Language & Culture

Language and Culture Names Proverbs, sayings, tongue twisters, legends, myths or songs.

How Culture Influences Language Clear that the terminology used by a culture primarily reflects that culture’s interest and concerns or that are important to them. ‘A feature that is perceived as courteous by speakers of one language may not be so judged by speakers of another.’ (El Sayed, 1990)

Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis Benjamin Whorf & Edward Sapir (1930’s) say that all of our ideas are controlled by our language (what it allows us to think), so that our reality is what we say rather that what actually exists.

Culture and Language “the worlds in which different societies live are distinct worlds, not merely the same world with different labels attached.” (Sapir, 1949)

What We Say Influences What We Think, What We Feel and What We Believe Culture and Language What We Say Influences What We Think, What We Feel and What We Believe

Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis Linguistic Determinism Language determines thought (shapes an idea) Different languages impose different conceptions of reality Linguistic Relativity Language influences thinking (perception) Linguistic differences between cultures are associated with cultural differences in thinking Different

2 versions of the hypothesis Weaker version (relativism): Words or grammar of a language influence speakers perceptions to some extent and can influence their behavior and attitudes Strong version (determinism): Language will completely direct your perception, behavior and attitude.

Linguistic Determinism (the strong version) Language determines thought Which says that linguistic structure determines cognitive structure. That is, learning a language changes the way a person thinks. Language will completely direct your perceptions, behavior and attitude.

Linguistic Relativity : the weak version speakers of different languages perceive and experience the world differently, that is, relative to their linguistic background. Words or grammar of a language influence speakers perceptions to some extent and can influence their behavior and attitudes Which says that the resulting cognitive systems are different in speakers of different languages. Relative..in comparison to

Language & culture It’s a two way process

Domain The number of distinctions made within a domain reflects the degree of cultural interest. Example Horse Mare Stallion Foal Colt

Colour terms (Berlin & Kay,1969) 11 basic colours White-Black-red-green-yellow-blue-brown-purple-pink-Gray All languages don’t have all these 11 colour terms Russian- No blue colour French-No brown colour Hungarian- No red Dani tribe-New Guinea- Mili( dark) Mola(light) Zuni Tribe-No colour for orange

How unique is a language? Something said in one language cannot be said in another. Some words just cannot be translated. Like “ Summit Conference” Some things will be more highly codable in one language than they are in another. (Concepts like “honesty” “sin” “kinship” “honour”)

Translation process Analyzing the grammar & words of the source text Restructuring the meaning of the text in the receptor language Testing the translation

Deepak Asher My firangi friend asked me the meaning of the song - "Balam pichkaari jo tune mujhe maari  Toh seedhi-saadhi chhori sharaabi ho gayi Jeans pehenke jo tu ne maara thumka Toh lattu padosan ki bhaabhi ho gayi" I sheepishly had to explain - Dear beloved person, when you assaulted me with a stream of water from a liquid projectile launcher, an ostensibly normal and balanced female became an alcoholic When you wore denim and oscillated your pelvic girdle in one direction, the adjoining resident's sister-in-law began showing symptoms of an obsession-driven psychological disorder ! Firangi fainted !

One’s knowledge of one’s native language is culturally transmitted. Language & Culture One’s knowledge of one’s native language is culturally transmitted.

Folklore

What is folklore? Traditional knowledge of a culture Things that people traditionally Believe (planting practices, family traditions, other elements of worldview) Do (dance, make music, sew clothing) Know (build irrigation dam, nurse an ailment, prepare barbecue) Make (architecture, art, crafts) Say (personal experience stories, riddles, song lyrics)

5 Characteristics of Folklores Oral Traditional Variable Anonymous Formulaic

Some forms of verbal art Myths Legends Fables Folktales Memorates Proverbs Riddles Ballads Jokes