chapter 6 Flashcards
language
a form of communication based on symbolic sounds that when put together have meaning
communication
process of sharing information through language or non-verbal systems of meaning
linguistics
scientific study of language
descriptive linguistics
analysis of the structure of language and how words are put together
historical linguistics
how words have changed in the way they are used over time
paralanguage
a focus on how people deliver their spoken message
haptic communication
non-verbal communication that involves touch
proxemics
non-verbal communication that involves use of space, idea around personal space
high context vs low context cultures
high context- focus on the delivery instead of what is said, tend to be more communal/consensus based, decisions based also on emotional factors
low context- what is said is more important than the delivery, individualistic, straight forward
sociolinguistics
study of language in relation to society and the way language is used in society
factors that determine how people speak
education, social class, ethnicity, gender, social prestige,
code switching
talking in a certain way or language depending on the situation
how does language form social identity
- the way you speak can determine the value prescribed to you by society
how does language form national identity
- language can be a form of external unity throughout the nation
- it can also be a form of internal divisions in multicultural societies
ebonics and the way it shapes society
- ebonics has a negative view by society and it forms social identity in the sense that people who speak ebonics are seen as of a lower class
- not using ebonics can also lead to being excluded from communities
- children who speak ebonics are generally at a disadvantage in schools and in the work force
indexical
forms of address (Mr. Mrs. etc)
what determines indexicals
social and power relations between the subjects
when is a language a language
when it can be understood by its speakers and receivers (mutual intelligibility)
dialect continuum
spectrum that goes from the mutual intelligibility of two languages to the unintelligibility
lingua franca
language used when speakers do not understand each other’s native tongue
pidgin
simplified language of the mother tongue
creole
language created when English settlers started communicating with the locals
mixed languages
combination of 2 languages
dialect
the way of pronunciation that varies by class or region
standard dialect
the dialect most widely accepted and institutionally supported
Saphire-whorf hypothesis
a person’s language shapes their perception of the world and ultimately their behaviour because language determines the way you define things, and categorize them which ultimately defines how you see them
linguistic determinism
the language you speak determines your perception of the world
linguistic relativism
language classifies and categories the world differently relative to the culture
criticisms of saphir-whorf hypothesis
1.how do you determine/prove language determines culture
2. if language influences thought, the language must pre-cede thought, but pre-linguistic babies have thoughts
3.
consensus on language and it’s influence on perception
language sets up a filter between the human being and the world he or she perceives. Heightening certain perceptions and diming others.
