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Language and Linguistic Relativity: The Power of Words C. D. Schallhorn.

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Presentation on theme: "Language and Linguistic Relativity: The Power of Words C. D. Schallhorn."— Presentation transcript:

1 Language and Linguistic Relativity: The Power of Words C. D. Schallhorn

2 Language “The limits of your language mean the limits of your world.” –Ludwig Wittgenstein “The limits of your language mean the limits of your world.” –Ludwig Wittgenstein

3 How Do Language and Thinking Interact? Grammar Vocabulary Oxymorons Euphemisms Language as a Cognitive Map Grammar Vocabulary Oxymorons Euphemisms Language as a Cognitive Map

4 Grammar Romance Languages  Formal/Informal (tu/usted) (tu/vous)  Masculine and Feminine Forms of Nouns  In French, “victim” is feminine  Professions are masculine Romance Languages  Formal/Informal (tu/usted) (tu/vous)  Masculine and Feminine Forms of Nouns  In French, “victim” is feminine  Professions are masculine

5 More Grammar Spanish –Single is “el” and “la” –Plural is “los” regardless of male- female ratio e.g. one male and 1000 females=“los” Same with French Spanish –Single is “el” and “la” –Plural is “los” regardless of male- female ratio e.g. one male and 1000 females=“los” Same with French

6 Vocabulary The Inuit (aka Eskimos) –20+ words for snow Fiji Islanders –No words for snow –Many words for coconuts The Inuit (aka Eskimos) –20+ words for snow Fiji Islanders –No words for snow –Many words for coconuts

7 More Vocabulary Arabic (not using adjectives, but different words) –700 words to describe camels—height, weight, age, color, smell, etc. –Side note—in German, but not English  schadenfreude Arabic (not using adjectives, but different words) –700 words to describe camels—height, weight, age, color, smell, etc. –Side note—in German, but not English  schadenfreude

8 More Vocabulary Hawaiians –25-30 different words for tides and waves –Surfers-glassy, macking, etc. Wauroni (S. American tribal people) –No word for “work” New Guinea tribal groups –No words for “war” Hawaiians –25-30 different words for tides and waves –Surfers-glassy, macking, etc. Wauroni (S. American tribal people) –No word for “work” New Guinea tribal groups –No words for “war”

9 More Vocabulary Hopi Indians –A single noun to refer to all flying things and beings (except for birds) –Insects=planes=aviators=superman ( übermeisch-in German) Hopi Indians –A single noun to refer to all flying things and beings (except for birds) –Insects=planes=aviators=superman ( übermeisch-in German)

10 More Vocabulary Americans and their love of cars –Types of non-commercial vehicles/transportation –e.g. sedan, convertible, 4WD, hatchback, notchback, truck, pickup truck, SUV, mini- SUV, mini-van, Hummer, single and double-cab pickup, etc. Americans and their love of cars –Types of non-commercial vehicles/transportation –e.g. sedan, convertible, 4WD, hatchback, notchback, truck, pickup truck, SUV, mini- SUV, mini-van, Hummer, single and double-cab pickup, etc.

11 More Vocabulary Epithets—slang terms for people/groups we do not like –Notice trends with this—we tend to associate them with other things we do not like. e.g. epithets for males are female-based, e.g. ”gurly-man” Epithets—slang terms for people/groups we do not like –Notice trends with this—we tend to associate them with other things we do not like. e.g. epithets for males are female-based, e.g. ”gurly-man”

12 Puns Click here

13 Oxymorons Click Here

14 Euphemistic Language Words that disguise the truth Attempt to alter reality by changing/cleansing the language. Associated with lies and deceit. It takes the life out of life. Words that disguise the truth Attempt to alter reality by changing/cleansing the language. Associated with lies and deceit. It takes the life out of life.

15 Euphemism Example WWI—when a soldier’s body could no longer take the stresses of war and it shut down, it was called “SHELL SHOCK” WWI—when a soldier’s body could no longer take the stresses of war and it shut down, it was called “SHELL SHOCK”

16 In WWII, it was renamed to: “BATTLE FATIGUE” In the Korean War, they called it: “OPERATIONAL EXHAUSTION” In WWII, it was renamed to: “BATTLE FATIGUE” In the Korean War, they called it: “OPERATIONAL EXHAUSTION”

17 By the end of the Vietnam war, it had been changed to: “POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER” By the end of the Vietnam war, it had been changed to: “POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER”

18 Examples of double-speak Blind = “visually impaired” Deaf = “hearing impaired” CIA kills off a group of people = “depopulate an area” A parachute = “vertical decelerator” Blind = “visually impaired” Deaf = “hearing impaired” CIA kills off a group of people = “depopulate an area” A parachute = “vertical decelerator”

19 More examples Bombing = “air support” A pet = “animal companion” or “household non-human animal” Unemployed = “non-waged” Messy = “organizationally impaired” Bombing = “air support” A pet = “animal companion” or “household non-human animal” Unemployed = “non-waged” Messy = “organizationally impaired”

20 More examples Energetic disassembly = an explosion at a nuclear power plant Used car = “previously owned vehicle” “A television with non-multicolor capability” = a black/white television Energetic disassembly = an explosion at a nuclear power plant Used car = “previously owned vehicle” “A television with non-multicolor capability” = a black/white television

21 Suffice to say that there are many more examples of this disturbing trend.

22 Periphrastics

23 The End


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