[ANTH 1120] - Midterm Exam Guide - Comprehensive Notes for the exam (17 pages long!)
5 Oct 2016
School
Department
Course
Professor
Document Summary
Language is one of the main ways we pass on information, ideas, etc. Language: system of arbitrary vocal symbols we use to encode our experiences of the world. Is a biocultural phenomenon, this combination of physical biology and culture. Language in the singular and language in the plural. Seen as a tool kit we all have, used in diverse forms of creativity and communication. Native speaker: a person who has spoken a particular language since early childhood. In anthropology, argue that many people switch between different languages. Involves grammatical and conceptual intricacies that anthropologists can analyze to gain insight into a culture. They speak a certain way for a reason, hints to their values, views etc. All people use language to encode their experiences, to structure their understanding of the world and of themselves. Design features: 16 different characteristics of language that when taken together differentiate from other known animal communications. How are we different from animals when communicating.
