LanguageLanguage

Chapter 6Chapter 6

LanguageLanguageLanguage – Language – a set of sounds, combinations of sounds, a set of sounds, combinations of sounds,

and symbols that are used for communication.and symbols that are used for communication.

Language and Cultural IdentityLanguage and Cultural Identity

Language Language and and

National National IdentityIdentity

Standard Language:

a language that is published, widely distributed, and purposefully taught.

Government usually plays a big role in standardizing a language. How?

Language and Political Conflict

Belgium:

Flanders (Flemish language)

Wallonia (French language)

Percent of People 5 Years and Older Percent of People 5 Years and Older Who Speak a Language other than English at HomeWho Speak a Language other than English at Home

DialectDialectvariants of a variants of a

standard standard language language

along regional along regional or ethnic linesor ethnic lines

- vocabulary- vocabulary-syntax-syntax

- - pronunciationpronunciation

- cadence- cadence- pace of - pace of speechspeech

Isogloss

A geographic boundary within which a particular linguistic feature occurs

Mutual IntelligibilityMutual Intelligibility

Means two people can Means two people can understand each other understand each other when speaking. when speaking. Problems:Problems:

Cannot measure mutual Cannot measure mutual intelligibilityintelligibility

Many “languages” fail Many “languages” fail the test of mutual the test of mutual intelligibilityintelligibility

Standard languages and Standard languages and governments impact governments impact what is a “language” what is a “language” and what is a “dialect”and what is a “dialect”

World Language FamiliesWorld Language Families

Soda/Pop/CokeSoda/Pop/Coke

IsoglossIsogloss

How do Linguists Study How do Linguists Study Historical Languages?Historical Languages?

Backward reconstruction – tracking Backward reconstruction – tracking sound shifts and the hardening of sound shifts and the hardening of consonants backward to reveal an consonants backward to reveal an “original” language.“original” language. Can deduce the vocabulary of an extinct Can deduce the vocabulary of an extinct

language.language. Can recreate ancient languages (deep Can recreate ancient languages (deep

reconstruction)reconstruction)

How are Languages How are Languages Formed?Formed?

Can find linkages among languages by Can find linkages among languages by examining examining sound shiftssound shifts – a slight change in – a slight change in a word across languages over time.a word across languages over time.

Milk =lacte (Latin), latta (Italian), leche Milk =lacte (Latin), latta (Italian), leche (Spanish), lait (French)(Spanish), lait (French)

Dad= pater (Latin), vater (German), father Dad= pater (Latin), vater (German), father (English)(English)

Language divergence – Language divergence –

when a lack of spatial interaction when a lack of spatial interaction among speakers of a language breaks among speakers of a language breaks the language into dialects and then the language into dialects and then new languages.new languages.

Language convergence –Language convergence –

when peoples with different languages when peoples with different languages have consistent spatial interaction have consistent spatial interaction and their languages collapse into one.and their languages collapse into one.

How are Languages How are Languages Formed?Formed?

Historical Linkages among Historical Linkages among LanguagesLanguages

Indo-European Indo-European language familylanguage family

Proto-Indo-Proto-Indo-European European languagelanguage

Nostratic Nostratic LanguageLanguage

From Anatolia diffused Europe’s languagesFrom the Western Arc of Fertile Crescent diffused North

Africa and Arabia’s languagesFrom the Eastern Arc of Fertile Crescent diffused Southwest

Asia and South Asia’s languages.

Renfrew Hypothesis:Proto-Indo-European began in the Fertile Crescent, and then:

Agriculture TheoryWith increased food supply and increased population, speakers from the hearth of Indo-European languages migrated into Europe.

Dispersal HypothesisIndo-European languages first moved from the hearth eastward into present-day Iran and then around the Caspian and into Europe.

The Languages of EuropeThe Languages of Europe

Romance languages Romance languages

Germanic languagesGermanic languages

Slavic languagesSlavic languages

EuskeraEuskera

The Basque speak the Euskera language, which is in now way related to any other language family in Europe.

How did Euskera survive?

Languages of Languages of Subsaharan Subsaharan AfricaAfrica

- - extreme languageextreme language diversity diversity

- effects of - effects of colonialismcolonialism

NigeriaNigeria

more than more than 400 400 different different languages.languages.

How do Languages How do Languages Diffuse?Diffuse?

Key Question:

How do Languages Diffuse?How do Languages Diffuse?

human interactionhuman interaction print distributionprint distribution migration migration tradetrade rise of nation-statesrise of nation-states colonialismcolonialism

Spatial Interaction helps Spatial Interaction helps createcreate::

Lingua franca –Lingua franca –A language used among speakers of different A language used among speakers of different languages for the purposes of trade and languages for the purposes of trade and commerce.commerce.

Pidgin language –Pidgin language –a language created when people combine parts a language created when people combine parts of two or more languages into a simplified of two or more languages into a simplified structure and vocabulary.structure and vocabulary.

Creole language –Creole language –a pidgin language that has developed a more a pidgin language that has developed a more complex structure and vocabulary and has complex structure and vocabulary and has become the native language of a group of people.become the native language of a group of people.

Monolingual Monolingual State State a country in a country in which only one which only one language is language is spokenspoken

Multilingual Multilingual State State a country in which a country in which more than one more than one language is in uselanguage is in use

Official Official LanguageLanguageshould a should a multilingual state multilingual state adopt an official adopt an official language?language?

Global LanguageGlobal Language

Is a global language the principle language Is a global language the principle language people use around the world in their day-people use around the world in their day-

to-day activities?to-day activities?

OROR

Is a global language a common language Is a global language a common language for trade and commerce used around the for trade and commerce used around the

world?world?

Choose a country in the world. Imagine Choose a country in the world. Imagine you become a strong leader of a you become a strong leader of a centralized government in the country. centralized government in the country. Pick a language other than a current Pick a language other than a current language spoken in the country. language spoken in the country. Determine what policies you could put in Determine what policies you could put in place to replace the country’s language place to replace the country’s language with the new language. How many years, with the new language. How many years, or how many generations, would need to or how many generations, would need to pass before your program achieves your pass before your program achieves your desired outcome?desired outcome?

What Role does Language What Role does Language Play in Making Places?Play in Making Places?

Key Question:

PlacePlace

Place – the uniqueness of a location, Place – the uniqueness of a location, what people do in a location, what what people do in a location, what they create, how they impart a they create, how they impart a certain character, a certain imprint certain character, a certain imprint on the location by making it unique.on the location by making it unique.

ToponymToponym

Toponym – a place nameToponym – a place name

A toponym:A toponym: Imparts a certain character on a placeImparts a certain character on a place Reflects the social processes in a placeReflects the social processes in a place Can give us a glimpse of the history of a Can give us a glimpse of the history of a

placeplace

Changing ToponymsChanging Toponyms When people change the toponym of a place, they When people change the toponym of a place, they

have the power to “wipe out the past and call forth have the power to “wipe out the past and call forth the new.” the new.”

- Yi-Fu Tuan- Yi-Fu Tuan

Byzantium, Constantinople, or Byzantium, Constantinople, or Istanbul? Istanbul?

Changing ToponymsChanging Toponyms

Major reasons people change Major reasons people change toponyms:toponyms: After decolonizationAfter decolonization After a political revolutionAfter a political revolution To memorialize people or eventsTo memorialize people or events To commodify or brand a placeTo commodify or brand a place

Martin Luther King, Jr. Martin Luther King, Jr. StreetsStreets

Geographer Derek Alderman asks:

* Where are MLK streets?* Why are they where they are?* What controversies surround memorializing MLK with a street name?

Where are MLK Streets in the Where are MLK Streets in the US?US?

This place was first named by This place was first named by Gabrielino Indians. In 1769, Spanish Gabrielino Indians. In 1769, Spanish Franciscan priests renamed the Franciscan priests renamed the place. In 1850, English speakers place. In 1850, English speakers renamed the place. What is it?!renamed the place. What is it?!