Language and Culture Unit 1 Lecture 1

Language and Culture Open note to one page (front and back) typed or handwritten, 50 min. Questions: short essay/open response (clear, succinct, correct) shorter is better, 2 sentences ~ 8 questions Understand the meaning of terms, use term and definition (only need understand, not term name) Questions from combination of readings and slides from class Example question (airplane picture) Explain how it’s both iconic and indexical Iconic – visual representation, picture of airplane matches physical resemblance Used it in class represents a reminder to put yourself in airplane mode (index) Knew what it meant not from knowing it’s a picture of an airplane, but it’s calling back to the situation = situation/associative relationship to beginning of class to airplane picture Indexical = pointing to / associating back to Symbol = stands for/ arbitrary connection Example Question Saw,log,hammer,axe, which doesn’t belong? Central Asian peasants whom Aleksandr Luria asked = said they are all dependent on each other. The log does belong as it is a tool and can create other tools. Luria explains the tools as less inclined to do abstract categorization. They respond by using them in practical experience. Implications of nature of thought show that we have trained rules that we learned and categorize, which isn’t universal. What makes up Language 1.​ 2.​ 3.​ 4.​ 5.​ 6.​ 7.​ Cultural appropriations (deference/truth telling) Distinctive sounds Rules of combinations (syntax, grammar, M/F) Time expression Display; written Meaning Lexicon/vocabulary (slang/registers of speech) (repertoire-borrowing words from other lang.) 8.​ Intonation/tone of speech 9.​ Gestures/body language Design Features of Language – Spoken Language Tool for communication – Anderson Effective at conveying language = from unitized nature (little bits put together) Structural Features ●​ Specialization: cognitive or design made to do a specific task. Using a certain tool to perform a certain or different task. ex. Larynx is lower to breath and speak, where fish can’t. Ex. Specialized hearing words forward and not when words/sentences are reversed ●​ Discreteness: makes different elements of a sentence discrete and eligible to speakers ex. A completely useless smartphone = we can understand the pauses, not non-English speakers ●​ Duality of Patterning: represent multiple levels simultaneously. ex. form and meaning combined ●​ Semanticity: meanings in reference to something to understand ●​ Arbitrariness: same word, but different spelling and pronunciation in different languages Topical Features ●​ Displacement: reference to a particular place that is distant from original point or present-day ex. I would have, I will, past/future, history ●​ Openness and Productivity: making up words/phrases that you didn’t learn from around you Contribute to internalization of speech ●​ Interchangeability: both a producer and a receiver. producing a sound and hearing it elsewhere ●​ Total Feedback: good time management in speaking Distinguish speech from writing​ Communication and speech are different than writing ●​ Vocal Auditory Channel: vocal signals made to produce language ●​ Broadcast Transmission: Directional Perception = Tracking voice and location even if not visible ●​ Rapid Fading: what is said is gone after it is said, bad at remembering exact words/signs Experience-Dependent (partly cultural) ●​ Traditional Transmission: language is learned/acquired/incorporated from those around you. Start to talk how others talk around you. Ex. Code switching (2 languages are mushed together) ●​ Learnability: Everyone learns to speak in an environment