Language and Culture Language, Communication, and Culture

Introduction to Language, Communication, and Culture How is language related to culture? How is a language related to a culture? Both questions are valid, and we look at the issues through several lenses: Kinesics and paralanguage Ethnolinguistics and code switching Similarities and differences between human and animal communication.

How is language related to culture?

How is a language related to a culture?

Both questions are valid, and we look at the issues through several lenses:

Kinesics and paralanguage

Ethnolinguistics and code switching

Similarities and differences between human and animal communication.

Nonverbal Communication There are two basic types of nonverbal communication Kinesics involves the all-too-familiar body language: facial expression, gestures, even eye contact Paralanguage are the vocalizations that often accompany speech: slurs, tones of voice, nonmeaningful utterances including “um” and “uh”

There are two basic types of nonverbal communication

Kinesics involves the all-too-familiar body language: facial expression, gestures, even eye contact

Paralanguage are the vocalizations that often accompany speech: slurs, tones of voice, nonmeaningful utterances including “um” and “uh”

Kinesics: Gestures Kinesics: System of analyzing postures, facial expressions, “body language” See that thumbs up? This gent likes whatever you’re doing. Buying his brand of coffee, perhaps? In other countries, it would mean—well, you know! (Need a hint? Think middle finger) This is one example how the same gesture might mean different things in different cultures.

Kinesics: System of analyzing postures, facial expressions, “body language”

See that thumbs up? This gent likes whatever you’re doing. Buying his brand of coffee, perhaps?

In other countries, it would mean—well, you know! (Need a hint? Think middle finger)

This is one example how the same gesture might mean different things in different cultures.

Kinesics: Facial Expressions Social smiles are commonplace, though women may do so more than men—a matter of expected social sensitivity Frowns express frustration, sometime cynicism, as this cartoon suggests—if you smile, you’re naïve Facial expressions and eye contact are the most widely used forms of kinesics; gestures are also frequent

Social smiles are commonplace, though women may do so more than men—a matter of expected social sensitivity

Frowns express frustration, sometime cynicism, as this cartoon suggests—if you smile, you’re naïve

Facial expressions and eye contact are the most widely used forms of kinesics; gestures are also frequent

Gesture Call Systems: Paralanguage Paralanguage consists of extralinguistic noises accompanying language Voice qualities: tone, slur (cartoon), other background noises Vocalizations : Identifiable noises turned on and off at short intervals—”uh,” “um,” other kinds of hesitation

Paralanguage consists of extralinguistic noises accompanying language

Voice qualities: tone, slur (cartoon), other background noises

Vocalizations : Identifiable noises turned on and off at short intervals—”uh,” “um,” other kinds of hesitation

More Paralanguage Vocal characteristics: Sound production such as laughing Vocal qualifiers: Tone or pitch-”Get Out!” Segregates: “Shh!” “Oh oh,” “hmmm!” (cartoon) among others

Vocal characteristics: Sound production such as laughing

Vocal qualifiers: Tone or pitch-”Get Out!”

Segregates: “Shh!” “Oh oh,” “hmmm!” (cartoon) among others

Historical Linguistic Techniques When tracing the history of language, linguists have no writing to rely upon Several techniques have been developed to trace the probable changes Glottochronology: the reconstruction of past languages on the assumption that 14% of a language changes every 1000 years Core vocabulary: Comparison of words for common objects based on similarity A list of words is compiled for each of two languages that refer to objects that are common everywhere: body parts, sun, rain, stones, trees, and others The closer the vocabulary—cognates or similar words between two languages, the more closely related the two languages are thought to be.

When tracing the history of language, linguists have no writing to rely upon

Several techniques have been developed to trace the probable changes

Glottochronology: the reconstruction of past languages on the assumption that 14% of a language changes every 1000 years

Core vocabulary: Comparison of words for common objects based on similarity

A list of words is compiled for each of two languages that refer to objects that are common everywhere: body parts, sun, rain, stones, trees, and others

The closer the vocabulary—cognates or similar words between two languages, the more closely related the two languages are thought to be.

