Anthropology 2245F/G Lecture Notes - Synapsis, Language Ideology, Baby Talk
Document Summary
Language ideologies are simply ideas that people have about languages (how do you learn languages, which languages are easier, what language is prettier) this is knowledge that is not scientific. It is "folk" knowledge that helps an individual interact within a culture. These ideologies are what makes our own culture"s language. For example, it is implicit and unconsciously but it is believed that baby talk evolved because children need it to learn their language. English is more difficult to learn than other languages. The language ideologies do not translate into our behaviour patterns. This reflects upon how we study language ideologies. It depends on how close it is to your mother tongue and how similar is it. Studies show that if you are immersed in an environment 24/7 for three months where there is a different oral language (16-18 years old), they will be verbally fluent to live within that society.