Culture And AnthropologyCulture And Anthropology

• Cultural VariationCultural Variation

• EthnocentrismEthnocentrism

• Cultural RelativityCultural Relativity

Defining CultureDefining Culture

• Many Ways to Define Culture Depending on Many Ways to Define Culture Depending on Research Orientation.Research Orientation.

• Culture is LearnedCulture is Learned

• Culture is Shared within a CommunityCulture is Shared within a Community

Elements of Human CultureElements of Human Culture

• TechnologyTechnology

• Economic OrganizationEconomic Organization

• Social OrganizationSocial Organization

• Political OrganizationPolitical Organization

• Ideology (Belief System)Ideology (Belief System)

• Aesthetics (Artistic Expression)Aesthetics (Artistic Expression)

• Culture is not possible without LanguageCulture is not possible without Language

The Influence of Culture The Influence of Culture on Languageon Language

• Cultural EmphasisCultural Emphasis– Boas: Language a window into cultureBoas: Language a window into culture

• Language reflects cultureLanguage reflects culture– Finer distinctionsFiner distinctions

– More elaborate vocabularyMore elaborate vocabulary Inuit snow, seals Inuit snow, seals Interactive IñupiaQ Dictionary Nuer cattleNuer cattle U. S. sportsU. S. sports HanunHanunóo colorsóo colors Marshallese birthing vocabularyMarshallese birthing vocabulary

How Language Reflects How Language Reflects CultureCulture

• Cultural emphasis…Cultural emphasis…

• Cognitive Anthropology…Cognitive Anthropology…

• Ethnoscience as method…Ethnoscience as method…

• Linguistic Relativity….Linguistic Relativity….

EthnosemanticsEthnosemantics

• 1950s and 60s1950s and 60s

• Frake, Goodenough, ConklinFrake, Goodenough, Conklin

• Alternate names:Alternate names:– Ethnoscience, Cognitive AnthropologyEthnoscience, Cognitive Anthropology

• Vocabulary indicatesVocabulary indicates– ““native” categoriesnative” categories

– Culturally important distinctionsCulturally important distinctions

• Psychological reality or formal account?Psychological reality or formal account?

Ethnosemantics as MethodEthnosemantics as Method

• Identify a semantic domainIdentify a semantic domain– Grand Tour questionsGrand Tour questions

• Collect wordsCollect words

• Construct a taxonomyConstruct a taxonomy

• Develop a componential analysisDevelop a componential analysis– (i.e., feature analysis, contrast analysis)(i.e., feature analysis, contrast analysis)

• (See W/R pp. 22-25).(See W/R pp. 22-25).

Linguistic RelativityLinguistic Relativity

• Languages areLanguages are– Differently structuredDifferently structured– Arbitrary systemsArbitrary systems

• Cultural emphases areCultural emphases are– Differently structuredDifferently structured– Arbitrary systemsArbitrary systems

• Body partsBody parts• Kin termsKin terms• Color termsColor terms

Searching for UniversalsSearching for Universals

• Berlin & Kay: Basic Color TermsBerlin & Kay: Basic Color Terms– Focal points vs boundariesFocal points vs boundaries– SequenceSequence

• Black and whiteBlack and white• Add redAdd red• Add green or yellowAdd green or yellow• Add yellow or greenAdd yellow or green• Add blueAdd blue• Add brownAdd brown• Add purple, pink, orange, and/or grayAdd purple, pink, orange, and/or gray

– ProblemsProblems• Defining basicDefining basic• Establishing a “standard” for colorsEstablishing a “standard” for colors

HanunHanunóóo Color Termso Color Terms

• DarkDark

• LightLight

• FreshFresh

• DryDry

• Reflecting an agricultural focus.Reflecting an agricultural focus.

Linguistic RelativityLinguistic Relativity• Languages are differentLanguages are different

• Languages are arbitrary systemsLanguages are arbitrary systems

• Differences are not predictableDifferences are not predictable- body parts

- kin- colors.

