Origins… “Break a Leg.” “Mind your P’s and Q’s.” “Let’s get the hell outta Dodge.” “Mind your own Beeswax.” “The Rule of Thumb.”

CHAPTER 8 CLASS NOTES A GEOGRAPHY OF LANGUAGE

Language is at the Heart of Culture No Culture exists w/out Language Change constantly HOW??? 5,000 – 6,000 Languages in use today in the world (1 dies every 2 weeks)

LANGUAGE – Communication of Sound (vocalization) is crucial Meanings of sounds must be learned Preliterate Society – People who speak a language, but don’t write it Disadvantage ??? No written record

STANDARD LANGUAGE – (In advanced societies) what the elite seek to use as the norm (some variation) “The Queen’s English” in UK Matter of cultural and national identity Use in gov’t, docs, schools, media, courts

OFFICIAL LANGUAGE - Official State Language of a Country Nationally Recognized to promote internal cohesion USA is one of few countries NOT to have one (table on p. 147)

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DIALECTS – Regional variants of a standard language Differences in: Syntax, pronunciation, cadence etc. “You all” = “Y’all” in TX “Oil” in NE might sound like “Ahll” in the South

USA vs. ENGLAND REsearch vs. reSEARCH GaRAge vs. GAR…rarge Sch (k) edule vs. Shhedule

ISOGLOSSES – Geographic boundary marking linguistic features (extent to where one term is used, then switch) Say “Dinner” in N. IL, but in S. IL… say “Supper” in S. IL Say “Water Fountain” in IL, but in WI… It’s a “Bubbler”

Soda = Pop Couch = Davenport (Sofa) Patio / Deck Lanai Thank You = Cheers! Gas = Petrol Bathroom = Loo / Water Closet Body Shop (Mechanic) = Garage Garage = Carport

WORLD LANGUAGES Language Family – Way to group languages thought to have shared, but distant origins See chart in book, p. 117 for complete list

INDO-EUROPEAN FAMILY More people speak a language from this one family than any other English, Spanish, German, Russian, French Chinese = single most spoken language (Sino-Tibetan Family)

Where did they ever come from??? MORE FAMOUS ENGLISH SAYINGS

“Don’t throw the baby out with the bath water.”

“Its raining cats and dogs.”

“Dirt poor.” “The Threshold.”

“Go to a wake.”

“Chew the fat.”

“The Graveyard Shift.” “Saved by the Bell.”

“Ring around the Rosie, Pockets full of posies, Ashes, ashes, We all fall down!”