Models of Language Change Language Family Group of languages descended from a single ancestral language Example: Indo-European is descended from Proto-Indo-European Family Tree Model: a model that emphasizes the derivation of language from a common source Wave Model: A model that emphasizes borrowing across contemporary languages

Language Family

Group of languages descended from a single ancestral language

Example: Indo-European is descended from Proto-Indo-European

Family Tree Model: a model that emphasizes the derivation of language from a common source

Wave Model: A model that emphasizes borrowing across contemporary languages

Ethnolinguistics Definition: Study of relationship between language and culture Named after Edward Sapir (top) and Benjamin Lee Whorf (bottom), the Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis states that language, By providing habitual “grooves” of expression Predisposes people to see world in certain ways Thus guiding thinking and behavior

Definition: Study of relationship between language and culture

Named after Edward Sapir (top) and Benjamin Lee Whorf (bottom), the

Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis states that language,

By providing habitual “grooves” of expression

Predisposes people to see world in certain ways

Thus guiding thinking and behavior

Ethnolinguistics: Do Languages Structure Cultures. . . Example of Sapir-Whorf hypothesis; Hopi: Conception of time as processes, not discrete units For example, Hopi would not divide time into seconds or hours Nor would they perceive time as object, such as wasting time

Example of Sapir-Whorf hypothesis;

Hopi: Conception of time as processes, not discrete units

For example, Hopi would not divide time into seconds or hours

Nor would they perceive time as object, such as wasting time

Or Do Cultures Structure Language The Nuer of the Sudan are cattle herders Children are named after cattle, and poetry is composed about them More than 400 words are related to cattle In our own culture, we have a militaristic vocabulary; we make a killing on Wall Street, we bomb the exam, we have a war on drugs, cancer, poverty, you name it So we have a chicken and egg question Does language condition culture Or does culture condition language?

The Nuer of the Sudan are cattle herders

Children are named after cattle, and poetry is composed about them

More than 400 words are related to cattle

In our own culture, we have a militaristic vocabulary; we make a killing on Wall Street, we bomb the exam, we have a war on drugs, cancer, poverty, you name it

So we have a chicken and egg question

Does language condition culture

Or does culture condition language?

Ethnolinguistics: Some Areas of Research Kinship terms : The terms father and mother may be extended to uncles and aunts. More on this later Gender-based meanings : When women say “I’m sorry,” are they taking responsibility for the problem or are they regretting the situation, as Deborah Tannen argues. We have several social dialects in this country, ranging from Afro-American speech to “Spanglish” (Spanish-English word combinations) to regional dialects from the U.S. South, y’all, to Bostonian bahgains.

Kinship terms : The terms father and mother may be extended to uncles and aunts. More on this later

Gender-based meanings : When women say “I’m sorry,” are they taking responsibility for the problem or are they regretting the situation, as Deborah Tannen argues.

We have several social dialects in this country, ranging from Afro-American speech to “Spanglish” (Spanish-English word combinations) to regional dialects from the U.S. South, y’all, to Bostonian bahgains.

Code Switching: Martin Luther King We change our speech styles to fit the occasion Code Switching: Switching style of speech according to occasion and audience Martin Luther King, Jr., was a master in code switching, ranging from standard discourse in formal settings (Washington Monument, 1963, I Have a Dream speech upper photo) To informal discourse in black settings (Here delivering a sermon at the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia)

We change our speech styles to fit the occasion

Code Switching: Switching style of speech according to occasion and audience

Martin Luther King, Jr., was a master in code switching, ranging from standard discourse in formal settings (Washington Monument, 1963, I Have a Dream speech upper photo)

To informal discourse in black settings (Here delivering a sermon at the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia)

Language Origins: Interspecies Comparison When language began is anyone’s guess Defining communication and comparing different communication systems is a first step Chimpanzees have used American Sign Language and computer buttons to convey messages somewhat like languages But speech organs have long since deteriorated, so we have at best indirect evidence.

When language began is anyone’s guess

Defining communication and comparing different communication systems is a first step

Chimpanzees have used American Sign Language and computer buttons to convey messages somewhat like languages

But speech organs have long since deteriorated, so we have at best indirect evidence.

