AN101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 13: Skype, Ethnocentrism, Chaise
Document Summary
Sociocultural anthropology focuses on learned behaviours and ideas that human beings acquire as members of society. Language is one of these behaviours that is learned and culturally acquired. Language is so ingrained in our everyday life and seems so natural that we tend to forget it is leaned and culturally acquired. Language is universal: all people around the world have a language. Languages are plural: different societies around the world have elaborated different languages (6660) The system of arbitrary vocal symbols (or their equivalent) we use to encode our experience of the world. The articulated sounds of speech can be transferred into visual speech symbolism (written words, reading lips, sign language, etc. ) For ex: primates have call systems ranging from 15-40 difference calls depending on the species. These calls are produces only when the animal finds itself in specific situations, such as the presence of food or danger (limited contexts)
