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أه ال سه و بك ال ف م جامع ي تكسا ة ف س أرلنغتو ي نArlinqtondakı Texas Universitetinə xoş gəlmisiniz! Selamat datang di Universitas Texas di Arlington!

Добре дошли в Университета на Тексас в Арлингтън! Welkom bij de Universiteit van Texas in Arlington! Welcome to The University of Texas at Arlington!

Bienvenue à l’Université du Texas à Arlington! Willkommen zur Universität von Texas in Arlington! Benvenuti all'Università di Texas a Arlington! テキサス大学アーリントン校へようこそ !

Talɩ ɖéu Árlɩ$ŋtɔnɩ tɛ́$ Unɩvɛ́ɖɩsitée taá gɛ́$ Tɛ́ksásɩ taá! 텍사스주립대학교알링톤캠퍼스에오신것을환영합니다 !

Добредојдовте во Универзитетот на Тексас од Арлингтон! 欢迎光临德州大学阿灵顿分校 ! 歡迎蒞臨德州大學阿靈頓分校 !

Abrtzlvz-ngrgr nzvz-krmamu mz Yunzvrszti ngr Tekszs mrkc Arlingtzn! Bem-vindos à Universidade do Texas em Arlington!

Добро пожаловать в Университет Техаса в Арлингтоне! ¡Bienvenidos a la Universidad de Texas en Arlington!

Välkomna till Texas Universitetet i Arlington! ขอต้�อนรั�บส่มหาวิ�ทยาลั�ยเท�กซั�ส่แหงเม�องอารั�ลั�งต้�น

Ласкаво просимо до Університету Техаса в Арлінгтоні! Chào mừng quí khách đến thăm Đại Học Texas ở Arlington!

Communities Divided, Communities Divided, Communities ConnectedCommunities Connected

How Emigration Creates New How Emigration Creates New Ways of SpeakingWays of Speaking

David J. SilvaDavid J. SilvaVice Provost for Academic AffairsVice Provost for Academic Affairs

Professor of Linguistics / Distinguished Teaching ProfessorProfessor of Linguistics / Distinguished Teaching Professor

2008-09 Conversations Brown Bag – Friday, October 10, 20082008-09 Conversations Brown Bag – Friday, October 10, 2008

OverviewOverview

Language defines and connects people.Language defines and connects people.

When speakers of different languages come When speakers of different languages come into contact, there are several strategies into contact, there are several strategies than might be adopted to allow for than might be adopted to allow for communication.communication.

Changes in language use often correlate Changes in language use often correlate with changes in identity, and vice-versa.with changes in identity, and vice-versa.

The focus: emigration / immigration. The focus: emigration / immigration.

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Language Defines PeopleLanguage Defines People

What makes a person…What makes a person…– an American?an American?

an American an American vs.vs. a Canadian? a Canadian?

– a Texan?a Texan?a Texan a Texan vs. vs. an Okie?an Okie?

– educated?educated?– female female vs.vs. male? male?– gay gay vs. vs. straight?straight?– white, black, Native American, East Asian, white, black, Native American, East Asian,

South Asian … ? South Asian … ? Language is like a flag – it is

emblematic 55

Language Connects PeopleLanguage Connects People

Imagine your life without language … Imagine your life without language …

Language links minds.

Language links lives.

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New Identity New Identity New Language New Language

PygmalionPygmalionBoratBoratYouYou

““To have another To have another language is to language is to possess a second possess a second soul.”soul.”– Attributed to King Attributed to King

CharlemagneCharlemagne77

Travel Propagates LanguageTravel Propagates Language

““England and America are two countries England and America are two countries separated by a common language.”separated by a common language.”– George Bernard ShawGeorge Bernard Shaw 88

Languages in ContactLanguages in Contact

The desire to The desire to communicate is communicate is axiomatic to being axiomatic to being human.human.

Language Language differences impede differences impede communication.communication.

When impeded, When impeded, what do we do?what do we do?

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1. Lingua Franca1. Lingua Franca

““Vehicular” languageVehicular” language

An already-existing third language An already-existing third language used to connect different partiesused to connect different parties

Historical Historical Lingue FrancheLingue Franche– Greek (Koine)Greek (Koine)

– FrenchFrench

– ChineseChinese

– EnglishEnglish1010

English as Modern Lingua FrancaEnglish as Modern Lingua Franca

In a Norwegian cocktail lounge:In a Norwegian cocktail lounge:“Ladies are requested not to have children “Ladies are requested not to have children in the bar.”in the bar.”

In the Petting Zoo of the Beijing Zoo:In the Petting Zoo of the Beijing Zoo:“Small Careful Animals Club.”“Small Careful Animals Club.”

