& Linguistic Anthropology

LESSON OUTLINE
Linguistic Anthropology

Language

Focal Vocabulary

Non-Verbal Communication

Models of Language and

Culture
“It is quite an illusion to
imagine that one adjusts to
reality essentially without
the use of language and
that language is merely
an incidental means of
solving specific problems
of communication or Sa pi r
Ed wa rd
reflection” (1184-1939)
American
h ro pol og is t-
ant
linguist
 LINGUISTIC
ANTHROPOLOGY
Is the sub-discipline that
studies communication
systems, particularly
language. Using comparative
analysis, linguistic
anthropologists
examine the interaction of
language and culture.
 LANGUAGE
Is a s e t o f a rb i t r a ry
symbo ls s h ar e d a m on g a
grou p . T he s e s y mb o ls m a y b e
ver ba l , s i g ne d , or w r it t e n .
It is on e of t he p r im a r y
wa ys t ha t w e co m mu n i c at e ,
or s e n d an d r e c e iv e
messages.
1.
 ORIGIN OF THE
FIRST LANGUAGE
Written: Sumero-
Akkadian cuneiform

Verbal: Sumerian
and Akkadian/Akkad
 THE SIX THEORIES OF THE
ORIGIN OF LANGUAGE
The Bow-Wow Theory The Pooh-pooh Theory

The Ding-Dong Theory The Yo-He-Ho Theory

The La-La Theory The Ta-Ta Theory

 THREE STAGES OF
EVOLUTION OF LANGUAGE

- MIMETIC LANGUAGE
- PROTOLANGUAGE
- MODERN LANGUAGE
 TYPES OF LANGUAGE
1 Verbal - uses spoken or written
words to convey information and
ideas.

2 Non-Verbal - relies on body

language, gestures, and facial
expressions to express emotions
and add context to messages.
PHONOLOGY

The study of the sound

patterns and rules in a
language, including the
distinctive sounds (phonemes)
and their organization.
MORPHOLOGY
The study of how words
are formed from smaller
units (morphemes) and
how these units
contribute to meaning
and grammar.
 SYNTAX
The study of how words are
combined to form
grammatically correct and
meaningful sentences,
focusing on sentence
structure and word order.
 LANGUAGE
FAMILY
Language families are
groups of languages said
to be “genetically”
related on the basis of
having a common ancestor,
or protolanguage
 EVERY LANGUAGE HAS A
LEXICON

Semantics: Is the study of

a language meaning system
 Anthropologists are particularly
interested in ETHNOSEMANTICS

is the study of semantics within a

specific cultural context. Ethnosemantics
helps anthropologists understand how
people perceive, define, and classify
their world.

y this background for online class.

 FOCAL
VOCABULARIES:

ARE SETS OF WORDS THAT

PERTAIN TO IMPORTANT
ASPECTS OF THE CULTURE.
 SNOW ICE
is based on the physical condition of the
layers as well as changes due to weather
and temperature.
Is based primarily on sex,
age, color, and appearance of
various body parts, but may be
based on other things such as
personality and habits.
REINDEER
y this background for online class.
 NON-VERBAL
COMMUNICATION BRAZIL VS. CHILE
IN MINEIRÃO

Kinesics: is the study of

communication through body
language, including gestures,
facial expressions, body
movement, and stances.
 NON-VERBAL
COMMUNICATION BRAZIL VS. CHILE
IN MINEIRÃO

Kinesics: is the study of

communication through body
language, including gestures,
facial expressions, body
movement, and stances.
 NON-VERBAL
COMMUNICATION

Proxemics: The study of cultural

aspects of the use of space
 MODELS OF LANGUAGE AND CULTURE
“Sapir-Whorf hypothesis suggests that the language a
person speaks influences their perception of the world
and their cognitive processes”.

Linguistic determinism - it is impossible to fully learn

or understand a second language because the primary
language is so fully ingrained within an individual.
Consequently, it is impossible to fully understand other
cultures.

Sociolinguistics - This is the study of how language is shaped

within its cultural context; it is basically how people use
language. It contend that language reflects

Gender
Social Status Ethnicity
What are the origins
of writing and
literacy?
 ORIGIN OF
WRITING AND LITERACY
Advent of agriculture and the
rise of civilization.

Sumerian cuneiform script,

dating back to around 3200 BC.
 What are some of the
impacts of writing and
literacy?
 IMPACTS OF WRITING
AND LITERACY

Preservation Education

Cultural Identity Legal Systems

Standardation
Economic Development
"Language is not just words. It's
a culture, a tradition, a
unification of a community, a
whole history that creates what a
community is. It's all embodied
in a language."
& Linguistic Anthropology