali-sg-wm.htmlhttp://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/player/music/genre-wm/garifuna/watina-umalali-sg-wm.html

LANGUAGE IN ITS SOCIAL AND LANGUAGE IN ITS SOCIAL AND CULTURAL SETTINGSCULTURAL SETTINGS

Sociolinguistics: Relationship between language and society. How social categories (age, Sociolinguistics: Relationship between language and society. How social categories (age, gender, ethnicity, religion, occupation and class) influence the use and significance of gender, ethnicity, religion, occupation and class) influence the use and significance of distinctive styles of speech.distinctive styles of speech. Gendered Speech: Distinct male and female speech patternsGendered Speech: Distinct male and female speech patterns

Ex (book): Lakota language and Dances w/ WolvesEx (book): Lakota language and Dances w/ Wolves Ex: Gendered speech in U.S. culture?Ex: Gendered speech in U.S. culture?

Dialects: Varying forms of a language that reflect particular regions, occupations, or social Dialects: Varying forms of a language that reflect particular regions, occupations, or social classes and that are similar enough to be mutually intelligible.classes and that are similar enough to be mutually intelligible. Ex: Formal (standard) vs. Informal speechEx: Formal (standard) vs. Informal speech A few American Dialects:A few American Dialects:

Sampler: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXGuCaApR7U&feature=relatedSampler: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXGuCaApR7U&feature=related Appalachian: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03iwAY4KlIU&feature=relatedAppalachian: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03iwAY4KlIU&feature=related Louisiana Swamp: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KzeYrjfN9s&feature=channelLouisiana Swamp: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KzeYrjfN9s&feature=channel

“

LANGUAGE IN ITS SOCIAL AND LANGUAGE IN ITS SOCIAL AND CULTURAL SETTINGS cont.CULTURAL SETTINGS cont. Ethnolinguistics: The study of the relationships between language and culture, and how they Ethnolinguistics: The study of the relationships between language and culture, and how they

mutually influence and inform each othermutually influence and inform each other Linguistic Relativity: The idea that distinctions encoded in one language are unique to that Linguistic Relativity: The idea that distinctions encoded in one language are unique to that

languagelanguage Ex: Color spectrum and arbitrary names/divisionsEx: Color spectrum and arbitrary names/divisions Ex: Things most important to a culture are accorded more names and conceptsEx: Things most important to a culture are accorded more names and concepts

The Ayamara Indians in the Bolivian Highlands have 200 words for “Potato”The Ayamara Indians in the Bolivian Highlands have 200 words for “Potato” The Nuer pastoralists of Africa have over 400 names for cattle.The Nuer pastoralists of Africa have over 400 names for cattle. Ex: How many words do we have for “car”? Types of “car”?Ex: How many words do we have for “car”? Types of “car”?

What do elements of our language say about us…What do elements of our language say about us… We “conquer” space, “fight” the “battle” of the bulge, carry out a “war” against drugs, We “conquer” space, “fight” the “battle” of the bulge, carry out a “war” against drugs,

make a “killing” of the stock market, “shoot down” an argument, “torpedo” a plan, make a “killing” of the stock market, “shoot down” an argument, “torpedo” a plan, “spearhead” a movement, “decapitate” a foreign government, or “bomb” on an exam.“spearhead” a movement, “decapitate” a foreign government, or “bomb” on an exam.

““The structure of the language one habitually uses influences the manner in The structure of the language one habitually uses influences the manner in which one understands his environment. The picture of the universe shifts which one understands his environment. The picture of the universe shifts

from tongue to tongue.” -B.J. Whorffrom tongue to tongue.” -B.J. Whorf

GESTURE-CALL SYSTEMGESTURE-CALL SYSTEM Body signs account for over 60% of our total communicationBody signs account for over 60% of our total communication

It provides the “key” to speech, providing listeners with the appropriate frame It provides the “key” to speech, providing listeners with the appropriate frame for interpreting what a speaker is saying.for interpreting what a speaker is saying. Ideas about personal space? Business space?Ideas about personal space? Business space? Paralanguage: voice effects that convey meaningParalanguage: voice effects that convey meaning

Giggling/groaning/sighing/pitch/tempo of words Giggling/groaning/sighing/pitch/tempo of words Clip from Pretty Woman: http://www.youtube.com/watch?Clip from Pretty Woman: http://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=4rZJ3pBAYTkv=4rZJ3pBAYTk Tonal languages: In some languages, intoning a word slightly differently Tonal languages: In some languages, intoning a word slightly differently

will change the word entirely. Ex? (70% of the world’s language are Tonal)will change the word entirely. Ex? (70% of the world’s language are Tonal) Ex: Zhutwasi, or “San Bushmen” click language: Ex: Zhutwasi, or “San Bushmen” click language:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c246fZ-7z1w&feature=relatedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c246fZ-7z1w&feature=related What about texting, email, Facebook, etc… without body signs and other cues, What about texting, email, Facebook, etc… without body signs and other cues,

how do we get across the right meaning?how do we get across the right meaning? (According to a recent study, the intended tone of email messages is (According to a recent study, the intended tone of email messages is

perceived correctly only 56% of the time)perceived correctly only 56% of the time)