COM CM 301 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Hopi Language, Stereotype, Edward Sapir

• School: Boston University
• Department: Mass Communication, Advertising & Public Relations
• Course: COM CM 301
• Professor: Tammy Vigil

Document Summary

Language- a collection of symbols governed by rules and used to convey messages between individuals. Language is symbolic: symbols- arbitrary constructions that represent a communicator"s thoughts, sign language, as is spoken by most deaf people, is symbolic in nature and not the pantomime it might seem to nonsigners. Meanings are in people, not words: the meaning people associate with words have far more significance than do their dictionary definitions, triangle of meaning . Indirect relationship between a word and the thing it claims to represent. Some things or referents do not exist in the physical world. Some are mythical, no longer tangible, abstract idea: problems arise when people mistakenly assume that others use words in the same way they do. Avoid assuming that others interpret words the same way we. Language is rule governed do: phonological rules- govern how words sound when pronounced, syntactic rules- govern the structure of language- the way symbols can be arranged.