Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Linguistic Anthropology > Test 1 > Flashcards

Test 1 Flashcards

1
Q

What is anthropology?

A

The study of human beings in all times and all places

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What are the four fields of anthropology and give examples

A

Physical/biological anth: human paleontology (past pops/evolution) and human variation (current pops)

Archaeology: prehistory and historical arch (human cultures in the past)

Cultural Anth: patterns of thought and behaviour, cultures of present and recent past

Linguistic anth: study of language and it structure and use

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What are the 6 main characteristics of anthropology?

A
  1. Holistic: multifaceted approach to studying different elements of human culture
  2. Comparative: comparing different cultures and finding universals
  3. Relativistic: cultural relativity vs ethnocentrism (adjusting frames of reference)
  4. Evolutionary perspective: human culture and language are constantly changing
  5. Concept of culture: set of learned behaviours, beliefs, and values that are characteristic of a social group
  6. Field-work based: FW makes it possible to understand other cultural systems based on the natives terms
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is the definition of culture?

A

A set of learned behaviours that is the total way of life for a specific culture. Culture is learned and shared, not biological.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is acculturation?

A

Changes that occur when different cultural groups come in contact

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is globalization?

A

Spread of cultural features around the world (think colonization)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

AAA ethical concerns

A
  1. Primary ethical responsibilities are to the informants and community
  2. Avoid harm, respect well being, form open and enduring relationships, anonymity, informed consent
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

CIHR, NSERC, and SSHRC Ethics

A
  1. Balance needed between research and respect for human dignity (morality)
  2. Free and informed consent (in writing when possible)
  3. Respect for vulnerable persons
  4. Respect for privacy
  5. Respect for justice/inclusiveness
  6. Weighing harm and benefits
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What is linguistics?

A

Branch of knowledge including language as a general property of our species (biological and sociocultural) and particular languages

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What are the two definitions of “language”?

A
  1. Phenomenon of vocal communication among humans
  2. Particular instances of the phenomenon means that there are multiple languages around the world (English, Japanese, Russian , etc.)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What are the 5 branches of linguistics?

A
  1. Language structure, phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax
  2. Language meaning, discourse analysis, semantics
  3. Psychological and biological aspects of language
  4. Language in space and time: historical and comparative linguistics
  5. Language use and it’s social/cultural contexts: pragmatics, sociolinguistics, anthropological linguistics
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What are Ferdinand de Saussure’s two theories?

A
  1. Arbitrary nature of language: physical object has nothing to do with name given to it; concept; multiple languages have name for same object but names are different
  2. Distinction between deep structure (language) and surface structure (speech): you understand more than what you can produce with language
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What are Noam Chomsky’s two ideas?

A
  1. Infinite number of sentences can be generated from a finite group of words using a limited number of grammatical rules
  2. Children can master these rules due to their innate ability for learning language
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What are the two types of language universals?

A
  1. Unrestricted universals
  2. Implicational universals
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

12 unrestricted universals

A
  1. Wherever humans exist, language exists
  2. All languages are equally complex and capable of expressing human experience
  3. All languages change over time
  4. Relationship between language form and language meaning is arbitrary
  5. All languages use a finite set of speech sounds to form meaningful words
  6. Grammars of all languages contain certain rules for word and sentence formation
  7. All languages have discrete speech sounds (c/v) in their phonological systems
  8. Similar grammatical categories (noun/verb) are found in all languages
  9. Semantic universals like male/female, animate/inanimate in all languages
  10. All languages have a way of referring to the past, forming questions, commands
  11. Linguistic creativity: speakers of all languages capable of forming ♾ sentences
  12. Any human child can learn any language in the world
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

2 implicational universals

A
  1. All languages that have nasal vowels also have oral vowels: languages with only oral vowels exist, languages with nasal and oral vowels exist, languages with only nasal vowels DO NOT exist
  2. Can be expressed in terms of hierarchical relations: if a language has dual it has a plural, if a language has a plural it has a singular
    (Singular > plural > dual)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

16 design features of language

A
  1. Vocal-auditory channel; can use rest of body for other activities
  2. Broadcast transmission and binaural reception; don’t need to see someone to hear them, two ears allow for location of sound
  3. Rapid fading; speech is heard only within a limited range and only at the time of production
  4. Interchangeability; humans capable of saying what other people say and only social rules determine who speaks to who
  5. Total feedback; speakers can hear what they’re saying and correct their message
  6. Specialization; human language is specializes primarily for communication
  7. Semanticity; elaborate correlation between linguistic units and wide variety of topics humans talk about
  8. Arbitrariness; no intrinsic relationship between sound (name/concept) and object
  9. Discreteness; human language consists of discrete individually distinct segments - (toast vs roast)
  10. Displacement; humans can talk about things far away in time and space
  11. Openness; humans able to use language in innovative ways, making and understanding unprecedented/brand new statements
  12. Cultural transmission; an individual does not inherit a language genetically, they hear it used by people around them and learn that way
  13. Duality of patterning; several levels of linguistic units, morphemes make words, words make sentences etc
  14. Prevarication; humans can say things that are completely false
  15. Learnability; speakers of any language can learn another language
  16. Reflexiveness; humans can use language to discuss language (linguistic study)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What is the focus of linguistic anthropology?

