ANTH 001 Chapter Notes - Chapter 4: Foxp2, Dialect Continuum, Code-Switching
1 May 2018
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Chapter 4: Language
CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOG Y
Definitions
Language: A system of communication organized by rules that uses symbols such as words, sounds, and
gestures to convey information.
Productivity: The linguistic ability to use known words to invent new word combinations
Displacement: The ability to use words to refer to objects not immediately present or events occurring in the
past or future.
Descriptive linguists: The study of the sounds, symbols, and gestures of a language, and their combination into
forms that communicate meaning.
Phonemes: The smallest units of sound that can make a difference on their own.
Phonology: The study of what sounds exist and which ones are important for a particular language.
Morphemes: The smallest units of sound that carry meaning on their own.
Morphology: The study of patterns and rules of how sounds combine to make morphemes.
Syntax: The specific patterns and rules for constructing phrases and sentences
Grammar: The combined set of observations about the rules governing the formation of morphemes and
syntax that guide language use.
Kinesics: The study of the relationship between body movements and communications
Paralanguage: An extensive set of noises (such as cries) and tones of voice that convey significant information
about the speaker.
Sapir-Whorf hypothesis: The idea that different languages create different ways of thinking.
Lexicon: All the words for names, ideas, and events that make up a language’s dictionary.
Focal vocabulary: The words and terminology that develop with particular sophistication to describe the
unique cultural realities experienced by a group of people.
Sociolinguistics: The study of the ways culture shapes language and language shapes culture, particularly the
intersection of language with cultural categories and systems of power such as race, gender, class, and age.
Dialect: A nonstandard variation of a language.
Prestige language: A particular way of speaking, or language variation, that is associated with wealth, success,
education, and power.
Code switching: Switching back and forth between one linguistic variant and another depending on the cultural
context.
Historical linguistics: The study of the development of language over time, including its changes and
variations.
Language continuum: The idea that variation in languages appears gradually over distance so that groups of
people who live near one another speak in a way that is mutually intelligible.
Language loss: The extinction of languages that have very few speakers.
4.1 What is language and where does it come from?
Phonology: Is “ch” one sound or two?
Morphology: What is the meaning of the prefix “ante-“?
Syntax: In the U.S. English, does the adjective go before or after the noun?
(Pg. 94) While nonhuman primates do not exhibit complex human language behavior in their natural
habitats, some primates in captivity have been taught to use language in distinct ways.
Exhibited by Nonhuman Primates
Not Exhibited by Nonhuman Primates
• Productivity: in the context of language use,
productivity refers to the ability to create new
phrases using known words.
• Displacement: the ability to use language to refer
to objects or concepts that are not immediately
visible, such as a hidden toy or the future.
• Code switching: an aspect of complex language
use when a person switches from one mode of
speaking to another depending on cultural context
• Grammar: Nonhuman primates do not exhibit
complex language use, such as following
grammar rules.
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Chapter 4: Language
CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOG Y
(Pg. 95) The FOXP2 gene has been connected with human language use.
The FOXP2 gene may activate the ability to use human speech. A family in Britain was found to have a rare
mutation of the FOXP2 gene, which prevented them from communicating effectively. The same mutation is
found in chimpanzees, suggesting that this gene is crucial to the ability to use human language.
(Pg. 96-96) Descriptive linguists must study all facets of a language, including the sounds, gestures, and
symbols used by those that speak it.
Kinesics: the study of the relationship between body movements and communications
Language is much more than just the words we speak. Facial expressions, gestures, and postures all
communicate different information.
Phonology: the study of what sounds exist and which ones are important for a particular language.
Phonology is the study of phonemes, which are the smallest unit of sound that can make a difference in
meaning. For example, in English, a b and a p sound similar but can drastically change the meaning of a word.
Morphology: the study of patterns and rules of how sounds combine to make morphemes.
Morphemes are the smallest units of sound that carry meaning on their own.
(Pg. 97) Ninety percent of how we communicate is through nonverbal actions and cues.
Parts of Language that Emoji’s Try to Replace
Parts of Language that Emoji’s Do Not Try to
Replace
• Body Language
Body language communicates an immense amount of
information, which is often culturally informed. A
“thumbs up”, for example, may mean something
positive in one culture but could be offensive in
another
• Paralanguage
Paralanguage refers to the sounds that we make while
speaking. This includes our tone of voice, laughing,
crying, yelling, or any other noises we make while
communicating digitally, and emojis attempt to replace
this important information that is lost online.
• Digital language
Emojis are, in a sense, part of a digital language. They
are attempting to compensate for other activities that
people do while speaking in person.
• Spoken language
Spoken language can most easily be written down and
communicated digitally. It is the tones and gestures
that emojis attempt to replace.
(Pg. 92, 114) Language in the United States
True
False
• Thirty-one states have English-only laws
These laws states that English must be the only
language in classrooms, and in other official state
locations.
• Four hundred languages are spoken in the US.
Of these, 169 are native languages that were spoken
before the arrival of European conquerors and
colonists. These languages are the most endangered
today.
• English is the national language in the US
• Some states have laws declaring that Spanish
speakers may be arrested on suspicion of being
undocumented immigrants
Although a law in Arizona provides for the arrest of
suspected undocumented immigrants, it does not
specifically target Spanish speakers. However, civil
rights activists worry that police officers will rely on
cues like language, skin color, and attire. Here,
Spanish speakers in Arizona protest the law.
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Document Summary
Language: a system of communication organized by rules that uses symbols such as words, sounds, and gestures to convey information. Productivity: the linguistic ability to use known words to invent new word combinations. Displacement: the ability to use words to refer to objects not immediately present or events occurring in the past or future. Descriptive linguists: the study of the sounds, symbols, and gestures of a language, and their combination into forms that communicate meaning. Phonemes: the smallest units of sound that can make a difference on their own. Phonology: the study of what sounds exist and which ones are important for a particular language. Morphemes: the smallest units of sound that carry meaning on their own. Morphology: the study of patterns and rules of how sounds combine to make morphemes. Syntax: the specific patterns and rules for constructing phrases and sentences.
