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Language and Communication
Chapter 4
15
Anthropology
Undergraduate 1
02/07/2011

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Term
call systems vs language
Definition
displacement (talking about things and events not present), productivity (ability to use the rules of ones language to create new expressions) and cultural transmission (learning language)
Term
cultural transmission
Definition
a basic feature of language; transmission through learning. learned behaviors
Term
descriptive linguistics
Definition
the scientific study of spoken language
Term
focal vocabulary
Definition
a set of words and distinctions that are particularly important to certain groups. e.g types of snow to eskimos and skiers
Term
historical linguistics
Definition
subdivision of linguistics that studies language over time. languages that descend from other languages
Term
Sapir-Whorf hypothesis
Definition
theory that different languages produce different ways of thinking e.g masculine and feminine in spanish and french
Term
sociolinguistics,
Definition
study of relationships between social and linguistic variation. study of language and its social context
Term
universal grammar
Definition
homsky's hypothesis of a single grammatical system which is transmitted genetically and accounts for the ability of all normal humans to learn and speak their native language
Term
symbolic domination Issues: Differences between primate call systems in the wild and language
Definition
primate call systems does not begin to approach the complexity of language. The natural communication systems of other primates( monkeys and apes) are call systems which have a limited number of sounds. they are much less flexible than language because they are automatic and cant be combined
Term
ape use of language in labs vs. human language
Definition
apes were able to practice productivity, displacement and cultural transmission
Term
grammars and lexicons of particular languages shape perception, thought;
Definition
Phonology (the study of speech sounds) focuses on sound contrasts (phonemes) that distinguish meaning . The grammars and lexicons( dictionary containing there meanings or morphemes) can lead the speaker to perceive and think in certain was
Term
sociolinguistic investigations of relationship between social and linguistic variation
Definition
only when features of speech acquire social meaning are they limited. if they are valued they will spread, people vary there speech, shifting styles and dialect
Term
symbolic domination
Definition
linguistic forms take on the power of the groups they symbolize , yet it mis represents prestige speech as being better.e.g the linguistic insecurity felt by black low class is a result of symbolic demonination
Term
connection of language and power and social divisions
Definition
Term
salvage linguistics – efforts to preserve threatened languages (1/2 of remaining languages) and why important
Definition
Harrison records the last speakers of endangered languages striving to preserve language. called "Ednuring voices Project". because when we lose a language, we lose centuries of thinking about time, seasons, mathematics, landscapes, myths, music, the unknown and the everyday"
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