Language, Culture & Communication- the meaning of message Language, Culture & Communication- the meaning of message Dr. Harriet J. Ottenheimer Chapter 1 Linguistic Anthropology

Anthropology is Holistic Four Fields: Four Fields: – Archaeology – Physical Anthropology – Cultural Anthropology – Linguistic Anthropology Applied Anthropology Applied Anthropology – A fifth field or a second dimension?.

Introducing Linguistic Anthropology Linguistic Anthropology Linguistic Anthropology – Contexts & situations – Cause of different world views

Anthropology is Comparative Cultural relativity Cultural relativity Ethnocentrism Ethnocentrism – frames of reference Commonalities. Commonalities.

Anthropology is Fieldwork-based In the field ethnography In the field ethnography Participant Observation Participant Observation New frames of reference New frames of reference Learning ‘inside’ view. Learning ‘inside’ view. Learning ‘inside’ view Learning ‘inside’ view Chiapas, Mexico- 2003

Boas and Fieldwork Language vs culture vs race Language vs culture vs race Language as window into culture Language as window into culture Language as necessary for fieldwork. Language as necessary for fieldwork. Franz Boas, 1900, posing for model of Kwakiutl dancer

Introduction Uses and meaning transmitted are situational, social, and cultural Uses and meaning transmitted are situational, social, and cultural – Situational – Social – Cultural Speaking is an action through which meaning is contextually created. Speaking is an action through which meaning is contextually created. – Ethnography of communication – Cultural model- is a construction of reality.

Methodologies Ethnolinguistics Ethnolinguistics – Anthro. Ethnographic methods – Extract rules of communcation Sociolinguistics Sociolinguistics – Discover patterns of linguistic variation – Linguistics differences result from gender, age, class, region, race, ethnicity and occupation – Instead of “rules” are statements of probability individual and societal patterning are based on behavior exhibited over time and in diverse situations. individual and societal patterning are based on behavior exhibited over time and in diverse situations. – Context complex

In Search of the First Language Tower of Babel Tower of Babel Did a mother tongue ever exist? Did a mother tongue ever exist? Sr. William Jones discovered Sr. William Jones discovered What is the Proto Indo European?Date? What is the Proto Indo European?Date? Why are Salish speakers concerned about language survival? Why are Salish speakers concerned about language survival? What are the consequences of language loss? What are the consequences of language loss? Why is the Basque a language isolate? Why is the Basque a language isolate? How have scientist tried to study language (Cavalli- Sforza) How have scientist tried to study language (Cavalli- Sforza)