ch 4 notes language Flashcards
Language
A set of sounds, combinations of sounds, and symbols that are used for communication
types of language
Natural language Emerged and evolved within living or historic human communities Artificial language intentionally constructed by people for communication or fictional purposes Elvish languages in Lord of the Rings Dothraki language in Game of Thrones Esperanto sign language – (no universal sign)
natural language
Emerged and evolved within living or historic human communities
artificial language
intentionally constructed by people for communication or fictional purposes Dothraki language in Game of Thrones
language concepts
Linguistic dominance a situation where one language becomes relatively more powerful than another language Not strictly about number of speakers English vs. Chinese languages Loanword A word that originates in one language and is incorporated into the vocabulary of another language E.g. Ukulele and luau from Hawaiian, carvan and candy from Persian, fjord and ski from norwegian
linguistic dominance
a situation where one language becomes relatively more powerful than another language Not strictly about number of speakers English vs. Chinese languages
loanword
A word that originates in one language and is incorporated into the vocabulary of another language E.g. Ukulele and luau from Hawaiian, carvan and candy from Persian, fjord and ski from norwegian
language and national identity
Standard/Official Language A language that a country formally designates for use in its political, legal and administrative affairs
mono vs multilingual
Monolingual State a Country in which only one language is spoken Multilingual State a country in which more than one language is in use
official language
should a multilingual state adopt an official language?
dialect
: variants of a standard language along regional or ethnic lines
dialects: social dialects prestige dialects vernacular language linguistic geography
Social Dialects: dialects that reflect differences in social standing and educational level i.e. prestige dialect vs. vernacular Prestige dialect: a way of speaking associated with a high socioeconomic or educational status Vernacular Language: a localized or non official language, often used by those lower in social standing or in some isolated areas Linguistic geography – the study of spatial characteristics of language and dialects
isogloss
A geographic boundary within which a particular linguistic feature occurs Dialect boundary (isogloss) between variants on American terms for a course sack Dialect boundary (isogloss) between terms for soft drinks (“soda” or “pop”)
language families
A group of languages descended from a common but distant ancestor (approx 90 families, but only 6 are major families)
protolanguage
a common language reconstructed by linguist
genetic classification
classification of languages by origin and historical relationships
languages by size
½ the world’s people speak languages belonging to the Indo-European language family all but 3 of the languages below are into European (Chinese arabic and japaneese are not)
historical linkakges amoung languages
Old English emerged out of proto Germanic language brought to England during the 5th and 6th centuries Middle English After 13th century “Modern Day” english 15th century (from London) Expands globally in 18th century
History of English main points:
1- anglosaxon… influenced by Vikings and chritians 2 – Shakespear – introduced new words to English King james bible – sCience (1600) Englih took word from other countries/languages Dictionaries American englih (industrial terms) Internet Global english
Renfrew (Anatolian) Hypothesis:
Proto-Indo-European began in the Fertile Crescent, and then: From Anatolia diffused Europe’s languages From the Western Arc of Fertile Crescent diffused North Africa and Arabia’s languages From the Eastern Arc of Fertile Crescent diffused Southwest Asia and South Asia’s languages. spread with Anatolian farmer/agriculture
Kurgan Hypothesis
Hearth of the Indo-European languages lies north of the Caspian Sea (near the current Russia/Kazakhstan border) kurgen nomadic hoarders domesticated horses and carried the language to the ease and west as they conquered new lands
How are Languages Formed?
can find linkages amoung languages by examining sound shifts – a slight change in a word across languages over time eg. Milk = lacte in Latin latta in Italian leche in Spanish lait in French Language divergence when a lack of spatial interaction among speakers of a language breaks the language into dialects and then new languages Language convergence when people with different language have consistent special interaction and their languages collapse into one
how do languages diffuse
human interaction print distribution migration trade rise of nation-states colonialism religion
language spread
Different Forms of Linguistic Diffusion Relocation: massive movement into new areas of speakers of a particular language (e.g. English or French in North America) Hierarchical: spread of language to a new are through colonial processes, assosiated with prestige and desire to function within the society