Linguistic Anthropology Basics Vocab

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comparative

nature of anthropology refers to its goal of gathering and comparing information from many cultures, times, and places, including our own

cultural relativity

the idea that differences exist among cultural systems, that different cultural systems can make as much sense as our own, and that we can learn to understand different systems

ethnocentrism

means not understanding different systems on their own terms: two parts, using your own system to interpret what others are doing, or insisting that your own system is the only one that makes sense

frames of reference

are the ways we see, interpret, and understand the world

worldview

language affects culture and worldview

fieldwork

makes understanding other cultural systems on their own terms possible, spending time in another cultural system is not only the best way, but possibly the only way to truly gain an insider’s understanding of that system. immersing yourself in the culture, handson immersion and observation

theoretical linguistics

focused, specific, intuitive, focused in its primary goal to describe the underlying structures of a language, beyond the social and cultural contexts in which that language is used

archaeology

studying prehistory, can study modern/contemporary history through tracking clues, artifacts

artifact

evidence of human activity (hearth, tools)

cultural anthropology

the study of culture, traditions, requires interviews

participant observation

trying to participate and observe while remaining objective: ethical concerns, drugs are dangerous, personal connection leads to bias

ethnography

participating, observing, practicing

biological anthropology

studying human body, remains, evolution, physically studying humans, approach from population/science perspective

holistic

all encompassing, “the whole picture”

linguistic anthropology

the study of language and its role within culture and humans, social cultural context

cultural relativism

understanding something in its context from the perspective of the culture, to understand, you need “their” context

ethnocentrism

the belief that one’s own culture is superior or noraml, may be naiive realism

Edward Sapir (1884-1939)

early anthropologist who focuses his attention on how language affects culture and worldview, suggests how we speak affects how we experience the world, learning and using the language in the field is essential

Franz Boas (1858-1942)

1st professor of anthropology in the US, believed it wasn’t correct to classify cultures in terms of language, evolutionary theories and romantic writings of classification would lead to racism, he said immersion and living alongside a people is incredibly important, fieldwork