week 2 Flashcards
(24 cards)
Saussure’s distinction of language and parole
langue: idealized system- the object of study of linguistics grammar rules, patterns crystallized at a given point in time ideal speaker-hearer
language “inside the circle
parole: messy, imperfect actual speech; language is use fleeting, variable idiosyncratic
language “outside the circle”
Saussure’s structuralism
meaning of a sign depends on its position relative to other signs: things are defined by relationships of opposition to other things within a larger system; relationships between things form structures - categories, oppositions
broader philosophy structuralism
fundamental structures that underlie human cognition shape society
more extreme version: structures (beyond consciousness & control of individuals) determine human behavior
syntagmatic and paradigmatic relationships
syntagmatic: relationship to signs “in other slots” (adjectives, nouns, verbs) - these words have different roles
paradigmatic: relationship to things that can go in the “same slot” in a sentence (nouns) - the fill the same roll
synchronic and diachronic linguistics
synchronic: study of a language system at particular point in time (how does it work as a system)
diachronic: study of changes in a language system through time (historical linguistics)
prescipritve/descriptive linguistics
prescriptive: how people should speak (defining “correct language”) standards, rules
descriptive: describing language as it is actually used
language ideology
the mediating link between linguistic and social differences; how different ways of speaking are linked to different social identities
what people believe about language: overtly expressed beliefs, beliefs implicit in actions
beliefs about what is and what isn’t socially valued
linguistic relativism- SapirWhorf Hypothesis
language affects how you see the world; different languages predispose you to interpret the world in different ways
users of diff grammars - pointed toward diff types of observations and evaluations of similar acts - not equivalent as observers but arrive at diff views of the world
cultural relativism
linguistic forms influence thought
different languages do not all have the same logic (diversity of knowledge and worldview)
languages as repositories of knowledge
languages are linked to identities and rights
people should judge a language/culture on its own terms
sapir-whorf hypothesis: determinism/relativism
determinism: extreme form of relativism (Strong Whorf); our language determines how we see the world (we can’t see things another way) not testable, makes bilingualism and translation impossible
relativism: our language predisposes us to see the world in certain ways (weak whorf)
whorf’s examples of linguistic relativism
connotations of words led people to think of things as not a fire hazard:
- “empty” gasoline drums
- pool of “waste water”
- “scrap lead”
examples of language influencing thought
area of more experience - pets, cars, sports, academics - expertise and vocab make certain differences more meaningful
1 word for love in English, 2 in Ukrainian: liubov (general) kokhannia (romantic)
language helps us give diff meanings to what we see, it influences how we interpret the world
ex: if you use same word for sister and cousin, are you likely to have closer relationships with your cousin
language shapes thought - shaped by how we use it (feedback loop)
theory of mind
conceptualizing the mental states of others
language in general
does having it or not having it affect cognition
linguistic structures
grammatical categories shape thought
language use/discursive practices
not just grammatical structures, but speaking habits, turns of phrase
examples of elaborated vocabulary
area in which you have more experience - pets, sewing, cars, sports, entertainment, academics
expertise and vocab make certain differences more meaningful to you
importance of sapir-whorf hypothesis
different languages correlate with diff ways of viewing the world
language not only shapes thought - it is shaped by how we use it
relativism vs. universalism in language and thought
relativism: perceptions depend on a particular language
universalism: perceptions are same for all humans
studies of color terminologies - Berlin and kay: evidence for universals and cultural differences
not all languages have same set of basic color terms, but Brent Berlin and Paul Kay showed that major color terms cluster around 11 primary foci: ideal examples of a color category are similar across cultures
of basic terms
white black < red < green/yellow < blue < brown < orange/purple/pink/grey
human biology - a universal eyes are wired to perceive certain wavelengths of light
slang
informal words and expressions, not standard, not “proper”
jargon
vocab specific to a particular profession or group
dialect
a variety of a language, it may be standard/non-standard
accent, phonology
manner of pronunciation - it depends on a speaker’s phonology (sound system of a language)
