Chapter 3- Bonvillain

Language and Cultural Meaning

Foundations of Linguistic Anthropology

OUTLINE: Sapir Whorf Linguistic Relativity Boas’ research among the Yupik (Inuit) Cultural Emphasis Ethnosemantics

– Cultural presupposition– Extended and transferred meaning

Cultural Emphasis

Boas: Language a window into culture

Culture reflected in language– Elaboration of vocabulary– Finer distinctions between items

Inuit snow, seals Nuer cattle U.S. sports

•www.alaskool.org

Ethnoscience as Method

From Cultural Emphasis to Ethnosemantics

Cognitive anthropology/ethno science or ethno semantics

Ethosemantics as a Field Method– Emic & Etic perspectives

Hanunóo Color Terms

Dark Light Fresh Dry Reflecting an agricultural focus.

Linguistic Relativity

Languages are different Languages are arbitrary systems Differences are not predictable

Searching for Universals

Berlin & Kay– Basic color terms

Focal points vs boundaries Sequence

– black & white– add red– add green or yellow– ditto– add blue– add brown– add purple, pink, orange, and/or gray

– Problems: defining basic; no ‘standard’ measure.

How Culture Reflects Language

Linguistic Determinism Sapir… Whorf…

– Strong Whorf…– Weaker Whorf…

Examples… Experiments….

Linguistic Determinism

“Human beings . . . are very much at the mercy of the particular language which has become the medium of expression for their society.” (Sapir 1929)

“we cannot talk at all except by subscribing to the organization and classification of data” (Whorf 1940).

Sapir

“The worlds in which different societies live are distinct worlds, not merely the same world with different labels attached.” (Sapir 1929).

Whorf

“We dissect nature along lines laid down by our native languages.” (Whorf 1940)

Strong Whorf– Language determines thought

Weaker Whorf– Language influences thought.

Examples of Linguistic Determinism: Hopi

time = a process units of time = cycles passage of time = endless repetition of

same cycle.

Experiments in Linguistic Determinism: Yucatec

Grammar stresses material– Connects words for wood, tree, table

Individuals group cardboard items together.

Experiments in Linguistic Determinism: English

Grammar stresses shape– Different words for wood, tree, table

Individuals group boxes together.

Cultural Presupposition

Participants in a speech interaction come to encounters with an array of knowledge and understandings of their culture as expressed and transmitted through language.– Shirley Temple & Punky Brewster– Topo Gigio– El Chavo del Ocho & Cantinflas

Extended and Transferred Meaning

Metaphor & Metonymy Metaphors

– Metaphors of Kinship– Metaphors of the Body– Other metaphors?

Metonymy Review article:Shakespeare in the Bush