武汉理工大学：《英语言学》课程教学资源（PPT课件讲稿，英文版）Language, Culture& Society

Language, Culture Society

Language, Culture & Society

Language is a System of symbols symbols are objects, events, speech sounds, written forms, gestures, which humans attach meaning Symbols operate in changing fields of social relationships symbols are multivocal --ena bles a wide range of groups individuals to relate to the same symbol in a variety of ways

Language is a System of Symbols • symbols are objects, events, speech sounds, written forms, gestures, which humans attach meaning • Symbols operate in changing fields of social relationships • symbols are multivocal -- enables a wide range of groups & individuals to relate to the same symbol in a variety of ways

Language in its Social Cultural Settings Does language influence the perception of reality and cultural behavior? Does language reflect reality in a culture? Or is it both?

Language in its Social & Cultural Settings • Does language influence the perception of reality and cultural behavior? • Does language reflect reality in a culture? • Or, is it both?

LINGUISTIC RELATIVISM and DETERMINISM Edward Sapir/Benjamin Lee Whorf - the"Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis language culture intrinsically linked language is a guide to social reality. it powerfull conditions all our thinking about social problems and processes

LINGUISTIC RELATIVISM and DETERMINISM • Edward Sapir/Benjamin Lee Whorf – the “Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis” • language & culture intrinsically linked • "language is a guide to social reality... it powerfully conditions all our thinking about social problems and processes

Language and Thought Sapir-Whorf hypothesis Language predisposes people to see the world in a certain way guiding behavior Lang uage reflects reality Rich vocabulary reflects a cultural

Language and Thought • Sapir-Whorf hypothesis • Language predisposes people to see the world in a certain way guiding behavior • Language reflects reality • Rich vocabulary reflects a cultural focus

GRAMMAR AND CONSCIOUSNESS linguistic conditioning of behavior linguistic determinism language is not simply a way of voicing ideas, but the very thing which shapes those ideas PRECKLESS

GRAMMAR AND CONSCIOUSNESS • linguistic conditioning of behavior – “linguistic determinism” • language is not simply a way of voicing ideas, but the very thing which shapes those ideas

Lexicon and Focal Vocabulary lexicon -a vocabulary, a dictionary of terms focal vocabulary - specialized set of terms distinctions that are particularly Important to a certain group tell us something about world view. historical events. ides influences, perceptions important to a particular group Inuit terms for snow: skiers terms for snow

Lexicon and Focal Vocabulary • lexicon – a vocabulary; a dictionary of terms • focal vocabulary -- specialized set of terms & distinctions that are particularly important to a certain group • tell us something about world view, historical events, ideas, influences, perceptions important to a particular group • Inuit terms for snow; skiers terms for snow

Ethnolinguistics/Ethnoscience/Et hnosemantics the new ethnography"(1960s emics and etics maps of a lexicon and its focal vocabularies method of studying parts (domains) of a culture primarily on the basis of how they are lexically encoded by native speakers

Ethnolinguistics/Ethnoscience/Et hnosemantics • “the new ethnography” (1960s) • emics and etics • maps of a lexicon and its focal vocabularies • method of studying parts (domains) of a culture primarily on the basis of how they are lexically encoded by native speakers

SOCIOLINGUISTICS AND ETHNOGRAPHY OF COMMUNICATION Trace connections among linguistic and social variables speech- the way people use a language Linguistic features as markers of class divisions in society ° Languages in contact

SOCIOLINGUISTICS AND ETHNOGRAPHY OF COMMUNICATION • Trace connections among linguistic and social variables • speech – the way people use a language • Linguistic features as markers of class divisions in society • Languages in contact

Sociolinguistics Sociolinguistics -the study of the relationships between a language system (langue) and speaking (parole) in a social and cultural context Study of the structure and use of language as it relates to its social setting

Sociolinguistics • Sociolinguistics - the study of the relationships between a language system (langue) and speaking (parole) in a social and cultural context • Study of the structure and use of language as it relates to its social setting