more lang kms

What is a language ideology?

Beliefs about how language should be used and what identities or values it represents.

Why do language ideologies matter?

They shape attitudes toward multilingualism, nationalism, and which languages gain prestige.

What is a linguistic area (Sprachbund)?

A region where unrelated languages share features due to long-term contact.

What is an example of a linguistic area?

The Balkan Sprachbund, where languages share grammar features despite different families.

Why do languages borrow features?

To fill communication needs, due to contact, prestige, or to express new ideas.

Are some languages more complex than others?

All languages are equally complex overall, but complexity may appear in different places.

Why is linguistic diversity so high globally?

Because languages encode identity, tradition, and group boundaries that people maintain.

Why do languages die?

Economic pressure, stigma, political domination, and lack of intergenerational transmission.

How is language tied to culture?

Language communicates identity, social roles, ritual meaning, values, and relationships.

What key cognitive ability made language possible?

Symbolic thought — the ability to let sounds and signs represent abstract ideas.

What is symbolic thought?

Using symbols, sounds, or images to represent ideas beyond their literal form.

Why is symbolic thought important for culture?

It enables art, religion, storytelling, writing, and complex social knowledge.

How does symbolic thought connect to language evolution?

It allowed early humans to expand from simple signals to open-ended vocabulary.