LANGUAGE

LANGUAGE A system of symbolic communication using sounds and/or gestures that are able to be understood by all members within a society that share the language. Can you think of examples?

LANGUAGE Symbol vs. Signal Symbol: Shared understandings about the meaning of certain words, attributes, or objects. Signal: An instinctive sound or gesture that has a natural or self- evident meaning. Like choking on food or sneezing

HUMANS VS. PRIMATES Koko the Gorilla: Koko Chimpanzees, Orangutans and Gorillas can communicate through sign language at the level of a ~2-3 year old human child. Human culture is ultimately dependent on an elaborate system of communication far more complex than that of any other species.

LINGUISTICS T HE S TUDY OF L ANGUAGE -- ONE OF THE 4 MAJOR SUB - FIELDS OF A NTHROPOLOGY Descriptive Linguistics Phonology : “Sound-study” The study of language sounds Sounds in some languages that are absent/difficult to pronounce in others?

LINGUISTICS T HE S TUDY OF L ANGUAGE -- ONE OF THE 4 MAJOR SUB - FIELDS OF A NTHROPOLOGY Descriptive Linguistics Morphology : “Form-study” The study of the patterns or rules of word formation in a language: Verb tenses, pluralization and compound words

LINGUISTICS T HE S TUDY OF L ANGUAGE -- ONE OF THE 4 MAJOR SUB - FIELDS OF A NTHROPOLOGY Descriptive Linguistics Syntax : The patterns or rules by which words are arranged into phrases and sentences

LINGUISTICS T HE S TUDY OF L ANGUAGE -- ONE OF THE 4 MAJOR SUB - FIELDS OF A NTHROPOLOGY Descriptive Linguistics Grammar : The entire formal structure of a language, including morphology and syntax Grammar rules of different languages? Definite article differences?

HISTORICAL LINGUISTICS T HE ORIGINS / CHANGING NATURE OF LANGUAGE Deciphering “dead” languages Differences between earlier and later forms of the same language How older languages developed into modern ones Interrelationships among older languages

LANGUAGE FAMILY A GROUP OF LANGUAGES DESCENDED FROM A SINGLE ANCESTRAL LANGUAGE Indo-European Language Family: Map University of Texas Linguistics Research Center Nilo-Saharan Language Family: Map Ethnologue report Ethnologue An online research and reference guide to over 6,900 known languages

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

PROCESSES OF LINGUISTIC DIVERGENCE Selective Borrowing Ex: Foreign words in the English language? English words in other languages? Professional Specialization Ex: Anthropology/Psychology terms! Medical, Legal terms Sub-culture lingo Does the “gamer” culture have specific lingo? How about those who frequent Starbucks?

LANGUAGE LOSS AND REVIVAL 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 languages. 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.

Patricia Ryan TED Talk: “Don’t Insist on English!” (Films on Demand)

LANGUAGE LOSS AND REVIVAL UNESCO (The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization) is focused on preserving and reviving traditional languages

LANGUAGE LOSS AND REVIVAL Initiative Promotes multilingualism on the Internet, this initiative aims to bridge the digital divide (over 80% of all internet users speak just 10 languages) to make access to Internet content and services more equitable for users worldwide. Initiative (Home Page)

LANGUAGE LOSS AND REVIVAL Reviving and Preserving language Koro language, Northeast India: s/culture-places-news/enduring-voices-koro-vin.html s/culture-places-news/enduring-voices-koro-vin.html

LANGUAGE IN ITS SOCIAL AND CULTURAL SETTINGS Sociolinguistics: Relationship between language and society. How social categories (age, gender, ethnicity, religion, occupation and class) influence the use and significance of distinctive styles of speech. Gendered Speech: Distinct male and female speech patterns Ex: Gendered speech in U.S. culture? Do men and women speak in different ways?

LANGUAGE IN ITS SOCIAL AND CULTURAL SETTINGS Dialects: Varying forms of a language that reflect particular regions, occupations, or social classes and that are similar enough to be mutually intelligible. Ex: Formal (standard) vs. Informal speech A few American Dialects: Sampler Appalachian Louisiana Swamp

LANGUAGE IN ITS SOCIAL AND CULTURAL SETTINGS CONT. Ethnolinguistics: The study of the relationships between language and culture, and how they mutually influence and inform each other Linguistic Relativity: The idea that distinctions encoded in one language are unique to that language…

LANGUAGE IN ITS SOCIAL AND CULTURAL SETTINGS CONT. Ex: Color spectrum and arbitrary names/divisions Ex: 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 Nuer pastoralists of Africa have over 400 names for cattle. Ex: How many words do we have for “car”? (i.e. different parts or types of “car”?) What about words for “money”?

LANGUAGE IN ITS SOCIAL AND CULTURAL SETTINGS CONT. What do elements of our language say about us… 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, “spearhead” a movement, “decapitate” a foreign government, or “bomb” on an exam.

LANGUAGE IN ITS SOCIAL AND CULTURAL SETTINGS CONT. “The structure of the language one habitually uses influences the manner in which one understands his environment. The picture of the universe shifts from tongue to tongue.” -B.J. Whorf

GESTURE-CALL SYSTEM Body signs account for over 60% of our total communication It provides the “key” to speech, providing listeners with the appropriate frame for interpreting what a speaker is saying. Ideas about personal space? Business space? Paralanguage: voice effects that convey meaning Giggling/groaning/sighing/pitch/tempo of words  Clip from Pretty WomanPretty Woman

GESTURE-CALL SYSTEM Tonal languages: In some languages, intoning a word slightly differently will change the word entirely. Ex? (70% of the world’s language are Tonal) Ex: Zhutwasi, or “San Bushmen” click language: Z-7z1w&feature=related Z-7z1w&feature=related

GESTURE-CALL SYSTEM What about texting, , Facebook, etc… without body signs and other cues, how do we get across the right meaning? (According to a recent study, the intended tone of messages is perceived correctly only 56% of the time)