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Unit 5 - Language
- Languages and the role they play in culture
- Language distribution
- Diffusion of language
- Language and places
Most commonly spoken/used languages- The figures will vary by source
Mandarin
Spanish
English
Arabic
Hindi
Languages and culture
Many sociologists and linguists (and sociolinguists, and philosophers) often state:
Language = Culture
Language
‘ Human beings do not live in the objective world alone, nor alone in the world of social activity as ordinarily understood, but are very much at the mercy of the particular language which has become the medium of expression for their society. It is quite an illusion to imagine that one adjusts to reality essentially without the use of language and that language is merely an incidental means of solving specific problems of communication or reflection.’
Sapir 1949:162.
- Today, a controversial topic in some ways.
Language - definitions
Language?
- A set of sounds, combinations of sounds, and symbols used for communication
Standard language?
- A language that is published, widely distributed, and purposefully taught
Spread of English
1. How did English become so widespread?
2. What effect does English have on your culture?
3. What effects has this had on the world?
- Positive
- Negative
4. How does “English Mania” affect cultural landscape?
Language and culture
- Language contains much of cultural identity:
“Visibility”
Place of origin
Names of people, places, and things
Arts (e.g. music, literature)
PERCEPTION (to a degree, at least)
Language and politics
Examples:
- Use of Spanish in the U.S.
- Quebecois French in Canada
- “Foreign word invasion” in French and Chinese
Language and politics
Examples:
- Use of Spanish in the U.S.
As a country, U.Shas no official
Language.
Language and politics
Examples:
- Quebecois French in Canada
5 out of 7 peoplespeak French astheir native language
Language and politics
Examples:
- “Foreign word invasion” in French and Chinese
- Both the French and Chinese governments have actively sought to replace “English” (Fringlish, Chinglish) words with French/Chinese words.
Language and politics
Examples:
- “Foreign word invasion” in French and Chinese
e.g. “e-mail” in French:
- Colloquially: un email, l’email
- Officially: courriel
Mutual Intelligibility
Criterion for a language: Speakers can understand each other
Problems
- Measuring “mutual intelligibility”
- Standard languages and government impact on what is a “language” and what is a “dialect”
Mutual Intelligibility
Criterion for a language: Speakers can understand each other
Problems
- Measuring “mutual intelligibility”
e.g. Mandarin Chinese vs. Cantonese Chinese vs. Standard written Chinese
- more than 8 dialects of Chinese
Mutual Intelligibility
Criterion for a language: Speakers can understand each other
Problems
- Standard languages and government impact on what is a “language” and what is a “dialect”
DialectVariant of standard language by ethnicity or region:
- Vocabulary- Syntax- Cadence, pace- Pronunciation
Scottish dialect: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5XyecKONu8
BRP: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIv0_LVT6JQ&list=PL6F15F2789687007F
Dialect
Creates the question of what the “true” language is.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXGuCaApR7U