Chapter 20 - Language and culture Flashcards
Categories
A group of certain features in common and the vocabulary we learn can be thought of as a set of category labels. For instance, ‘dog’ to talk about any kind of dog.
Lexicalized
Expressed in a single word.
Linguistic relativity
The structure of our language influences how we perceive the world.
Linguistic determinism
Language determines thought.
The saprir Whorf hypothesis
Claimed that American natives’ language led them to view the world differently. Animate and inaminate (stones for instance considered animate). Criticized.
Non-lexicalized
Not expressed in a single word (for instance farbror becomes uncle on fathers side).
Cognitive categories
How people think. Animate may be closer to “having special importance in life” in one culture. For instance we make duifference between countable and uncountable objects “item of” or piece of”. Some of these (like furniture) is countable in other languages.
Socieal categories
Uncle and grandmother are examples. Brother for both brother and a person in same social group.
T/V distinction
Different pronouns used for people who are close versus distant. (comes from French tu and vous). In English we have Ms, Mrs, Mr.
Social gender
distinction we make when we use words like man and woman to classify individuals in terms of their social roles. We inherit a gendered culture. Women are expected to be politer when speaking).
Pitch
The effect of vibration in the vocal folds. Slower = darker, rapid = higher. Men has lower pitch than women (in general).
Taq question
Auxiliary + pronoun at end of statement, More often used by women (isn’t it?).
Back channel
Use of words or sounds by listeners while someone else is speaking. Men have fewer and thinks of them as agreement.