From a brochure of a Tokyo car rental firm: From a brochure of a Tokyo car rental firm: ““When passenger of foot heave in sight, When passenger of foot heave in sight, tootle the horn. Trumpet him melodiously at tootle the horn. Trumpet him melodiously at first, but if he still obstacles your passage first, but if he still obstacles your passage then tootle him with vigor.”then tootle him with vigor.” 1111

2. Mutual [In]Attention2. Mutual [In]Attention

Mutual RespectMutual Respect– Speakers of each community learn the Speakers of each community learn the

language of the other communitylanguage of the other community

Mutual IndifferenceMutual Indifference– Separate spacesSeparate spaces

– No communicationNo communication

– ““We are notWe are notthe same”the same”

1212

Respect? Indifference?Respect? Indifference?

Neither scenario is likely in practice.Neither scenario is likely in practice.

They presume equal(or at last similar) levels of POWERPOWER

politicalsocial,

economic,cultural…

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3. Capitulation3. Capitulation

The The subsubordinate group learns the ordinate group learns the language of the language of the supersuperordinate group ordinate group while either…while either…– maintaining their home language –or–maintaining their home language –or–

– abandoning their home languageabandoning their home language

What is happening in the USA?What is happening in the USA?– Let’s check some census data… Let’s check some census data…

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Census Data -1980, 1990, 2000Census Data -1980, 1990, 2000

1980(millions)

% of total

1990 (millions)

% of total

2000 (millions)

% of total

US Population – All speakers, age 5+

210.4 100 230.4 100 262.4 100

English only 187.1 89 198.6 86 215.4 82

Language other than English

23.0 11 31.8 14 46.9 18

Speaks English very well

12.9 6.1 17.8 7.8 25.6 9.8

Speaks English w/some difficulty

10.1 4.8 14.0 6.1 21.3 8.1

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4. Language Mixing4. Language Mixing

4A - Lexical Borrowing4A - Lexical Borrowing– A community borrows words from anotherA community borrows words from another

– The least complex type of mixingThe least complex type of mixing

– Examples from Examples from The History of LoveThe History of Love kishkeskishkes (10); (10); pischerpischer (15); (15); knedelachknedelach (16) (16)

– English borrowings include…English borrowings include…skunkskunk (Abenaki or Cree)(Abenaki or Cree)

marmalademarmalade (Portuguese)(Portuguese)

robotrobot (Russian)(Russian)1616

4. Language Mixing4. Language Mixing

4B - Code Switching4B - Code Switching

– Speakers move back and forth between Speakers move back and forth between two languages during a single episodetwo languages during a single episode

– More complex than borrowingMore complex than borrowing

– The two languages maintain some degree The two languages maintain some degree of internal integrityof internal integrity

““An example, please”An example, please”1717

Nelly Furtado – “Força”Nelly Furtado – “Força”

Com uma forCom uma forçça que ningua que ninguéém pode pararm pode parar“With a force that nobody can stop”“With a force that nobody can stop”Com uma fome que ninguCom uma fome que ninguéém pode matarm pode matar“With a hunger that nobody can kill”“With a hunger that nobody can kill”Mais perto do cMais perto do cééu …u …“Closer to the sky …”“Closer to the sky …”What’s the meaning?What’s the meaning?– ““I belong to both communities – and to I belong to both communities – and to

a third.”a third.”1818

4. Language Mixing4. Language Mixing

4C - Pidginization4C - Pidginization (vs. “pigeon”)(vs. “pigeon”)

– Speakers create a new system with elements Speakers create a new system with elements of both languagesof both languages

– Most complex form of mixingMost complex form of mixing– At first, a pidgin is…At first, a pidgin is…

nobody’s first languagenobody’s first language

limited contexts (usually trade / business)limited contexts (usually trade / business)

– Later, the pidgin might become a Later, the pidgin might become a creolecreole acquired by childrenacquired by children

expands into a full range of contextsexpands into a full range of contexts1919

Tok Pisin – Papua New GuineaTok Pisin – Papua New Guinea

Tok PisinTok Pisin– bikpela manbikpela man– tupela i bamtupela i bam– nogutnogut– bikpela subikpela su

– Hamas bilong baim Hamas bilong baim tiket i go long Briten?tiket i go long Briten?

EnglishEnglish– adultadult– accidentaccident– badbad– bootboot

– How much is a How much is a ticket to Britain?ticket to Britain?

FYI: ~100,000 native speakers,4+ million second language speakers 2020

A Special CaseA Special CaseThe Lost Boys of SudanThe Lost Boys of Sudan

DiasporaDiaspora– EthiopiaEthiopia– KenyaKenya– USAUSA

NebraskaNebraskaCaliforniaCaliforniaTexasTexas

~27,000 men~27,000 menThey Poured Fire on They Poured Fire on Us From the Sky, Us From the Sky, edited byedited by Judy A. Judy A. Bernstein (2005)Bernstein (2005)

2121

Dental ExtractionDental Extraction

Male (& Female)Male (& Female)6 lower teeth removed6 lower teeth removedAt or near permanent At or near permanent eruptioneruptionPattern documented in Pattern documented in 1919th-th-2020thth century century travelogues, travelogues, ethnographiesethnographiesAssociated withAssociated with– Identity – “Jackals”Identity – “Jackals”– DietDiet– SpeechSpeech 2222

