Language, Culture, and Linguistic Anthropology Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering core terms, language origin theories, language functions, linguistic anthropology, and the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis based on the lecture transcript.

Language

A system of arbitrary vocal symbols used by members of a social group.

Culture

Shared patterns of behaviour, beliefs, values, customs, arts, and knowledge acquired by members of a society.

Society

A group of people who share a common territory, culture, and social structure, and interact with one another.

Divine Origin Theory

A perspective proposing that language is a gift from a divine being or creator, which belongs to theology and mythology and is not scientifically testable.

Natural Origin Theory

A perspective linking language to natural sounds and human instincts, which explains a small number of words but cannot account for grammar.

Bow-Wow Theory

A sub-theory of natural origin proposing that language began by early humans copying natural sounds and animal calls heard in nature.

Pooh-Pooh Theory

A sub-theory of natural origin proposing that language began from spontaneous natural emotional expressions, such as pain, surprise, joy, fear, or anger.

Ding-Dong Theory

A sub-theory of natural origin proposing that language began from a natural harmony or matching qualities between sounds and objects in nature.

Social Origin Theory

A perspective proposing that language arose from the need for cooperation and communication within groups as a shared system of signs.

Yo-He-Ho Theory

A sub-theory of social origin proposing that language began from sounds made during collective labour.

Evolutionary Origin Theory

A perspective proposing that language developed as part of human biological, cognitive, and cultural evolution.

Informative Function

A function of language used to convey information, facts, ideas, and descriptions to build knowledge and understanding.

Expressive Function

A function of language used to communicate feelings, emotions, attitudes, and personality.

Directive Function

A function of language used to influence, command, request, or persuade others and to guide behaviour.

Phatic Function

A function of language used to maintain social relationships and open communication channels to build rapport and social cohesion.

Poetic Function

A function of language used for artistic or aesthetic purposes, focusing on how language sounds and is structured.

Metalinguistic Function

A function of language used to talk about language itself, such as defining terms or correcting grammar.

Linguistic Anthropology

A branch of anthropology that examines language as it lives in cultural and social life and explores how language shapes our view of the world.

Sapir–Whorf Hypothesis

A theory named after Edward Sapir and Benjamin Lee Whorf stating that language influences or determines how we think and perceive reality.

Linguistic Determinism

The strong version of linguistic relativity proposing that language completely determines thought, suggesting people cannot think about concepts without words for them.

Linguistic Relativity

The weak version of linguistic relativity proposing that language shapes attention and categorisation but does not fully control thought.