Language Origins: Fossil Evidence Did Neanderthals have language? A humanlike hyoid bone, which anchors the tongue, was found in Kebara Cave, Israel Endocasts indicating size of cerebrum and possible Broca’s area have been found among Homo habilis remains Another indication is the flat surface at the skull base, suggesting the larynx was too high to enable language; nonhuman primates also have a flat skull base and high larynxes Basic conclusion: no one really knows when language got its start

Did Neanderthals have language? A humanlike hyoid bone, which anchors the tongue, was found in Kebara Cave, Israel

Endocasts indicating size of cerebrum and possible Broca’s area have been found among Homo habilis remains

Another indication is the flat surface at the skull base, suggesting the larynx was too high to enable language; nonhuman primates also have a flat skull base and high larynxes

Basic conclusion: no one really knows when language got its start

Features of Language Shared with Other Species Nevertheless, language does share some features with the communication systems of other animals. We look at some examples, such as gibbons, stickleback courtship, and bee dances indicating the location of a nectar source

Nevertheless, language does share some features with the communication systems of other animals.

We look at some examples, such as gibbons, stickleback courtship, and bee dances indicating the location of a nectar source

Common Features of Language and Nonhuman Communication Arbitrariness Productivity Interchangeability Displacement Specialization Cultural Transmission

Arbitrariness

Productivity

Interchangeability

Displacement

Specialization

Cultural Transmission

Arbitrariness Definition: Absence of intrinsic relation between communication element (speech sound) and thing or event to which it refers (referent) Iconic Relationship: Existence of such a relationship between element (e.g. gesture) and its referent Importance: Utterance is not “married” to meaning, such as this gibbon’s warning call

Definition: Absence of intrinsic relation between communication element (speech sound) and thing or event to which it refers (referent)

Iconic Relationship: Existence of such a relationship between element (e.g. gesture) and its referent

Importance: Utterance is not “married” to meaning, such as this gibbon’s warning call

Arbitrariness (Examples) Example [k], [æ], and [t] are not meaningful in and of themselves Meaning emerges when sounds are combined: [kæt] “cat” has one meaning (feline, the one who caught a mouse) [tæk] “tack” has another (small nail) [ækt] “act” has a third (dog and pony show) Even then, this string is language specific (English), not intrinsic

Example [k], [æ], and [t] are not meaningful in and of themselves

Meaning emerges when sounds are combined:

[kæt] “cat” has one meaning (feline, the one who caught a mouse)

[tæk] “tack” has another (small nail)

[ækt] “act” has a third (dog and pony show)

Even then, this string is language specific (English), not intrinsic

Arbitrariness (Across Languages) Evidence of Arbitrariness: Diverse Languages “ Cat” has different pronunciations in different languages Similarities are the product of common roots and/or diffusion from one language to another

Evidence of Arbitrariness: Diverse Languages

“ Cat” has different pronunciations in different languages

Similarities are the product of common roots and/or diffusion from one language to another

Productivity (Definition) Productivity is the capacity for elements of communication system to be combined to form new meanings which the speaker and listener may never have learned before, yet understands perfectly Try this exercise: the top figure is a wug Now here are two of them There are two ____ If your response was [w əgz] you produced an entirely new—and correct--utterance

Productivity is the capacity for elements of communication system to be combined to form new meanings which the speaker and listener may never have learned before, yet understands perfectly

Try this exercise: the top figure is a wug

Now here are two of them

There are two ____

If your response was [w əgz] you produced an entirely new—and correct--utterance

Productivity: Jabberwocky Riddle From Jabberwocky by Lewis Carroll (see illustration} ‘ Twas brillig and the sllthy toves Did gyre and gimble in the wabe Identify: The nouns The verbs The adjectives

From Jabberwocky by Lewis Carroll (see illustration}

‘ Twas brillig and the sllthy toves

Did gyre and gimble in the wabe

Identify:

The nouns

The verbs

The adjectives

Productivity: The Answers The nouns: surely the article the is a dead giveaway for toves and wabe The verbs: ‘ twas is poetic English for “ it was,” and the helping verb did uncovers gyre and gimble The adjectives: Doesn’t the –y ending of slithy suggest an adjective, similar to slimy ? And ’twas suggests brillig to be another one.

The nouns: surely the article the is a dead giveaway for toves and wabe

The verbs: ‘ twas is poetic English for “ it was,” and the helping verb did uncovers gyre and gimble

The adjectives: Doesn’t the –y ending of slithy suggest an adjective, similar to slimy ? And ’twas suggests brillig to be another one.

