Language and Culture

Question 1

What is Linguistics?

Answer 1

The study of Language

Question 2

Lexicon and Grammar

Answer 2

Relationship between form and meaning

Question 3

Language is fundamentally Creative because:

Answer 3

• Language users are able to express novel propositions
• Language users change language over time

Question 4

Constraints to Language

Answer 4

• May be anatomical, cognitive or cultural
• There is still a lot of debate surrounding the nature of language constraints

Question 5

Analogy: Aliens are watching out planet and they take particular interest in cars. They make the following observations;

Answer 5

a) Cars are almost always land-based
b) Cars are most often found on paved surfaces
c) in some parts of the planet, cars stick to the right side of the road. And in others, they stick to the left

Question 6

What is Language?

Answer 6

A system of communication

Question 7

What is language used for?

Answer 7

• Language is a connection to identity, culture, heritage, and land
• Language conveys power, self-esteem, and confidence
• Language is attached to a sense of responsibility and physical/emotional well-being
• Language unites and fosters community; it creates good neighbours

Question 8

Lexical evidence: Data

Answer 8

• Controlled comparison of standard word lists
  a) 182 basic vocabulary terms
  b) 96 flora-fauna terms
  c) 58 culture terms
• Comparing 139 language families from 47 families

Question 9

How many language families are in North America?

Answer 9

Around 30 language families

Question 10

how many language families are in Europe?

Answer 10

Around 8 Language families

Question 11

Chain Borrowings

Answer 11

One language taking a word from another language and making it part of its own language.

Question 12

Chain borrowing example

Answer 12

The word Quechuan atawaʎpa ‘chicken’ is used in at least 35 Andean and western Amazonian languages

Question 13

Resistance to lexical borrowing

Answer 13

• Resistance to lexical borrowing has been reporting for many regions in the Amazon
• This is attributed to attitudes of identity linking language and cultural affiliation, encouraging people to keep languages separate
• Resistance to loanwords does not imply lack of contact

Question 14

Shiwiar Language Documentation Project

Answer 14

• Began in 2011 as a doctoral research project with the aim of writing a descriptive grammar
• Evolved to a more general documentation project over te years

Question 15

Chicham Languages

Answer 15

Shuar: 62,000 speakers
Arguaruna: 55,400 speakers
Huambisa: 10,200 speakers
Achuar: 24,400 speakers
Shiwiar: 1,200 speakers

Question 16

Languages families in contact

Answer 16

Chicham
Quechuan
Zaparoan
Kandozi
Kawapanan
Wao
Taushiro
Urarina
Tupian
Arawak

Question 17

Stable Multilingualism

Answer 17

Many groups practice patrilocal linguistic exogamy, e.g. the shiwiar and the Conambo Kichwa. Identity is passed down patrilineally.
- results in stable multilingualism

Question 18

Why is there no language endangerment to the Shiwiar people?

Answer 18

• Shiwiar is the main language of all Shiwiar villages
• Language is transmitted to younger generations
• No concern for endangerment since it is spoken by the entire nation

Question 19

3 Areas of Endangered Cultural Knowledge

Answer 19

a) Traditional prayers and incantations (Anent)
b) Knowledge of flora and fauna
c) Toponymy

Question 20

Anent

Answer 20

A private/spiritual genre of speech (resembles prayer/incantations in other cultures)

Question 21

Avoidance Register

Answer 21

The most frequently hunted animals have an alternative name used during hunting (ex. Lowland Paca)