AN101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Emic And Etic
Document Summary
Symbolic language unique to humans: human language on symbols that makes it such a flexible and creative system of communication - and far more powerful than any primate call system could ever be. Interrelationships of biology, culture, and language: human brain and the anatomy of the mouth and throat (vocal chords) make language a biological possibility. Understanding a new culture through ethnographic fieldwork: human language is clearly cultural because it is learned and shared amongst a group of people. This can enable anthropologists to have access informants" emic perspectives, views, and interpretations about various social phenomenons, They study the origin, development, and diversity of languages. Also the physiology of speech and the interrelationship of culture, language, and biology. Study how different languages influence each other"s language and culture. Study language both as a form of symbolic communication and as an important carrier of cultural information. Study how language difference correlate with differences in gender, race, class, or ethnic identity.
