Language Chapter 5

World Language Families Language – a set of sounds, combinations of sounds, and symbols that are used for communication.

Major Language Families Percentage of World Population Fig. 5-11a: The percentage of world population speaking each of the main language families. Indo-European and Sino-Tibetan together represent almost 75% of the world’s people.

Language Terms Standard language-an official language sustained by the state in the form of state examination for teachers, civil servants and others. Dialect- variation of a standard language along regional or ethnic lines- vocabulary-syntax- pronunciation- cadence-pace of speech Language family-a group of languages descended from a single, earlier tongue. Language subfamily-a further division of language groups. E.g. Romance language is a subfamily of Indo-European.

Regional differences in a standard language; –Syntax-the way words are put together –Vocabulary –Pronunciation –Cadence or rhythm –Accents can reveal the regional home of a person. Isogloss-a geographic boundary within which a particular linguistic feature is found.

Origin & Diffusion of Languages Terms: Mother Tongue Deep reconstruction Language divergence Language convergence Language replacement Sound Shifts

An example of sound shift: –Latin for milk is lacte –Italian is latta –Spanish is leche –French is lait Another example of sound shift is: –German vater –Dutch vader –English father Still another example is –Latin for eight is octo –Spanish is ocho –French is huit

The vocabulary of a ancient language can reveal its cultural hearth. The Indo-European branches of the language tree at left illustrates the concept of language divergence. August Schleicher was the first to compare the world’s language families to the branches of a tree.

Proto-Indo-European Russian scholars have led the way on research of ancient languages Nostratic- hypothesized ancestral language of Indo- Europeans-were hunter- gatherers of 14,000 yrs. ago Nostratic is the ancestor of Indo-European, Kartvelian, Uralic-Altaic, Afro-Asiatic & Dravidian Hearth of Indo-European was Black Sea or east-central Europe some 5,000 to 9000 years ago

Language Dispersal Theories Kurgan- Agricultural VS. Conquest

Agriculture Theory-western dispersal centering around increased food & population Indo-European Language Family:Proposed Hearth and Dispersal Hypothesis. This theory proposes that the Indo- European language family began in the Caucasus Mountain region and dispersed eastward before diffusing westward.Indo-European Language Family:Proposed Hearth and Dispersal Hypothesis. This theory proposes that the Indo- European language family began in the Caucasus Mountain region and dispersed eastward before diffusing westward.

Indo-European Language Family-the largest and most widespread language family Indo-European Language Family-the largest and most widespread language family. The main branches of the Indo-European language family include Germanic, Romance, Balto-Slavic, and Indo-Iranian.

Euskera The Basque who inhabit a region located around the western end of the Pyrenees covering parts of north- central Spain and south-western France speak the Euskera language, which is in no way related to any other language family in Europe. How did Euskera survive?

How do Languages Diffuse? human interaction-2,000 years ago-Han China, Roman Empire-spread languages over vast empires print distribution-Gutenberg’s movable type printing press (1452-first Gutenberg Bible) helped to diffuse, standardize & stabilize European languages Migration-ancient & more recent migration from 16 th century to now diffused languages e.g. Spanish, Portuguese, English & French Trade-encouraged the spread of goods & languages Rise of nation-states-stabilized & standardized languages Colonialism-mercantilism & colonies spread European languages in the Americas, Africa & Asia

Spatial Interaction helps create: Lingua franca – A language used among speakers of different languages for the purposes of trade and commerce. Pidgin language – a language created when people combine parts of two or more languages into a simplified structure and vocabulary. Creole language – a pidgin language that has developed a more complex structure and vocabulary and has become the native language of a group of people.

Language and National Identity Standard Language a language that is published, widely distributed, and purposefully taught. Government usually plays a big role in standardizing a language.

Monolingual State a country in which only one language is spoken Multilingual State a country in which more than one language is in use Official Language should a multilingual state adopt an official language?

Language Divisions in Belgium Fig. 5-16: There has been much tension in Belgium between Flemings, who live in the north and speak Flemish, a Dutch dialect, and Walloons, who live in the south and speak French. Belgium: Flanders (Flemish language) Wallonia (French language)

Martin Luther King, Jr. Streets Geographer Derek Alderman asks: * Where are MLK streets? * Why are they where they are? * What controversies surround memorializing MLK with a street name? What Role does Language Play in Making Places? Toponym – a place name A toponym: Imparts a certain character on a place, reflects the social processes in a place & can give us a glimpse of the history of a place

Changing Toponyms When people change the toponym of a place, they have the power to “wipe out the past and call forth the new.” - Yi-Fu Tuan

Changing Toponyms Major reasons people change toponyms: –After decolonization –After a political revolution –To memorialize people or events –To commodify or brand a place

Ch. 5 FRQ-Language Language and politics often become issues together. Answer the following: A. What is an official language? B. What is the difference between a monolingual and bi- or multi-lingual state? C. Compare and contrast the ethnic, linguistic, and politico- linguistic geographies of TWO of the following countries. How is each categorized as far as questions 1 and 2 are concerned? BELGIUM (officially bi-lingual) p. 164 CANADA (officially bi-lingual) p NIGERIA (English official language, multi-lingual) p. 165 SWITZERLAND (officially multi-lingual) p. 165