A

Investigates the place of language in cultures and in the life and function of human societies, as well as importance of cross-cultural diversity in the functions of language

Also about how language is used differently among diff cultures

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What is the focus of anthropological linguistics?

A

Investigates speech use, organization and patterns within society, and the relationships between language use and culture

Studied by listening to natural speaking

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

4 interconnections between language and culture

A
  1. Human culture is learned and shared through language, impossible without
  2. Learning language is an important part in fully learning the culture
  3. Language is closely embedded in human culture and society
  4. Language is not only a means of communication, it also is a key aspect of anthropological research
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

4 culture specific rules of language use

A
  1. When to speak and when to keep quiet
  2. How to address a person
  3. How to ask questions
  4. How to conduct a telephone conversation
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

What is cultural emphasis? Give two examples

A

Different languages will categorize the world differently according to what is important to their culture

  1. Inuktitut; snow is important in their culture so they have many ways of saying different types of snows (packed snow, soft snow)
  2. Different kinship names across cultures; English has same word for male and female cousin, French separates them
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

What is ethnosemantics and how is it applied in field methods?

A

The way in which cultures organize the world around them (dandelions may be weeds to one culture but a food in another culture)

How is it applied: learning another language involves learning another set of cultural assumptions - culture are readily accessible through the semantics of native languages of culture

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

What is prototype theory?

A

Determining what category a certain concept belongs to; categorizing based on shared features

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

What is linguistic relativity?

A

Language structures do not limit the way people think: language expresses the way we chose to organize the world, not the other way around

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

What are cultural metaphors?

A

Cultural meanings can be transferred and extended to other concepts: words associated with time and money can be used interchangeably (how do you SPEND your time, time is VALUABLE)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

What is a speech sound?

A

An individual sound that occurs in human language in a minimal discrete unit; usually a vowel or a consonant

28
Q

What are the 2 definitions of a consonant?

A
  1. Speech sounds produced through the flow of air being obstructed to a certain degree in the vocal apparatus
  2. Phonological def: speech sounds which occupy the margins of a syllable (onset, coda or both)
29
Q

What are the 2 definitions of vowels?

A
  1. Speech sounds produced by a continuous air stream passing through the pharynx and mouth without any obstruction causing audible friction
  2. Phonological def: speech sounds which occupy the nucleus of a syllable
30
Q

What is phonetics?

A

Study of the characteristics of sounds humans make in speech: focuses on the nature , production, and perception of speech sounds

31
Q

What are the 14 parts of the human vocal apparatus?

A
  1. Lungs
  2. Larynx
  3. Vocal cords
  4. Glottis
  5. Pharynx
  6. Oral cavity
  7. Uvula
  8. Velum
  9. Palate
  10. Alveolar ridge
  11. Tongue
  12. Teeth
  13. Lips
  14. Nasal cavity
32
Q

Glottal articulation of consonants

A

Between the vocal cords

33
Q

Pharyngeal articulation of consonants

A

In the pharynx above the vocal cords

34
Q

Uvular articulation of consonants

A

Back of tongue and uvula

35
Q

Velar articulation of consonants

A

Back of tongue and velum

36
Q

Palatial articulation of consonants

A

Middle of tongue and hard palate

37
Q

Retroflex articulation of consonants

A

Tip of tongue and hard palate

38
Q

Alveopalatal articulation of consonants

A

Tip of tongue just behind alveolar ridge

39
Q

Alveolar articulation of consonants

A

Tip of tongue against alveolar ridge

40
Q

Interdental articulation of consonants

A

Tip of tongue between teeth

41
Q

Labiodental articulation of consonants

A

Lower lip against upper teeth

42
Q

Bilabial articulation of consonants

A

With both lips

43
Q

What are the two manners of articulation and name the categories of each

A
  1. Obstruents: stop/plosive, fricative, affricate, tap/trill
  2. Resonants/sonorants: nasals, approximants
44
Q

What are stop consonants? Give examples

A

Air stream is stopped, then released: p, b, t

45
Q

What are fricatives? Give examples

A

There is friction in the air stream; f, v, z

46
Q

What are affricates? Give examples

A

Combination of stop and fricatives blended into one; j

47
Q

What are nasals? Give examples

A

The velum is lowered so a part of the airflow escapes though the nasal cavity; m, n

48
Q

The quality of a vowel is determined by the particular configuration of the vocal tract during its production, which is described along four categories. What are these four categories?

