Mid Term 1 Flashcards
What are the four fields of anthropology?
archaeology
biological (or physical) anthropology
cultural (or social) anthropology
linguistic anthropology
Archeology
the study of ancient and recent human cultures
through material remains
Biological anthropology
study of humankind from a biological perspective
focus on genetic inheritance, primates, and hominins to
understand human biology and behavior
biological perspective to human variation
Cultural Anthropology
studies beliefs and behaviors across cultures
Linguistic Anthropology
concern with understanding language and its
relation to culture
focus on how people use language to communicate, create
identities, and accomplish goals
Cultural relativism
ethic and moral stance understanding each cultures are valid in their own right and are not unworthy.
Intonation
rhythm, stress, and ups and downs in pitch that
accompany ordinary spoken language
used simultaneously with spoken language
reveals attitudes and emotions of the speaker
Gesticulation
the way we wave our arms and shape our hands
as we speak.
Used simultaneously with spoken words and sentences
differs from quotable gestures and sign language
Language
system of sounds, words, and sentences
a range of communicative behavior
spoken language, signed languages, written language, and
electronic communication, conventional, voluntary control, immediacy and displacement
Noam Chomsky
all humans have a “language instinct”
genetic inheritance provides us with the capacity to learn
languages
argued against “blank slate” theory
universal human mind
Digital Communication
discrete and sharp boundaries finite number of states, associated with written and spoken language
ex: “I am cold” “I am angry”
Analog Communication
graded and not distinct, can be up to interpretation, lack of contrast
ex: goosebumps sweat
Syntax
word order
ex: subject, verb, object
subject, object, verb
Displacement
things in distinct space or time, past and future emotions and ideas, imaginary things
Productivity
“this tree is very very very old”
“John i my great great great grandfather”
Quotable gestures
emblems, digital communication, conventional and arbitrary, incorporated into sign languages
Quotable vocalizations
meaningful noises, digital communication, consistent sounds and meanings
language instinct
term coined by Noam Chomsky, all humans have the capacity to learn a language
Gesture calls
analog communication, nonverbal: gestures, facial expressions, vocalizations, posture, bodily moments, expresses emotions and intentions
Immediacy
present state of emotions and intentions
Paralinguistic cues (features)
nonverbal communication, support language: quotable gestures quotable vocalizations, gesticulation, intonation
Franz Boas
Anthropologist, German born physicist and geographer,founded cultural and linguistic relativism
Linguistic relativism
each language had to be studied in and for itself, no such thing as a primitive language
Deaf signing
language, digital communication, directs language through the hands and in through the eyes, contrasting hand shapes, locations, orientations and motions of the hands and arms join to form signed words, differ from one part of the word to another
Field linguistics
interested in describing the formal characteristics of the language, informants teach linguists their native language (elicitation kits and questionnaires)
Ethnography
methods used to collect data, written product of field work
Tools used
tape recorder, written field notes, video camera, ethnographer
Participant observation
long term fieldwork; being there, community oriented, attention to speech in practice, either passive or complete
Interviews
access (asking) cultural models, personal histories background cultural information, reflections on language rather than how language is used
Inscription
creates representation of the ephemeral things we are observing (ex: field notes, maps, photographs, audio and video recordings)
Transcription
written representation of speech
Ethnography of communication
language use in relation to cultural values and beliefs, social institutions and forms, roles and personalities and history
Emic perspectives
Insider pov
Speech event
culturally meaningful activity with particular rules and expectations for language use
(ex: lectures, asking for directions, “getting to know you”, asking for permission)
SPEAKING model
S: setting P: participants E: ends A: act sequence K: key (tone, manner, spirit) I: instrumentalities N: norms G: genre
Speech community
any human aggregate characterized by regular and
frequent interaction by means of a shared body of
language- shared language use, rules of speaking and interpretations,attitudes and values regarding language use, socio-cultural understandings with regard to
speech
(ex: nation, regional dialects, technical talk, colleges, groups of friends)
Dialectal variation
variants used by certain groups that are different from those used by other groups within the same broader cultural environment (ex: geographical variation)
Dialects
distribution of colloquial forms of language in societies
Superposed variation
variants used in different activities carried on by the same group- social variation, dependent on social situation, communicative resource, homogeneous social environments have less variety