The Influence of Language on The Influence of Language on CultureCulture

• Linguistic determinismLinguistic determinism– Sapir and WhorfSapir and Whorf

• Strong WhorfStrong Whorf– Language determines thoughtLanguage determines thought

Language as a prison (Agar)Language as a prison (Agar)

• Weaker WhorfWeaker Whorf– Language influences thoughtLanguage influences thought

Language as a room (Agar)Language as a room (Agar)

• Stumbling (English) v. hobbling along (Hopi)Stumbling (English) v. hobbling along (Hopi)– An event v. a continuumAn event v. a continuum

Experiments in Linguistic Experiments in Linguistic Determinism: YucatecDeterminism: Yucatec• Grammar stresses materialGrammar stresses material

– Connects related words for wood, tree, tableConnects related words for wood, tree, table

• Individuals group cardboard items togetherIndividuals group cardboard items together ..

Experiments in Linguistic Experiments in Linguistic Determinism: EnglishDeterminism: English

• Grammar stresses shapeGrammar stresses shape– Different words for wood, tree, tableDifferent words for wood, tree, table

• Individuals group boxes together.Individuals group boxes together.

New Evidence for Linguistic New Evidence for Linguistic DeterminismDeterminism

• Relative space v. absolute spaceRelative space v. absolute space– Guugu-Yimidhirr (an Australian Aborigine Guugu-Yimidhirr (an Australian Aborigine

Language)Language)• NORTH-SOUTH-EAST-WEST (absolute)NORTH-SOUTH-EAST-WEST (absolute)

– Tzeltal (A Mayan language spoken in Chiapas)Tzeltal (A Mayan language spoken in Chiapas)• UPHILL-DOWNHILL (relative).UPHILL-DOWNHILL (relative).

Experiencing Linguistic Experiencing Linguistic DeterminismDeterminism

• Shinzwani: Shinzwani: mezajuumezajuu = at/on the table = at/on the table

• Shinzwani lending and borrowingShinzwani lending and borrowing

• Ukrainian Ukrainian liubovliubov v. v. kokhanniakokhannia

• Clock time in Czech and EnglishClock time in Czech and English

• Hijri v. Gregorian calendars.Hijri v. Gregorian calendars.

Language, Culture, and Language, Culture, and ThoughtThought

• Categories and MetaphorsCategories and Metaphors– Hopi and English ways of talking about timeHopi and English ways of talking about time

• Time in cyclesTime in cycles– Life is a journeyLife is a journey

– Arriving at a stopping placeArriving at a stopping place

• Time in unitsTime in units– Time is moneyTime is money

– Running out of time.Running out of time.

Examples of Linguistic Examples of Linguistic Determinism: SAEDeterminism: SAE

• time = mattertime = matter

Units of time = objectsUnits of time = objects

Passage of time = endless line of identical objectsPassage of time = endless line of identical objects

Examples of Linguistic Examples of Linguistic Determinism: HopiDeterminism: Hopi

• time = a processtime = a process

• units of time = cyclesunits of time = cycles

• passage of time = endless repetition passage of time = endless repetition of same cycle.of same cycle.

Metaphors and FramesMetaphors and Frames

• Using words within framesUsing words within frames– Viewing the world through framesViewing the world through frames

• Founding Fathers v. Founding MothersFounding Fathers v. Founding Mothers

• Tax relief v. community supportTax relief v. community support

• Looting v. findingLooting v. finding

• Job creators v. The 1%Job creators v. The 1%

The ACA Supreme Court decision was based on The ACA Supreme Court decision was based on framing – Tax v. Mandateframing – Tax v. Mandate

SummarySummary

• Language is a window into culture (Boas)Language is a window into culture (Boas)

• Language is a cultural map (Conklin, Frake…)Language is a cultural map (Conklin, Frake…)

• Language is a guide to social reality (Sapir/Whorf)Language is a guide to social reality (Sapir/Whorf)– Linguistic relativity: grammar influences thoughtLinguistic relativity: grammar influences thought

• A well-accepted ideaA well-accepted idea

– Linguistic determinism: grammar determines world viewLinguistic determinism: grammar determines world view• Still controversialStill controversial

• Language is a framing device (Lakoff)Language is a framing device (Lakoff)– Helps us to organize and frame our experience of the worldHelps us to organize and frame our experience of the world

– And to express our experience of the worldAnd to express our experience of the world