The document discusses several topics related to language: 1) It examines the juxtaposition of globalization of culture through languages like English while preserving local languages. 2) It describes policies of forced assimilation in countries that suppressed indigenous languages in the 20th century. 3) It discusses Benjamin Whorf’s hypothesis of linguistic relativity and how the structure of language can influence thought. 4) Various linguistic concepts are defined, including language, dialects, pidgins, creoles, lingua francas, and more.

1. Language

2. Pulp
Fiction
“You know what they call a…a…a quarter pounder with cheese
in Paris? They call it a ‘royale’ with cheese.”
“What do they call a Big Mac?”
“Well, a Big Mac is a Big Mac, but they call it ‘Le Big Mac’”
•Shows the juxtaposition of 2 opposing forces in our globalized
world: globalization of culture & preservation of local &
national culture
•Can we have globalization of restaurants, food, music &
culture while preserving local languages?

3. Language is…
a set of sounds & symbols
used for communication
Language is also a fundamental
element of local & national
culture, & shapes our thoughts.

4. Language & Policies of
Forced Assimilation
• Assimilation: the
process through which people
lose their originally
differentiating traits, such as
dress, speech particularities,
or mannerisms, when they
come into contact with
another society or culture.
• Australia, Canada, U.S., Russia
& New Zealand had policies of
forced assimilation in the 20th
century, not allowing
indigenous peoples to speak
their native languages

5. Benjamin Whorf’s
Linguistic Relativity Hypothesis
• The idea that the structure of a language may influence
the way individuals think. If a language has no word for
a certain concept, then its speakers would not be able to
understand this concept
• Whorf’s linguistic relativity hypothesis has been fairly
discredited.
– Do English speakers who have never heard the German word
Schadenfreude find it difficult to understand the concept of
relishing someone else’s misfortune?
–
• Has led us to reexamine our common language usage
– Chairman  chairperson

6. Mental Floss Article
 What words could we add to the English language?
 Read: “38 Wonderful Foreign Words We Could Use in
English”

8. Isogloss
 Map
boundary
lines showing
where certain
languages or
dialects are
spoken
Isoglosses

11. Dialects
 Variants of a standard
language along
regional or ethnic lines
 Includes:
 Vocabulary
 Syntax (the way
words are put
together to form
phrases)
 Pronunciation
 Cadence (the rhythm
of speech)
 Pace of speech

12. My Fair Lady
"Why Can't the English Learn to Speak

14. How do
languages
diffuse?

15. Expansion and Relocation Diffusion
The increased contact among
people has led to:
•Formation of new languages
to bridge linguistic gaps in trade
and commerce
•Spurred language replacement
•Encouraged language extinction
Modern technology, however, has helped preserve & stabilize
languages. It also supports institutions that teach languages.

16. Lingua Franca
• A language used as a common means of
communication, especially in trade or business
transactions, in an area where several
languages are spoken.
•
• Can be a single language or a mixture of 2 or more
• Lingua franca during the expansion of Islam?
– Arabic
• Lingua franca during the colonial era?
– English
• Lingua franca in East Africa?
– Swahili

17. Discussion question
English is diffusing
rapidly as a global lingua
franca. Identify and
discuss as many reasons
as possible for the
current rate of diffusion
of English as a global
lingua franca.
•Mass media
•Business and banking
•Internet
•Globalization
•Travel and tourism

18. Pidgin
• Occurs when people speaking 2 or more languages combine
parts of the languages in a simplified structure &
vocabulary.
• Used in a limited way & doesn’t include grammar
• Since they serve a simplistic purpose, they usually die out. If
the pidgin is used long enough, it begins to evolve into a
more rich language with a more complex structure & richer
vocabulary.

19. Creole language
• Over time a pidgin language
may gain native speakers,
becoming the first language
children learn in the home.
• Creole language is created
when:
• Children are exposed to a
pidgin language
• They then invent a grammar
system with their peers for the
pidgin language without an
adult model.

20. What is that you’re looking atWhat is that you’re looking at

21. Relationship between
Pidgin & Creole

22. Monolingualism &
Multilingualism
• Monolingual state: country with
only one language spoken
– Only a few monolingual
states exist, though no
country is truly monolingual.
• Examples: Japan,
Uruguay, Venezuela,
Iceland, Denmark,
Portugal, Poland &
Lesotho
• Multilingual state: country with
greater than one language
spoken

23. India’s states
generally
coincide with
a major
language
family or
language.

25. Belgium is a multilingual state. Based on
its situation, what do you think are the 3
predominant languages spoken there?
Answer:
Remember
that
“situation”
is how a
place is
relative to
other
places.
Dutch, French, and German

26. Review
Questions
Question 1
The most widespread
language family on earth
is the
a. Sino-Tibetan
b. Romance
c. Germanic
d. Indo-European
e. Mandarin Chinese
Question 2
People in London,
Melbourne, Vancouver,
and Mumbai all speak
a. A pidgin language
b. Lingua franca
c. Different dialects
d. Official languages
e. Different creoles

27. Review
Questions
Question 3
A simple trade language
is called a
a. Lingua franca
b. Pidgin
c. Dialect
d. Creole
e. Syncretic
Question 4
A geographic boundary
within which a particular
linguistic feature occurs
is called a(n)
____________________

28. Vocabulary
 Language
 Assimilation
 Whorf’s linguistic
relativity hypothesis
 Language family
 Dialect
 Isogloss
 Lingua franca
 Pidgin
 Creole
 Monolingual state
 Multilingual state