1. Introduction to Linguistics
Lecture 7: PART 2 - LANGUAGE and COMMUNICATION in Society: Language and Interaction

2. Schedule the following few weeks
Start with PART 2: Language and Society/Communication
Lecture 7: Language in interaction
Lecture 8: Language and power, language and gender (Mesthrie et. al Chapter 8)
Lecture 9: Language Contact and change: Maintenance, shift and death (Chapter 8 – book + Mesthrie et al. Chapter 9)
Lecture 10: Language in the PUBLIC SPACE: Language Planning and policy
Lecture 11: Language in the PUBLIC SPACE: Linguistic Landscaping (+ Homework/Exam work)
Lecture 12: Language in the PUBLIC SPACE: Linguistic Landscaping + Homework (in class preparation)

3. Schedule today
Get back your exam – give back my books  (Prishtina group 1)
Start with L7:
Introduction
Language in Interaction:
A. Silence and speaking
B. The politeness model

4. 1. Introduction: ‘Language and Linguistics’
So far, we have looked at structural linguistics
From now on, we’re going to look at language and communication in society
Material used:
Slides
Book (Introduction to Linguistics)
Uploaded chapters on e-service from Mesthrie et. al. 2006

5. 1. Introduction: ‘Language and Linguistics’
Chomsky (1960s): ABSTRACT language away from the context in which it is spoken
What we get is a SOCIAL MONSTER

6. 1. Introduction: ‘Language and Linguistics’
Now (2015): Language as it functions in SOCIETY based on human communication
So: a redefinition of “COMPETENCE” as being:
‘our ability to use language appropriately in different settings’ (Dell Hymes 1974)
In other words: interest does not only lie in the production of sentences, but in socially-bound aspects like when is it appropriate to talk? When to remain silent? Etc…

7. 1. Introduction: Relationship between language and society
(A) Denotational language vs. (B) Indexical language
Video examples Q B.
QUESTION: What’s the difference between A and B?

8. 1. Introduction: Relationship between language and society
Denotational language: ‘a term which refers to the process of conveying meaning, referring to ideas, events or entities that exist outside of language’
Indexical language: ‘when using denotational language, it will be indexical of one’s social class status, region of origin, gender, age group and so on..’
= LANGUAGE AS A SOCIAL CONSTRUCT

9. 2. Language in interaction
HOW DO SPEAKERS USE LANGUAGE IN INTERACTION WITH OTHERS?

10. 2. Language in interaction
What do we look at?
‘Ways of speaking’ as evident in different communities:
Example:

11. 2. Language in interaction
‘Ways of speaking’ as evident in different communities:
- The identification of differences between high- or low- status speakers, or between children and adults, or between the types of language used in different contexts:
A focus on the analysis of naturally occurring speech
Emphasis on the context in which speech is produced
Interest in the meanings or functions of language
Role of language in managing relationships between speakers

12. 2. Language in interaction: exercise
Analyze Liki and the men in ‘Stupcat:’
- Is Liki a high or low status speaker?
- Are the men high or low status speakers?
- What is the context in which speech is produced? (Where are they?)
- In what way does the language use of Liki change when he discovers that the men are from Pristina?

13. 2. Language in interaction: A. Speaking and silence
CAN WE STUDY SILENCE?
Yes, we can!

14. 2. Language in interaction: A. Speaking and silence
Silence is an aspect of human communication
The focus is not on silence as an absence of speech, but as something that has communicative meaning alongside speech.
There are differences in speaking practices between different groups – not every culture interacts the same, and these differences often have a cultural basis
Examples: 1, 2 and 3

15. Example 1 – Silence: South-Athapaskan (Arizona)
Silent culture

16. Example 1 – Silence: South-Athapaskan (Arizona)
One time, I was with A, B and X down working cattle. That man, X, was from East Fork where B’s wife was from. But he didn’t know A, never knew him before, I guess. First day, I worked with X. At night, when we were camped, we talked with B, but X and A didn’t say anything to each other. Same way, the second day. Same way, third. Then, at night on fourth day, we were sitting by the fire. Still, X and A didn’t talk. Then A said: ‘Well, I know there is a stranger to me here, but I’ve been watching him and I know he is alright.’ After that, X and A talked a lot….Those two men didn’t know each other so they took it easy at first.

17. Example 1 – Silence: South-Athapaskan (Arizona)
In their culture, it is not common practice to introduce strangers to each other.
Eventually, strangers will begin to talk, but they won’t rush it.
Other cultures might expect different behavior in such circumstances to get to know each other (Western Cultures, Albanian culture)

18. Example 2 – Silence: Finnish Culture (Hame people from the south-West of Finland)
The hame brothers
Silent culture

19. Example 3 – Silence as…
….MARKED vs. UNMARKED ?

20. Example 3 – Silence as marked behavior (IGBO people in Nigeria)

21. Example 3 – Silence as marked behavior (IGBO people in Nigeria)
‘ebullient loquacity:’ silence is an important form of behavior, meaningful because it contrasts with the more TALKATIVE norm of the IGBO PEOPLE.
It is used to:
A. Manage highly-charged situations and relationships (anger)
B. To reject a marriage proposal

22. So… in other words
Example A and B – Silence is UNMARKED = silence is considered as ‘the norm’ (we call them “silent cultures”)
Example C – Silence is MARKED in ebullient loquacity (talkative, cheerful, full of energy state of speaking)

23. So…in some other words SILENCE = POLITE in A and B
SILENCE = IMPOLITE in C, unless in the situations stated above
This brings us to: THE STUDY OF POLITENESS THEORY

24. 2. Language in interaction: B. Politeness theory
ME T’SHKU FTYRA

25. 2. Language in interaction: B. Politeness theory
Created by Brown and Levinson (1987)
The politeness theory (= study of politeness in communication) is based on the notion of “FACE”
FACE = a person’s public self-image
There are two aspects of FACE: positive and negative face

26. B. Politeness theory: Positive vs. Negative face
Positive face is our desire to be appreciated by others.
Negative face is our desire not to be imposed by others.
Now, when you know this; In interacting, speakers need to balance a concern for other people’s face with a desire to protect their own.
So speakers will draw on politeness strategies as a means of paying attention to another person’s face and avoiding ‘face-threatening acts’

27. B. Politeness theory: Politeness strategies – positive and negative
BALD – ON strategy
Positive strategies: involve the expression of friendliness or approval (example: explicitly including someone in a conversation)
Negative politeness strategies: involves not imposing on others or threatening their face (example: Could you possible shut the door?)
Off the record politeness strategies
See handout with
exercises

28. Politeness
Depends on region and culture (see examples A, B and C of silence)
Social class (high class – low class)
Gender and power – next week