A
  1. Height: position of tongue in oral cavity
  2. Backness of the tongue: part of tongue closest to the palate
  3. Rounding: whether lips are rounded or spread
  4. Tense-Lax distinction: articulation with lesser or greater vocal tract constriction (if the tension of the tongue muscles is prominent)
49
Q

What are the four suprasegmentals? Briefly explain them

A
  1. Nasalization: letting the sound travel though the nasal cavity instead of the mouth
  2. Germination: two adjacent identical consonants
  3. Vowel length: many languages distinguish long and short vowels (vowels that have same quality but different quantity)
  4. Pitch/Tone: determines the lexical meaning of the word
50
Q

What is phonology?

A

Selection and patterning of speech sounds

51
Q

What are phonemics?

A

Analysis of the way sounds are arranged in languages

52
Q

What are phonemes?

A

Smallest distinction unit in a given language which can make a difference in the meaning of larger units ; pill, bill, mill

53
Q

What are the three main parts of a syllable? Give an example showing each

A

Onset: initial element coming before nucleus, made of one or more consonants

Nucleus: the central element, usually a vowel , sometimes nasal or liquid (obligatory part of a syllable)

Coda: comes after nucleus

Example: spl-a-sh (onset -nucleus-coda)

54
Q

What are the two main types of syllables?

A
  1. Open: syllable that ends with a vowel (nucleus only, or onset and nucleus)
  2. Closed: syllable that ends with a consonant (nucleus and coda, or onset and nucleus and coda)
55
Q

What are intonation contours?

A

Linguistic functioning of pitch at the linguistic level which changes meaning

56
Q

What are the three main types of meaning that intonation contours convey ?

A
  1. Grammatical meaning: falling or rising intonation
  2. Sociolinguistic meaning: type of interaction
  3. Emotional meaning: anger , delight, sarcasm
57
Q

What is paralanguage and what are the three main types of paralinguistic signs?

A

Paralanguage is a form of non-verbal human communication accomplished through means other than spoken words (signs, writing)

  1. Pitch, volume, speed and tone of speech
  2. Nonverbal sounds: laughing, grunting
  3. Silence/avoidance of speech
58
Q

What is morphology?

A

Study of the internal structure of words and word formation

59
Q

What are the two main units of morphology?

A
  1. Morphemes: smallest meaningful element in a language, but NOT independent outside of the word
  2. Word: smallest meaningful element that is independent
60
Q

What are the two main processes of morphology?

A
  1. Inflection
  2. Derivation
61
Q

What are simplex and complex words?

A

Simplex: words made of one morpheme (boy, hunt)

Complex: words made of two or more morphemes (boyhood, hunter)

62
Q

What are the main types of word structure?

A

Consists of a root morpheme and one or more affixes

Root: part of the word that cannot be more derivable (act, taste)

Stem: collection of morphemes derived from a root (“careful” is the stem of “carefully”)

Base: word which serves as a building block for building more words (may be a root or a stem)

63
Q

What are the 4 different types of affixes?

A
  1. Suffix: comes after the form
  2. Prefix: comes before the form
  3. Infix: occur within other morphemes
  4. Circumfix: attached to root both initially and finally
64
Q

What is inflexion and what is the most common form of it?

A

Inflexion is the modification of a words form to indicate a different grammatical form (write to wrote to writing)

Most common is affixation: inflectional affixes attaching to root lexemes (book to books)

65
Q

What is derivation?

A

Forming new words from other words

66
Q

What are the 5 word formation processes? Give two examples for each

A
  1. Compounding: combining two or more units/words to make new words (book + shelf, pan + cake)
  2. Blending: words created by combining non-morphemic parts of pre-existing forms (smoke + fog, spiced + ham)
  3. Clipping: shortening of pre-existing words by deleting one or more syllables (ad advertisement, fridge refrigerator)
  4. Reduplication: part of the stem or the entire stem is copied and attached to the stem (apa boat, apaapa wing) (au flow on, auau current)
  5. Affixation: derivational affixes are attached to root lexemes (modern ize, season al)
67
Q

What is a lexeme?

A

A set of all inflected forms of a single word

Linguistic Anthropology (1 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions