Exam 2 Flashcards
What is language?
A system of communication based on symbols that have agreed upon meanings
Language and Globalization
Globalization depends on communication
Language and Culture
Language is a key component of culture, both facilitating communication and also causing misunderstanding between peoples
Dialects
a particular variety of language characterized by distinctive vocabulary, grammar and/or pronunciation.
What does language express?
Many different forms of thought
Language Strategies
Many languages have strategies that have developed over many years, including; grammar, vocabularies and distinctive forms of pronunciation.
Social factors that influence language… Name an example
Japan introduced words for fork and coffee when those items were introduced into their society
Several aspects of non-spoken language
Some languages were passed down orally but never written down
Sign Language
Sign language is based upon body language, specifically hand movements. There is no universal sign language, it varies from place to place.
Body Language
A communication system based on gestures, facial expressions, and other body movements. Body language does not make up a fully developed system of communication.
Tactile Language
A non-spoken language. Braille is the most common. (what blind people use)
Natural Languages
They have emerged and evolved within living and historic communities.
Artificial Languages
Intentionally created for international communication or fictional purposes. Some artificial languages were designed so that a universal language could be created.
Esperanto
Created to serve as an universal language for all of humanity. Around 2 million people can speak Esperanto.
How many languages are in the world?
6,900
Small Languages vs. Large Languages
There are a lot of small languages but very few large languages
When did language originate?
30,000 years ago, but maybe earlier. We are not definitely sure.
How have we gained information on the origins of language?
Mainly, historic texts and artifacts.
What is a language family? How many are there?
A collection of languages that share a common but distant ancestor. There are 90 families, but only six major ones.
Most people speak a language from what family?
Indo- European language family
Hearth
A place or region where an innovation, idea, belief or cultural practice begins.
Where are language hearths?
The rise of agriculture and the subsequent spread of farming populations.
Origin of language in relation to agriculture
This may have occurred through absorption by intermarriage and language replacement of the farming population
2 examples of agriculture helping the spread of language
Intermarriage and Formed sociopolitical unions.
6 major language families and 2 examples
Indo-European; English & Hindi. Sino-Tibetan; Mandarin Chinese, Burmese. Afro-Asiatic; Arabic, Hebrew. Niger-Congo; Yoruba, Zulu. Austronesian; Tagalog, Bahasa Indonesia. Trans-New Guinea; Tetum.
Indo-European family & tree
The romance languages, derived from Latin. The Roman Empire helped spread Latin. The British Empire helped spread English.
Language Classification
comparing vocabularies, in terms of sounds and meanings
What facilitates language? (Historically and Today)
Historically: ships and railroads helped diffusion Today: Technology, popular culture, political, economic and education.
Language Dominance
A language that takes dominance over others, in terms of what is used the most throughout the nation?
Lingua Franca
A language that is used to facilitate trade or business between people who speak different languages. English is this on a global scale.
Stateless Language
Not used in government, typically not taught in school
Official Language
a country formally designates, for use in politics, legal and administrative affairs.
Language in the UN
The UN recognizes 6 languages: English, French, Spanish, Russian, Arabic and Chinese
Language in the EU
Recognizes 23 languages, EU documents must be produced in each.
Language Change
Overtime, new technology can spawn new vocabularies. New vocabularies are formed when words are borrowed. Human migration also impacts language.
Pidgin Language
A language that combines vocabulary, grammatical practices, from two or more languages that have come into contact. Typically limited.
Creole Language
A language that develops from a pidgin language and is taught as a first language. Hawaiian is a creole language.
Linguistic Diversity
The assortment of languages in a particular area.
Endangered Language
A language that is no longer taught to children by their parents and is not used for everyday conversation.
Extinct language
A language that has no living speakers; also called a dead language. Ex. Latin
LDI
Linguistic Diversity Index; A measure that expresses the likelihood that two randomly selected individuals in a country speak different first languages.
Isogloss
A line that marks a boundary of work usage.
African American language/Latino language
African American language emerged in the south, due to slavery. Latino language diffused due to immigration.
Toponyms
A place-name ; Names given to places can make powerful statements.
Religion
A system of beliefs and practices. It helps people make sense of the universe and their lives.
3 forms of Religion
Monotheisitic, Polytheistic and Atheistic
Cosmography
Explanation for the beginning of the world
Cosmogonie
Influence peoples sense of belonging and attachment to place. (influence sense of belonging)
Animistic Religions
May incorporate veneration of spirits or deities associated
Syncretic Religion
A blending of beliefs and practices, usually this is a result of contact between people. Ex; Santeria in Cuba and Candomble in Brazil
Universalizing Religion
A belief system that is worldwide in scope (Christianity)
Ethnic Religion
Largely confined to the members of a single ethnic group. Membership by birth, usually do not use missionaries to increase numbers.
Association with religion
Code of behavior, Morals and Ethics
Ritual
Behavior, often regularly practiced, that has personal and symbolic meaning.. such a prayer, maintenance of dress code and sacrificing animals.
Piety
To be deeply devoted to religion
Civil Religion
When religious notions, symbols and rituals infuse with political culture. Ex. Great Seal of the United States
Abrahamic Faiths
Christianity, Judaism, Islam
Vedic Faiths
Hinduism and Buddhism
Sikhism
Draws from both Islam and Hinduism
Judaism
13 million people, world wide. Only country in which a majority of the population is Jewish. Largest number of Jews reside in Israel and the United States. Abraham is considered the patriarch. Monotheistic. Holy Book = Torah. Moses led the Jews out of slavery in Egypt, called the Exodus.
Christianity
The largest religion, 2.3 billion. Promises forgiveness for one’s sins and eternal life in heaven. Most Christians share a belief in the Trinity. Holy Book = Bible. 16th C. Western Christianity was split by the Protestant Reformation.
Islam
Second largest religion with more than 1/5 of the wolds population being Muslims. Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world. Muhammad was the founder. Holy Book= Qur’an. 2 main branches: Sunnis (80%) and Shiites (15%)
Hinduism
Santana dharma (eternal truth). Hindu and Hinduism came to be used by outsiders to refer to the people and their religions. They view existence as cyclical: Souls are immortal and subject to reincarnation. Reincarnation brings spiritual suffering and is controlled by Karma.
Buddhism
Founder- Siddhartha Gautama, who when attained enlightenment transformed into Buddha. Nirvana, the ultimate goal is moksha (release from the cycle) 3 branches: Theravada, Mahayana and Tantrayana.
Sikhism
23 million people, smallest of the major universalizing religions. Guru- inspired religious teacher. Sikh- disciple
Guru Nanak founded this religion.
Primary hearth
New Religions are born
Secondary Hearth
Where a religion splinters into branches
Semitic heart
The region historically known as Palestine, is the hearth of Judaism.
Indic Hearth
Not precisely known.
Diaspora
The scattering of a people through forced migration
Sacred Space
Space that has special religious significance and meaning that makes it worthy of reverence or devotion
Sanctification
The process by which an area or space or building becomes sacred.
Pilgrimage
A journey to a sacred place for religious reasons
Modernism
An intellectual movement that encourages scientific thought, and expansion of knowledge.
Secularization
A process that can reduce the scope or influence of religion
Pope Pius X
Condemned modernism because it challenged Catholic beliefs: such as the authority of the Bible.
Caste System
Hinduism - a system of classes
Religious Fundamentalism
An interpretation if the principles of a faith in a way that it comes to shape all aspects of personal and public life.
Geopiety
Religious-like reverence that people can develop for the Earth
Religious Ecology
An awareness of the interdependency between people and nature.
Environmental Stewardship
A Christian emphasis, that they should be responsible managers of the Earth.
