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Lecture

Language Culture, Prejudice

School
University of Toronto St. George
Department
Anthropology
Course Code
ANT100Y1
Professor
Christopher Watts
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Anthropology January 20th, 2011
Language Culture, Prejudice
•Nature vs. Nurture?
•Adaptation
•Prejudice: racism, ethnocentrism
•The origins of anthropology and imperialism
•Anthropology vs. ethnocentrism
•Cultural relativism – opinion that it is okay for people to do anything if it is part
of their culture
Learning Resources
•Book – Lavenda and Schultz available in UofT Bookstore
•Kalmar notes – online
Office Hours
•Tuesdays 12:30-1:30, check “contacts” web page for cancellations
Language and Culture: Nature vs. Nurture?
•Nature/nurture
•A false contrast?
•All humans have language and all humans have culture…
•…so language and culture are ‘programmed’ into humans by nature
Universals and Particulars
•Language and culture are human universals
•…but specific languages and specific culture are human particulars
•Universals (language and culture) are innate – transmitted via genes (through sex)
•Particulars (languages, culture) are learned – transmitted via society (largely
through talk)
Adaptive Value of Social Transmission
•Social transmission much more flexible than genetic transmission:
•Major changes can occur within a generation or two
•Major changes can occur without a change of species
Differentiation Within Species
•Specific languages and cultures develop to cope with specific environmental
niches
•Words ‘snow,’ ‘iPhone,’ ‘love’
•Cultures: potlatch (traditional custom in north Western America, people would
demonstrates wealth of money by giving it away), brideswealth/dowry
•Cultures (with language) change with niche itself
www.notesolution.com
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