Anthropology 340LANGUAGE AND CULTURE

Basic Terms

Kimberly Porter Martin

Culture is

1. Abstract2. Learned3. Shared 4. Rules/patterns/templates5. Used to generate behavior6. Used to understand

experiences

Culture

Definition: the abstract, learned, shared rules/patterns/templates for generating behavior and understanding experience.

Communication is Necessary for Culture to be Shared

DEFINITION• Communication

is transferring information from one entity to another.

Communication occurs at many levels within and between individual organisms and between parts of organisms. People talk and gesture, while organs in the body communicate using electrical and chemical signals.

Kinds of Communicationbetween Humans

NonVerbal Communication

• Kinesics• Proxemics• Social Expectations

Verbal Communication

• Language (Speech)• Paralanguage

Symbols vs IconsSymbols

DEFINITION: A symbol is something that arbitrarily * represents something else.

Language is made up of symbols in the form of sounds that arbitrarily* stand for something else.

OR of graphic representations that arbitrarily *stand for something else.

Icons

DEFINITION: An icon is something that logically represents something else.

Icons resemble the things they represent so that the representation is obvious to anyone.

*Arbitrary means based on or determined by individual preference and not by a natural connection.

Symbols & Icons

Freedom Family

Country Sound for Pain

US Ouch

South Africa Eina (eye-na)

Italy Ahia (eye-ah) or Ahio (eye-oh)

Japan Otai (ita)

Brazil Ai

Germany Aua (ow-ah) or Au or Autch

Poland Aua (ow-ah)

France Aie (eye)

Spain Uy (ooy)

China Aiyo

Denmark Av

Philippines Aray or Aguy

India Arghh

Sweden Aj

Romania Au or Af

Chile Ay (a-eeh) or Au (A-ooh)

Pain Sounds

Symbols or Icons?

Animal Sounds: Symbols or Icons

http://www.animalport.com/Animal-Sounds.html

Language is

1.Abstract (symbolic)

2.Learned

3.Shared

4.Rules/patterns/templates

5.Used to generate speech

6.Used to understand speech

Language

•Definition: the abstract, learned, shared rules/patterns/templates for generating speech.

SocietyDefinition: a group of people using a shared culture

Society is the concrete

manifestation of culture.

Speech

Definition: the act of communicating using language

Speech is the concrete manifestation of

language

Barnga Simulationfor on-campus classes

Powerpoint Study Guide

CultureAbstractConcreteLearnedSharedCommunicationVerbal

Communication

Non-verbal communicationSymbolIconArbitraryLanguageSocietySpeech