Chapter 9 Linguistic Anthropology Flashcards
What is language?
The system of arbitrary vocal symbols we use to encode our experiences of the world
What is linguistics?
The scientific study of language
What does linguistic anthropology study?
- study’s all aspects of human communication, especially non-western languages
- verbal and non verbal languages
- the role of language in mass media
- changes of languages
What is communication?
Send big and receiving meaningful message
What is dialect?
A way of speaking in a particular place associated with region, social class, and ethnic group
What are the 2 key features of human language that distinguish it from communication among other living beings
- productivity: the ability to create an infinite number of novel and understandable messages
- displacement: the ability to communicate about the past, the future, and imaginary things
What do non human primates mostly rely on for communication?
A call system
What are phonemes?
A sounds in a language that makes a difference in meaning
What a morpheme?
Combination of phenomes
What’s a syntax
Rules governing word order
What are focal vocabularies
Words that refer to important features of a particular culture
What is semantics
Refers to the study of the meaning of words, phrases, and sentences
What are the two models of thought language and society?
Sapir-whorf hypothesis and sociolinguistics
What is sociolinguistics
The study of how cultural and social contexts shapes language
When and where did language appear?
10000-50000 years ago and Mesopotamia Egypt and China all language probably developed from a single language
