CMNS 110 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Walter J. Ong, Spoken Word, Dysphemism

• School: Simon Fraser University
• Department: Communication
• Course: CMNS 110
• Professor: Gary Mc Carron

Document Summary

Cmns110 week 3: language and culture9/18/2012 9:33:00 am. Trying to understand where language actually came from is problematic . Language: social phenomenon, how we communicate with other people. Ancient greeks created democracy (template for contemporary democracy) Charles hockett and the design features of language. The power of language: making commitments, making promises and vows, etc. it always exceeds, it cannot be contained with just meaning. Interested in the origins of language, but there was a problem with the question. There is no language, there are languages and each are unique: important to have a clear understanding of each language s origin and social/cultural background. Design features - the building blocks of language: vocal/auditory channel. Spoken word disappears, after you speak, it s gone. Contrast to writing that doesn t disappear : interchangeability. Switch roles of listener and speaker: intrapersonal feedback. Must involve intentions it is intentional: arbitrariness.