University of Nebraska ProjectUniversity of Nebraska ProjectPI:PI: Dr. Mary Willis, Dept of AnthropologyDr. Mary Willis, Dept of Anthropology

The Jacob & Valeria Langeloth FoundationThe Jacob & Valeria Langeloth Foundation

Design from refugeesDesign from refugees

All remarked upon All remarked upon how missing teeth how missing teeth influencedinfluenced

speechspeech

eatingeating

self-imageself-image2323

The Dinka StudyThe Dinka Study

13 “Lost Boys”13 “Lost Boys”

Each missing 6 Each missing 6 lower teethlower teeth

Age Range: 21-30 Age Range: 21-30

Primary settlement Primary settlement to Lincoln 2000-01to Lincoln 2000-01

Image Credit: Wall Street Journal 2002 2424

More on the Dinka StudyMore on the Dinka Study

The Question. The Question. Does replacing these teeth Does replacing these teeth change speech production?change speech production?

The Methodology. The Methodology. Record speech three times:Record speech three times:• prior to having the teeth replacedprior to having the teeth replaced• ~ one month after the teeth have been replaced~ one month after the teeth have been replaced• ~ one year after the teeth have been replaced~ one year after the teeth have been replaced

Controls. Controls. Compare these patterns against :Compare these patterns against :• those who never had teeth extractedthose who never had teeth extracted• those who were not selected for dental replacementthose who were not selected for dental replacement

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Results of the Dinka StudyResults of the Dinka Study

Focus on the Palatal StopsFocus on the Palatal Stops– similar to English ‘j’ and ‘ch’similar to English ‘j’ and ‘ch’

Without the lower front teethWithout the lower front teeth– ‘‘j’ is pronounced more like ‘zh’j’ is pronounced more like ‘zh’– ‘‘ch’ is pronounced more like ‘sh’ ch’ is pronounced more like ‘sh’ (fricatives)(fricatives)

After teeth are replacedAfter teeth are replaced– ‘‘j’ and ‘ch’ tend toward a “repaired” statej’ and ‘ch’ tend toward a “repaired” state– speech patterns match those of younger Dinka speech patterns match those of younger Dinka

boys who never underwent dental extractionboys who never underwent dental extraction2626

Why is that Last Point Important?Why is that Last Point Important?

Observation #1Observation #1If the lower teeth are missing,If the lower teeth are missing, then then ‘j’ ‘j’ ‘zh’ and ‘ch’ ‘zh’ and ‘ch’ ‘sh’ ‘sh’

Observation #2Observation #2If everybody has their lower teeth extracted,If everybody has their lower teeth extracted, then ‘j’ and ‘ch’ are never produced by adults then ‘j’ and ‘ch’ are never produced by adults

Hypothesis #1Hypothesis #1With no exposure to ‘j’ or ‘ch’,With no exposure to ‘j’ or ‘ch’, children will not acquire these sounds children will not acquire these sounds

Hypothesis #2Hypothesis #2After one or two generations, ‘j’ / ‘ch’ disappearAfter one or two generations, ‘j’ / ‘ch’ disappear

Hypotheses 1 and 2 appear to have been refuted.

Although the “hardware” for producing ‘j’ and ‘ch’ may be damaged / missing, the “software” that encodes ‘j’ and ‘ch’

– i.e., the grammar of the language – remains intact.

If we replace the dental hardware,we can recover the original speech patterns.

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Beyond the Mechanics…Beyond the Mechanics…

DietDiet

Self-ImageSelf-Image

ChallengesChallenges– maintaining good dental healthmaintaining good dental health– continuing emotional recoverycontinuing emotional recovery

Emigration to the United States literally Emigration to the United States literally results in a new way of speakingresults in a new way of speaking

Changes in Sudan –Changes in Sudan – the demise of extraction the demise of extraction

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Points to Take AwayPoints to Take Away

You are – in part – what you speak.You are – in part – what you speak.

– When you change, your language changes.When you change, your language changes.

– When your language changes, you change.When your language changes, you change.

When people connect, they often find When people connect, they often find creative ways to communicate.creative ways to communicate.

– Adaptability is a hallmark of human existence, Adaptability is a hallmark of human existence, language included.language included.

– We need to distinguish between the physical We need to distinguish between the physical realities of speech and consider both social realities of speech and consider both social and cognitive aspects, too.and cognitive aspects, too. 2929

When it Comes to Language…When it Comes to Language…

PhysiologyPhysiology

CognitionCognition

IdentityIdentity

AffiliationAffiliation

PhysicsPhysics It’s all connected.3030

Communities Divided, Communities Divided, Communities ConnectedCommunities Connected

How Emigration Creates New How Emigration Creates New Ways of SpeakingWays of Speaking

David J. SilvaDavid J. Silvadjsilva@uta.edu

Subliminal Message:

TAKE LING 2301 this spring!