Language and CommunicationPart 1

Learning Objectives for Language and Communication Unit

1. Identify key structures of language

2. Identify what focal vocabularies are and why they exist

3. Discriminate between the different forms of non-verbal communication

4. Discriminate between the early ideas of Sapir-Whoft hypothesis and the modern viewpoint.

5. Identify the differences between non-human primate communication & human language.

6. Identify how historical linguistics relates to anthropology.

7. Analyze the impact of colonization as well as globalization on indigenous languages.

Language and the Human Species

Language: ______________________

Importance of language for human life 1. only ___________capable of speech 2. avenue of communication & thought

concerning ___________________, and ___________ persons, places, things, actions, & events

3. _____________________aided by language

Linguistic Anthropology

Focus on language social and cultural context

Generally interested in how language can influence Comparisons Worldview Patterns of thought Multilingualism World economy

Origin of Language

When did language first appear in human evolution?

What evidence can anthropologists use to test hypotheses on the origin of language? _______________ ________________________

Origin of Language

FOXP2 and the Evolution of Language FOXP2

Gene _____________________________

Based on genetic research, the FOXP2 gene is believed to have appear around _______________________ ______________________________________

Linguistic & cultural abilities

Sequencing of the __________________shows that this species had FOXP2

FOXP2 and the Evolution of Language

FOXP2 and the Evolution of Language

Non-Verbal Communication

_________________ ______________________of bodily

movements, facial expressions, and spatial relationships

___________________ can occur, if the understanding is not shared Touching Space usage

Nonverbal Communication

1. Kinesics: _______________________ ____________________________

_______________________ Emotional states Different meanings in different

circumstances

__________________________ Convey feelings and/or messages

via touching another person

Nonverbal Communication

Nonverbal Communication

2. Proxemics Study of how people in _____________

_________________________________ ____________________

Meaning conveyed by _________ ____________________

Nonverbal Communication

Properties of Language

1. Productivity Speaker’s ability to create

totally ______________________ ______________________________

A language’s ________________________ can be combined into a infinite number of meaningful sentences

Properties of Language

2. Displacement Our ability to talk about objects,

people, things, and events that are __________________________

Due to usage of symbols to transmit meanings

Structure of Language: Terms

Phonology _____________________________

Present & significant in language

Morphology _________________________________

Structure of Language: Terms

Lexicon Dictionary concerning all

________________ Organized around __________________

Lexeme Minimal unit of language

_______________________ ______________________

Structure of Language: Terms

Syntax __________________________________________ ‘Appreciating Anthropology’ page 116

We will talk about this study later in lecture

Semantics ___________________________________ Ethnosemantics: ________________________

Structure of Language: Terms

Phonetics Study of ________________________

What people actually say Phonemics

Study of _________________in a language Phonemes

_________________________________ Phonetic range – ________________

Language, Thought, and Culture

Noam Chomsky Set of rules ______________________________

Human brain contains a limited set of rules for organizing language

All Languages = ______________________

Language, Thought, and Culture

Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis Idea that different languages produce

________________________________

English & Hopi languages

Language, Thought, and Culture

Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis, continued Initial ideas centered on ‘all thoughts

being constrained, or determined, by language’ Various studies have disproved this area of

the hypothesis – language does not determine thought

Studies have also shown that language does have an influence on thought

ways in which we see the world may be influenced by the kind of language we use

Focal Vocabulary

Lexicon – influence on perception Focal Vocabulary

_____________________________________

Examples: 1

2

Language and Communication

What is the difference between language and communication? Communication: ___________________

___________________________________

If language is unique to the human species, how do other species communication?

Communication Among Non-Human Primates

Communication can ______________: submission,

reassurance, aggression, etc.

Communication can include: _______________

__________________ ________________

Howler Monkey (male): loudest land animals and the second loudest of all animals

Communication Among Non-Human Primates

Primates don’t ___________

Parts of calls are not ___________ to get new information

Their calls are _____________ Proboscis monkey

calling