Productivity: Language Learning Language drills use the principle of productivity English: I am, you are. . . Spanish: Yo soy, tu eres. . Productivity simply involves taking a few elements (phonemes, morphemes, even syntax) and generate unlimited combinations of expressions

Language drills use the principle of productivity

English: I am, you are. . .

Spanish: Yo soy, tu eres. .

Productivity simply involves taking a few elements (phonemes, morphemes, even syntax) and generate unlimited combinations of expressions

Productivity Among Other Species: Bee Dance When a scout bee has discovered a flower or other nectar source, she returns and tell the other bees where it is with a dance Their figure-eight tell the other bees the direction and distance of the pollen source The waggle of the tail also indicates the direction Amount of pollen brought back indicates pollen available there Productivity involves variations of speed of the dance, the amount brought back, and the waggle.

When a scout bee has discovered a flower or other nectar source, she returns and tell the other bees where it is with a dance

Their figure-eight tell the other bees the direction and distance of the pollen source

The waggle of the tail also indicates the direction

Amount of pollen brought back indicates pollen available there

Productivity involves variations of speed of the dance, the amount brought back, and the waggle.

Interchangeability Definition: Use of same communication system to send and receive messages Illustrative Counterexample : Three-spined stickleback fish courtship (see diagram) Female elicits male response by presenting distended belly Male performs zigzag dance around female She follow him to nest Male point to nest on arrival Female enters nest, male rubs abdomen, She discharges eggs, and male fertilizes them with sperm

Definition: Use of same communication system to send and receive messages

Illustrative Counterexample : Three-spined stickleback fish courtship (see diagram)

Female elicits male response by presenting distended belly

Male performs zigzag dance around female

She follow him to nest

Male point to nest on arrival

Female enters nest, male rubs abdomen,

She discharges eggs, and male fertilizes them with sperm

Displacement (Definition) Ability to refer to things and events not present, nonvisible, intangible, or nonexistent Not present: Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco Not visible: Termites in sealed mound Intangible: math equations, square roots Nonexistent: dragons, unicorns

Ability to refer to things and events not present, nonvisible, intangible, or nonexistent

Not present: Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco

Not visible: Termites in sealed mound

Intangible: math equations, square roots

Nonexistent: dragons, unicorns

Displacement (Importance) Ability to represent unseen parts of world Part of toolmaking ability : to conceive a design (above) Bee Dance Scouting bee gives information on non-present blossoms Direction of dance relative to sun: indicates direction of source Length of tail waggle: distance of source Other bees act on this information even though they cannot see the flower or blossom

Ability to represent unseen parts of world

Part of toolmaking ability : to conceive a design (above)

Bee Dance

Scouting bee gives information on non-present blossoms

Direction of dance relative to sun: indicates direction of source

Length of tail waggle: distance of source

Other bees act on this information even though they cannot see the flower or blossom

Cultural Transmission Learning of an element of communication (speech sound, gestures) Bees and stickleback acquire behavior genetically Dogs learn by conditioning, do not pass learning on Chimpanzees do learn by imitation and pass it on: e.g., termite fishing.

Learning of an element of communication (speech sound, gestures)

Bees and stickleback acquire behavior genetically

Dogs learn by conditioning, do not pass learning on

Chimpanzees do learn by imitation and pass it on: e.g., termite fishing.

Specialization Definition: Ability to transmit message with minimal physical effort Language is the most specialized of all communication systems Examples of unspecialized communication Chimpanzee displays Bee dance Stickleback courtship

Definition: Ability to transmit message with minimal physical effort

Language is the most specialized of all communication systems

Examples of unspecialized communication

Chimpanzee displays

Bee dance

Stickleback courtship

Conclusion Language is the basis of culture Knowledge of linguistics is prerequisite to knowing how cultures function We have looked at the following: Descriptive Linguistics Language, Culture, and Society Comparative Human-nonhuman Communication One question remains: does culture condition language, or does language condition culture: the old chicken-egg question. There are many similarities between human and animal communication

Language is the basis of culture

Knowledge of linguistics is prerequisite to knowing how cultures function

We have looked at the following:

Descriptive Linguistics

Language, Culture, and Society

Comparative Human-nonhuman Communication

One question remains: does culture condition language, or does language condition culture: the old chicken-egg question.

There are many similarities between human and animal communication