Anthro Chapter 4 Language
Language and Dialect
Dialect: "nonstandard variation of a language." in order to have dialect you must first have a standard version of a language. Everything from spelling, pronunciation, and grammar have been codified into books (i.E. dictionaries and grammar manuals) but only quite recently in human history. The existence of a standardized version of a language is a statement of power. The "standard" version of a language is not one that is better than other dialects; it is simply one whose speakers are afforded more social power.
Sapir-Whorf hypothesis
Different languages create different ways of thinking, they effectively serve as a form of classification for the world around us, and change how we understand the world. Support: working with the native american language Hopi. Whorf found that hopi used only two tenses: a combined tense used for both the past and the present, and a separate tense for the future. Past and present reflect a lived reality The future is only hypothetical or potential reality.
Language and Gender
Gender refers to the cultural roles played by the different sexes. to be male or female is a matter of sex. Cultural idealogies frame sex as a binary category-that is, you must be one or the other. Social roles that are assigned to supposedly binary sex categories. Gendered communication strategies are drawn into the dynamics of cultural power. Language has been sucked into the battle over cultural power and gender.
Kinesics and Paralanguage
Kinesics is the study of how body movements are used in communication [gestures] they are culturally dependent and not universal. Paralanguage is the study of the variety of sounds that accompany language, everything from laughter and grunts, to crying and screaming. these sounds are used to convey information beyond the straightforward message found in the words spoken.
African American English [AAEV] "spoken soul]
Language and power also cross at lines of ethnicity. Project negative stereotypes about African American English, suggesting it uses incorrect grammar and mispronounced words. It is internally consistent/it is perfectly understandable and logical/ it is thus a functioning linguistic system. May be a result of forced assimilation Adopted the term "spoken soul" as a more favorable name for the dialect In 1990's, controversy was raised over a proposal by the Oakland school district in California to teach African American English in the classroom. The power struggle surrounding language and AAE will likely survive as long as there is a power struggle between racial groups within the US
Defining Language (terms: displacement, productivity)
Language is a "system of communication that uses symbols-such as words, sounds, and gestures- organized according to certain rules, to convey and kind of information." -Kenneth J. Guest -While many other animals have the ability to communicate, it is the symbolic (or abstract) abilities of human language that set it apart. -Displacement: the ability to talk about things that are not present Ex: the past, present, concepts, ideas. Language is flexible. -Productivity: Using established structures, sounds can be combined in novel forms to meet new challenges.
Origins of Human Language
Language serves an essential role in human culture-unique property of Homo sapiens All primates make use of relatively complex communication systems As early as the 1950's, primatologists (anthropologists who study primates) began to wonder if apes could be taught more complex forms of communication A variety of ape were taught ASL Chantek to orangutan Use of ASL demonstrated both productivity and displacement
Language Loss
Languages are being lost. when we lose a language we lose a whole worldview, if not a completely novel way of thinking. we lose something special and rare. Linguistic anthropologists predict that as many as half of the world's approximately 7,000 languages could be lost by the end of the 21st centure. currently 469 languages have fewer than 100 speakers.
Preserving endangered languages
Technology is becoming an increasingly important aspect of these endeavors. ex: a private company named LiveAndTell has created a web-based platform to preserve and promote the Native American Lakota language. Digital platform makes it easy for people to both submit information and learn from what has already been posted. Working together the Lakota community has taken great strides in revitalizing and preserving their language.
How do systems of power intersect with language and communication
The "N-word" is an example of the overlap between power and language. The term has historical roots within the U.S. as a racial classificaion Extreme impact in the media, restrictions were gradually loosened. It was repurposed and embraced in the music world of hiphop and rap. As a result this extremely negative term has become a term of bonding and belonging among some people. The behavior of "reclaiming" a negative slur is not unique. But it is an excellent example of the many meanings a word can hold and how deeply entrenched in systems of power a single word can be.
Descriptive Linguistics
The study of the sounds and methods of construction used by a language. used to describe the essential elements and rules of a particular language work in communities that speak a language that has no writing system.
Language overview
a symbolic communication system used to relate cultural norms and values. Necessary in virtually all aspects of our lives Has the power to shape the way we think
Globalization of Language
as globalization increases, diversified languages decrease. International communication is made easier when people speak the same language western languages have begun to supplans other languages due to the economic and political power. Today, just 8 languages are spoken by more than 40% of the worlds population. The top 84 languages account for 80% of humanity The 4,000 least widely used languages account for only 0.12 percent of the population
Noam Chomsky and language
language development is something you were born with. Every child is born with a biological predisposition to learn any language humans share a similar language ability and, thus, ways of thinking. language is essentially hardwired into the human brain this leads to a universal grammar argues that all human languages are ultimately built on similar principles. Evidence: wide ability to translate thoughts and sentiments from one language to another.
How language shapes- Lera Boroditsky
making tones, hisses, and puffs, vibrations in the air. our brain transforms them into thoughts we can transmit our ideas across minds jellyfish waltzing in a library thinking about quantum mechanics. 7,000 languages with different sounds, vocabs, structures. "to have a second language is to have a second soul" aboriginal austrialians puktair. no left or right, cardinal directions nsew. ant on your southwest leg. hello=which way "north northeast how bout you" time goes east to west, locked on the landscape. in english blue, russian light blue and dark blue. German: sun/feminine moon/masculine spanish: sun/masculine moon/feminine
Paul Broca study 1864. (aphasia)
proved that damage to the rear portion of the left frontal lobe of the brain resulted in a form of aphasia, the loss of ability to understand or express speech, caused by brain damage. A long ago mutation in this single gene may have done much to open up the possibilities for human language.
Phonemes (and phonology)
represent the smallest unit of sound that can make a difference in meaning. Ex: the english letters B and P represent sounds that are very similar, and yet they distinguish particular meaning. the words "big" and "pig" are very different phonology has been developed to describe the study of phonemes within a language. different languages can have different sets of phonemes Ex: in Arabic, "b" and "p" represent two different ways of saying the same sound, rather than two different sounds.
Morphemes
represent the smallest units of sound that carry meaning on their own. Ex: cow/horse- can convey meaning without needing additional sounds Phonemes are combined to make morphemes, and morphemes are combined to make phrases and sentences. The combination of morphemes within a language is controlled by rules of grammar. Ex: "ain't nobody got time for that" [cultural language]
Focal Vocabulary
represents a detailed and well-developed vocabulary for a particular topic (or focus) -represents something of deep importance to a culture Ex: evans pritchard found that the Nuer, who are dependent on cattle for their well-being, have over 400 words to differentiate types of cattle. This is comparable to modern Americans having a host of terms for their online lives, including many new words regularly being added, such as tweet, google, blog, and so on. the central question of focal vocabulary is how much does it represent different ways of thinking? Ex: Colors- there are many, many more terms for colors in the english language than most people use. At least in the US there are strong divisions in use of color terminology along gender lines. women are more likely to use a wider variety of color terms than men are.
Language Revitalization
revitalize these languages ex: summer institute of linguistics (SIL) Goal is to create written versions of all of the world's languages in order to create translations of the Christian Bible. If you are christian yoy may find this to be a noble goal. Many anthropologists concerned that local cultural beliefs are not being respected. The SIL's goal of translating the bible into a local language is a direct attempt at influencing local cultures and making them more like christians. this creates an ethical conflict, particularly in terms of cultural relativism. Anthropologists are interested in documenting and preserving local cultures, not changing them to be more like their own culture.
Sociolinguistics
study of relationships between social and linguistic variation; study of language in its social context
Code Switching
the ability to easily switch back and forth between different dialects or different languages depending on cultural context. Code switching is very common in bilingual immigrant communities. it is also present in academia. ex: the way you talk at a party vs. in class ex: your instructors speak differently when they are lecturing to a whole class versus when they meet with you one on one. This involves switching between different styles of communication depending on the context.
