Culture And Anthropology Cultural Variation Cultural Variation Ethnocentrism Ethnocentrism Cultural Relativity Cultural Relativity

Defining Culture Many Ways to Define Culture Depending on Research Orientation. Many Ways to Define Culture Depending on Research Orientation. Culture is Learned Culture is Learned Culture is Shared within a Community Culture is Shared within a Community

Elements of Human Culture Technology Technology Economic Organization Economic Organization Social Organization Social Organization Political Organization Political Organization Ideology (Belief System) Ideology (Belief System) Aesthetics (Artistic Expression) Aesthetics (Artistic Expression) Culture is not possible without Language Culture is not possible without Language

The Influence of Culture on Language Cultural Emphasis Cultural Emphasis – Boas: Language a window into culture Language reflects culture Language reflects culture – Finer distinctions – More elaborate vocabulary  Inuit snow, seals Interactive IñupiaQ Dictionary Interactive IñupiaQ DictionaryInteractive IñupiaQ Dictionary  Nuer cattle  U. S. sports  Hanunóo colors  Marshallese birthing vocabulary

How Language Reflects Culture Cultural emphasis… Cultural emphasis… Cognitive Anthropology… Cognitive Anthropology… Ethnoscience as method… Ethnoscience as method… Linguistic Relativity…. Linguistic Relativity….

Ethnosemantics 1950s and 60s 1950s and 60s Frake, Goodenough, Conklin Frake, Goodenough, Conklin Alternate names: Alternate names: – Ethnoscience, Cognitive Anthropology Vocabulary indicates Vocabulary indicates – “native” categories – Culturally important distinctions Psychological reality or formal account? Psychological reality or formal account?

Ethnosemantics as Method Identify a semantic domain Identify a semantic domain – Grand Tour questions Collect words Collect words Construct a taxonomy Construct a taxonomy Develop a componential analysis Develop a componential analysis – (i.e., feature analysis, contrast analysis) (See W/R pp ). (See W/R pp ).

Linguistic Relativity Languages are Languages are – Differently structured – Arbitrary systems Cultural emphases are Cultural emphases are – Differently structured – Arbitrary systems Body parts Body parts Kin terms Kin terms Color terms Color terms

Searching for Universals Berlin & Kay: Basic Color Terms Berlin & Kay: Basic Color Terms – Focal points vs boundaries – Sequence Black and white Black and white Add red Add red Add green or yellow Add green or yellow Add yellow or green Add yellow or green Add blue Add blue Add brown Add brown Add purple, pink, orange, and/or gray Add purple, pink, orange, and/or gray – Problems Defining basic Defining basic Establishing a “standard” for colors Establishing a “standard” for colors

Hanunóo Color Terms Dark Dark Light Light Fresh Fresh Dry Dry Reflecting an agricultural focus. Reflecting an agricultural focus.

Linguistic Relativity Languages are different Languages are different Languages are arbitrary systems Languages are arbitrary systems Differences are not predictable Differences are not predictable - body parts - kin - colors.

The Influence of Language on Culture Linguistic determinism Linguistic determinism – Sapir and Whorf Strong Whorf Strong Whorf – Language determines thought  Language as a prison (Agar) Weaker Whorf Weaker Whorf – Language influences thought  Language as a room (Agar) Stumbling (English) v. hobbling along (Hopi) Stumbling (English) v. hobbling along (Hopi) – An event v. a continuum

Experiments in Linguistic Determinism: Yucatec Grammar stresses material Grammar stresses material – Connects related words for wood, tree, table Individuals group cardboard items together. Individuals group cardboard items together.

Experiments in Linguistic Determinism: English Grammar stresses shape Grammar stresses shape – Different words for wood, tree, table Individuals group boxes together. Individuals group boxes together.

New Evidence for Linguistic Determinism Relative space v. absolute space Relative space v. absolute space – Guugu-Yimidhirr (an Australian Aborigine Language) NORTH-SOUTH-EAST-WEST (absolute) NORTH-SOUTH-EAST-WEST (absolute) – Tzeltal (A Mayan language spoken in Chiapas) UPHILL-DOWNHILL (relative). UPHILL-DOWNHILL (relative).

Experiencing Linguistic Determinism Shinzwani: mezajuu = at/on the table Shinzwani: mezajuu = at/on the table Shinzwani lending and borrowing Shinzwani lending and borrowing Ukrainian liubov v. kokhannia Ukrainian liubov v. kokhannia Clock time in Czech and English Clock time in Czech and English Hijri v. Gregorian calendars. Hijri v. Gregorian calendars.

Language, Culture, and Thought Categories and Metaphors Categories and Metaphors – Hopi and English ways of talking about time Time in cycles Time in cycles – Life is a journey – Arriving at a stopping place Time in units Time in units – Time is money – Running out of time.

Examples of Linguistic Determinism: SAE time = matter time = matter Units of time = objects Passage of time = endless line of identical objects

Examples of Linguistic Determinism: Hopi time = a process time = a process units of time = cycles units of time = cycles passage of time = endless repetition of same cycle. passage of time = endless repetition of same cycle.

Metaphors and Frames Using words within frames Using words within frames – Viewing the world through frames Founding Fathers v. Founding Mothers Founding Fathers v. Founding Mothers Tax relief v. community support Tax relief v. community support Looting v. finding Looting v. finding Job creators v. The 1% Job creators v. The 1% The ACA Supreme Court decision was based on framing – Tax v. Mandate

Summary Language is a window into culture (Boas) Language is a window into culture (Boas) Language is a cultural map (Conklin, Frake…) Language is a cultural map (Conklin, Frake…) Language is a guide to social reality (Sapir/Whorf) Language is a guide to social reality (Sapir/Whorf) – Linguistic relativity: grammar influences thought A well-accepted idea A well-accepted idea – Linguistic determinism: grammar determines world view Still controversial Still controversial Language is a framing device (Lakoff) Language is a framing device (Lakoff) – Helps us to organize and frame our experience of the world – And to express our experience of the world