Linguistic Anthropology

Linguistic anthropology

studies how language influences social life
1. as a human characteristic
2. explains linguistic variation, meaning & relationships b/t languages and society

Linguistics

scientific study of language

Language

method of human communication, spoken or written, consisting of the use of words in a structured and conventional way
1. language is learned
2. loosely organized set of rules (syntax) and meanings (semantics)
3. constantly in flux
4. language is performed

Language Families (branch)

a group of languages related through descent from a common ancestral language or parental language

Endangered language

language that soon will not be learned by children

Moribund language

language not being learned by children

Dead langauge

language no longer spoken in everyday use

Language ideology

attitudes, opinions, beliefs & theories people personally hold about language (any thought about language)

Language proficiency

The ability of an individual to speak or perform in an acquired language.

Native language

language(s) an individual learns in childhood

Dialect

a variety of a language that is characteristic of a particular group of the language's speakers
1. the distinction b/t language and dialect is arbitrary @ base level
2. distinction is socially, culturally, historically, economically & politically informed
3. often has political support and/or national sponsorship, while dialects generally do not

Intelligable

able to be understood; comprehensible

Syntax

rules covering the sequence and combs of words in the formation of phrases and sentences in a language (how the language is composed)

Semantics

the meaning of a word, phrase, sentence, or text

Pragmatics

Use of language in actual social & cultural contexts

Register

ways of speaking associated w/ particular social groups & social practices

Register range

variety of registers w/ which one is acquainted and utilizes

Codes

another wya of saying 'language' or 'dialect' in linguistic analyses
1. high (H) code: official purposes, school, business, etc.
2. low (L) code: informal & domestic domains, friends & family

Code-switching (CS)

when a speaker alternates b/t two or more language varieties in the context of a single conversation or event

Code-mixing (CM)

when a speaker alternates b/t two or more language varieties mid-sentence or mid-word (ex. Spanglish)

Continuum

a continuous series w/out fixed distinctions

Auer's Typology

over time, code-switching leads to code-mixing which leads to fused lect(s)
- CS ---> CM ---> FD

Monolect/fused lect(s)

a relatively stable (new) language arising form a mixture of two or more languages

Multilingual

ability to speak two or more languages

Diglossia

when each language variety in a multilingual community serves a specified function & is used for a particular purpose
1. typically describes a stable situation involving the compartmentalized use of two codes that are hierarchically related to each other

Hegemony

dominance by one country or social group over others ('hegemonic')

Relationships of violence

direct or immediate actions on bodies or things

Relationships of power

structural control of others' actions

Linguistic captial

mastery or 'standard' dialect(s)

Linguistic differentiation

labeling a way of speaking as different or opposed to another way of speaking
1. misrecognition
2. linguistic iconization
3. fractal recursivity

Misrecognition

placing a higher value on one mode of speaking over another (ex. speak 'proper' english; "grammar nazi"; 'english is what should be spoken in the US')

Linguistic Iconization

ascribing the linguistic features of a language to those who speak it (often pejoratively) [ex. "primitive language = primitive people"; "harsh language = harsh people"; "difficulty speaking = difficulty thinking"]

Fractal Recursivity

projecting further division b/t groups based on sociolinguistic inequalities (often pejorative) [ex. deep south accent = poor, uneducated, rural]

Erasure

rendering 'undesirable/unorthodox/different' languages, dialects & linguistic features invisible
1. erasure by the state; self-censure; also academia
2. our time/generations, results in language endangerment, especially if the language is prohibited in education

Supir-Worf Thesis/Hypothesis

language determines thought
1. not a real thing
2. hypothesis is much too strong & overly rigid version of their ideas

Language & Thought Axiom

language, thought & culture all influence each other in a multidirectional relationship
1. language shapes thought & culture, thought shapes language, and culture shapes language & thought
2. language is predisposition: spoken language predisposed one to view & categorize the world a certain way but doesn't determine or prevent challenges to that view
3. language mediates inputs and facilities connection